Changes

Various other aspects of the design of TOR make it even harder to penetrate.  For instance, there are now frequently multiple middle nodes, spread across the globe, adding legal issues as well.  The "exit node" can be anywhere in the world, as can the middle node, requiring any investigation to obtain warrants internationally.  TOR also has "hidden services" which themselves connect to the internet via a TOR protocol.  While a "hidden service" can still be hacked, each service must be hacked individually, ensuring that only sites with illegal content and a large audience are taken down.  

Various other aspects of the design of TOR make it even harder to penetrate.  For instance, there are now frequently multiple middle nodes, spread across the globe, adding legal issues as well.  The "exit node" can be anywhere in the world, as can the middle node, requiring any investigation to obtain warrants internationally.  TOR also has "hidden services" which themselves connect to the internet via a TOR protocol.  While a "hidden service" can still be hacked, each service must be hacked individually, ensuring that only sites with illegal content and a large audience are taken down.  

Tor, however, has a few weaknesses that must be compensated by other programs.  It is possible to prevent a computer accessing the network simply by censoring all known TOR IP's.  To get around this, one must configure their TOR browser to access a "bridge", an uncensored IP that permits access to the TOR network. A TOR website, if breached, can also be programed to download malware that reveals the location of your computer, allowing law enforcement or other parties to find a user's location. Other weaknesses include various programs that take advantage of capabilities given to that type of program, such as a PDF installing extra software on a user's computer.  Using a antivirus to protect against such malware is highly recommended.  It is wise to remember that TOR is the software used by criminals of all stripes, none of whom are beyond committing crimes against other users.

Tor, however, has a few weaknesses that must be compensated by other programs.  It is possible to prevent a computer accessing the network simply by censoring all known TOR IP's.  To get around this, one must configure their TOR browser to access a "bridge", an uncensored IP that permits access to the TOR network. A TOR website, if breached, can also be programed to download malware that reveals the location of your computer, allowing law enforcement or other parties to find a user's location. Other weaknesses include various programs that take advantage of capabilities given to that type of program, such as a PDF installing extra software on a user's computer.  Using antivirus software to protect against such malware is highly recommended.  It is wise to remember that TOR is the software used by criminals of all stripes, none of whom are beyond committing crimes against other users.

==References==

==References==