GLOSSARY · THE ONION ROUTER
Tor
Tor is a free network, run by volunteers, that routes your traffic through three relays in sequence, with a layer of encryption for each, so that no single relay knows both who you are and where you are going. The Tor Browser is the usual way to use it.
Why it matters
Tor is built for strong anonymity, which is different from the goals of a typical VPN. The entry relay sees your address but not your destination, the exit relay sees the destination but not you. It is slower than a direct connection, and many websites treat Tor exit addresses with suspicion or block them, because the list of exit relays is public.
In practice
Tor does not protect you if you log in to an account that identifies you or if you install extra add-ons that change your browser's fingerprint. Using Tor is legal in most countries. Our VPN detector checks an address against the Tor Project's public exit list, which we refresh every hour, and reports a match.
Related terms
- Exit node: An exit node is the last relay in a chain such as Tor, or the server where a proxy network or VPN sends your traffic out onto the open internet.
- VPN: A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a server operated by the VPN service.
- Browser fingerprint: A browser fingerprint is a profile built by combining many small details a browser reveals: screen size, installed fonts, language, time zone, graphics and audio behaviour, supported features and more.
- Proxy: A proxy server is an intermediary that makes requests on your behalf.