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Versions used in this guide: Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS; Tor Browser: 12.5 License: Free Software; mix of Free Software licenses Level: Beginner-Intermediate Time required: 15-30 minutes Other reading: https://tb-manual.torproject.org/installation/ https://tor.stackexchange.com/ https://www.eff.org/pages/tor-and-https https://www.youtube.com/@TheTorProject/playlists?view=1&amp;sort=dd&amp;shelf_id=0 What is Tor? 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en.layouts.application.keywords">Keywords</span></label> <input type="text" name="q" id="q" value="" class="hide" /> <button>Search</button> </form> </li> </ul> <a href="/">ssd.eff.org</a> <a href="#off-canvas" class="open-menu">≡</a> </nav> </div> <header class="center"> <a class="logo" href="/" title="Home"> <img alt="Home" class="img-responsive" src="/assets/logo-eba4d85a4e344c3517f7dbff8da80c517937dd9dc3bf42c3f5b77444be4487b9.png" /> </a> <div class="site-name">Surveillance<br/>Self-Defense</div> </header> <div id="main-content"> <div class="content"> <p class="breadcrumbs" dir="ltr"> <a href="/module-categories/tool-guides">< Tool Guides</a> </p> <h1 dir="ltr">How to: Use Tor for Linux</h1> <p dir="ltr"><strong><span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.guides.show.last_reviewed">Last Reviewed</span></strong>: July 10, 2023</p> <div dir="ltr"><div class="content"><ul> </ul> </div></div> <div dir="ltr"><div class="content"><p><strong>Computer requirements</strong>: An internet connection, a computer running your favorite Linux distribution.<br> <strong>Versions used in this guide</strong>: Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS; Tor Browser: 12.5<br> <strong>License</strong>: <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/open-source-software" data-term_id="102" data-description="<div class="header"> <h3><a href="/glossary/open-source-software">Open-source software</a></h3> <button class="close" aria-describedby="tooltip-action"><span class="icon"></span></button> </div> <p>Open source software, or free software, is software that can be distributed freely in a form that lets others modify it and rebuild it from scratch. While it is known as “free software," it's not necessarily free as in zero-cost: FLOSS programmers can ask for donations, or charge for support or for copies. Linux is an example of a free, open source program, as are Firefox and Tor.</p> ">Free Software <img aria-hidden="true" src="/assets/efforg/info-7ae1fb29e1e734b20023f3e3470316c82b84a7e4b9f1d1e2f49e399f1f8de2d3.png"></a>; mix of Free Software licenses<br> <strong>Level</strong>: Beginner-Intermediate<br> <strong>Time required</strong>: 15-30 minutes<br> <strong>Other reading</strong>:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://tb-manual.torproject.org/installation/">https://tb-manual.torproject.org/installation/</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://tor.stackexchange.com/">https://tor.stackexchange.com/</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/tor-and-https">https://www.eff.org/pages/tor-and-https</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheTorProject/playlists?view=1&sort=dd&shelf_id=0">https://www.youtube.com/@TheTorProject/playlists?view=1&sort=dd&shelf_id=0</a></li> </ul> <a name="what-is-tor"> </a><h2>What is Tor? <a href="#what-is-tor" class="anchor">anchor link</a> </h2> <p>Tor is a volunteer-run service that provides both privacy and anonymity online by masking who you are and from where you are connecting. The service also protects you from the Tor network itself—so you can have good assurance that you’ll remain anonymous to other Tor users.</p> <p>For people who might need occasional anonymity and privacy when accessing websites, the Tor Browser provides a quick and easy way to use the Tor network.</p> <p>The Tor Browser works just like a regular <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/web-browser" data-term_id="143" data-description='<div class="header"> <h3><a href="/glossary/web-browser">Web browser</a></h3> <button class="close" aria-describedby="tooltip-action"><span class="icon"></span></button> </div> <p>The program you use to view websites on the Internet. Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, and Chrome are all web browsers. Mobile devices have a web browser app for the same purpose.</p> '>web browser <img aria-hidden="true" src="/assets/efforg/info-7ae1fb29e1e734b20023f3e3470316c82b84a7e4b9f1d1e2f49e399f1f8de2d3.png"></a>. Web browsers are programs you use to view web sites. Examples include Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Unlike other web browsers, though, the Tor Browser sends your communications through Tor, making it harder for people who are monitoring you to know exactly what you're doing online, and harder for people monitoring the sites you use to know where you're connecting from.</p> <p class="warning">Keep in mind that only activities you do inside of Tor Browser itself will be anonymized. Having Tor Browser installed on your computer does not make anonymous things you do on the same computer using other software (such as your regular web browser). But <a href="https://ssd.eff.org/module/keeping-your-data-safe#when-setting-up-a-secure-computer-what-steps-can-you-take-to-make-it-secure">there are steps</a> you can take to protect that <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/data" data-term_id="163" data-description='<div class="header"> <h3><a href="/glossary/data">Data</a></h3> <button class="close" aria-describedby="tooltip-action"><span class="icon"></span></button> </div> <p>Any kind of information, typically stored in a digital form. Data can include documents, pictures, keys, programs, messages, and other digital information or files.</p> '>data <img aria-hidden="true" src="/assets/efforg/info-7ae1fb29e1e734b20023f3e3470316c82b84a7e4b9f1d1e2f49e399f1f8de2d3.png"></a> too, if needed.</p> <a name="some-tips-to-keep-in-mind-when-using-tor"> </a><h2>Some Tips to Keep in Mind When Using Tor <a href="#some-tips-to-keep-in-mind-when-using-tor" class="anchor">anchor link</a> </h2> <p>Tor is a useful tool for privacy and anonymity, but remember that it's generally impossible to achieve perfect anonymity. Knowing the limitations of Tor, and following some best practices, can help you stay safe online without too many surprises:</p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Browsing the web is much slower over Tor, and certain websites may not work at all.</li> <li aria-level="1">The Tor Browser funnels only the browsing you do in the browser through the Tor network. Other apps or services installed on your device will not be routed through Tor.</li> <li aria-level="1">If you log into a website using the Tor Browser or fill out forms with personally identifying information, that website will be able to identify you and may know that you're using Tor.</li> <li aria-level="1">You can use Tor to <a href="https://ssd.eff.org/module/understanding-and-circumventing-network-censorship#3">circumvent censorship</a> in a number of countries, but keep in mind that anyone who can see your network activity can also see that you're using Tor.</li> <li aria-level="1">Don't install or add any <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/10/phony-https-everywhere-extension-used-fake-tor-browser">additional browser plugins</a> to the Tor Browser that could de-anonymize you. Tor is already set up with a set of privacy protecting rules, so you do not need additional ad or tracker blockers.</li> <li aria-level="1">Beware of opening documents downloaded with Tor, especially when you have Tor running. Some documents may include internet-connected resources that may be downloaded when you open the document outside of Tor, which could reveal your <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/ip-address" data-term_id="108" data-description="<div class="header"> <h3><a href="/glossary/ip-address">IP address</a></h3> <button class="close" aria-describedby="tooltip-action"><span class="icon"></span></button> </div> <p>A device on the Internet needs its own address to receive data, just like a home or business needs a street address to receive physical mail. This address is its IP (Internet Protocol) address. When you connect to a website or other server online, you usually reveal your own IP address. This doesn't necessarily reveal either your identity (it's hard to map an IP address to a real address or a particular computer). An IP address can give away some information about you, however, such as your rough location or the name of your Internet Service Provider. Services like Tor let you hide your IP address, which helps give you anonymity online.</p> ">IP address <img aria-hidden="true" src="/assets/efforg/info-7ae1fb29e1e734b20023f3e3470316c82b84a7e4b9f1d1e2f49e399f1f8de2d3.png"></a>.</li> <li aria-level="1">The Tor Browser can access both the regular web that you're used to, as well as special ".onion" sites that only live on the Tor network. Unlike traditional websites, which have a public IP address, a .onion address is hidden, unique, and provides <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/end-to-end-encryption" data-term_id="98" data-description='<div class="header"> <h3><a href="/glossary/end-to-end-encryption">End-to-end encryption</a></h3> <button class="close" aria-describedby="tooltip-action"><span class="icon"></span></button> </div> <p><a href="https://ssd.eff.org/en/module/deep-dive-end-end-encryption-how-do-public-key-encryption-systems-work">End-to-end encryption</a> ensures that a message is turned into a secret message by its original sender, and decoded only by its final recipient. <a href="https://ssd.eff.org/en/module/what-should-i-know-about-encryption">Other forms of encryption</a> may depend on encryption performed by third-parties. That means that those parties have to be trusted with the original text. End-to-end encryption is generally regarded as safer, because it reduces the number of parties who might be able to interfere or break the encryption.</p> '>end-to-end encryption <img aria-hidden="true" src="/assets/efforg/info-7ae1fb29e1e734b20023f3e3470316c82b84a7e4b9f1d1e2f49e399f1f8de2d3.png"></a>. You can check a number of <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/04/eff-now-has-tor-onions">EFF sites this way</a>, including <a href="http://y7yea4pmqqtznb33qiugvysyn2bob5v62e4pvoadoibrwkq3tsddjeyd.onion">Surveillance Self-Defense itself</a> (this link will only work in the Tor Browser).</li> </ul> <p>The <a href="https://support.torproject.org/faq/staying-anonymous/">Tor Project maintains a page</a> with other tips for anonymity that is worth checking periodically for other best practices for using Tor safely.</p> <a name="getting-tor-browser"> </a><h2>Getting Tor Browser <a href="#getting-tor-browser" class="anchor">anchor link</a> </h2> <p>Open a browser like Firefox or Chrome and go to:</p> <p><a href="https://www.torproject.org/download/">https://www.torproject.org/download/</a></p> <p>If you are using a search engine to look for the Tor Browser, make sure that the URL is correct.</p> <p class="warning">Only download Tor from the <a href="https://www.torproject.org/">official website</a>, and if you are prompted to accept alternative <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/https" data-term_id="104" data-description="<div class="header"> <h3><a href="/glossary/https">HTTPS</a></h3> <button class="close" aria-describedby="tooltip-action"><span class="icon"></span></button> </div> If you've ever seen a web address spelled out as “http://www.example.com/”, you'll recognize the “http” bit of this term. HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) is the way a web browser on your machine talks to a remote web server. Unfortunately, standard http sends text insecurely across the Internet. HTTPS (the S stands for “secure”) uses encryption to better protect the data you send to websites, and the information they return to you, from prying eyes. ">HTTPS <img aria-hidden="true" src="/assets/efforg/info-7ae1fb29e1e734b20023f3e3470316c82b84a7e4b9f1d1e2f49e399f1f8de2d3.png"></a> (SSL/TLS) security certificates, do not proceed.</p> <p><img height="964" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/770/image-20230710141158-1.png" width="1425"></p> <p>Select the "Download for Linux" icon:</p> <p><img height="337" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/771/image-20230710141243-2.jpeg" width="368"></p> <p>Some browsers will ask you to confirm whether you want to download this file, otherwise it should automatically download the application.</p> <p>This example shows Tor Browser version 12.5, which is the current version at the time of writing this guide. There may be a more recent version of Tor Browser available for download by the time you read this, so please download and use the current version that Tor Project provides.</p> <p><img height="458" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/772/image-20230710141403-3.png" width="855"></p> <a name="installing-tor-browser"> </a><h2>Installing Tor Browser <a href="#installing-tor-browser" class="anchor">anchor link</a> </h2> <p>After the download is complete, go to your "Downloads" folder. You should always make sure you trust the software you want to install and that you got an authentic copy from the official site over a secure connection. Since you know this software is legitimate and the download was from the Tor Project's secure HTTPS site, double-click on the file “tor-browser-linux64-12.5_ALL.tar.xz”.</p> <p><img height="516" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/773/image-20230710141502-4.png" width="1022"></p> <p>After double-clicking on the Tor Browser archive file, wait for it to load and then choose where you want to extract its contents.</p> <p><img height="636" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/774/image-20230710141628-5.png" width="840"><img height="485" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/775/image-20230710141658-6.png" width="945"></p> <p>After the extraction is complete, open the “tor-browser” folder. Then, right-click on the file “start-tor-browser.desktop” and go to “Properties.”</p> <p>You will see another dialogue window pop up. Go to the “Permissions” tab and view the “Execute” property. Check the box next to this property.</p> <p><img height="629" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/776/image-20230710141736-7.png" width="1018"></p> <p>Go back to the file and double-click it. Proceed to run the program if asked what to do.</p> <p>If the file does not run, you may have to take additional steps to set this type of file to run:</p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Launch "Files."</li> <li aria-level="1">Click on “Preferences” in the menu at the top right.</li> <li aria-level="1">Navigate to the "Behavior" tab.</li> <li aria-level="1">Select "Run them" or "Ask what to do" under "Executable Text Files."</li> <li aria-level="1">If you choose the latter, click on "Run" after launching the start-tor-browser.desktop file.</li> </ul> <p>If you are terminal savvy, you can also run the program from the command line by typing <code>./start-tor-browser.desktop</code> and hitting enter.</p> <p><img height="400" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/777/image-20230710142338-8.png" width="700"></p> <a name="using-tor-browser"> </a><h2>Using Tor Browser <a href="#using-tor-browser" class="anchor">anchor link</a> </h2> <p>The first time Tor Browser starts, you'll get a window that allows you to modify some settings. You might have to come back and change some configuration settings later, but for now go ahead and try to connect to the Tor network by clicking the “Connect” button.<img height="614" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/778/image-20230710142414-9.png" width="1145"><img height="550" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/779/image-20230710142421-10.png" width="1157"></p> <p>If Tor is blocked for you, the Connection Assist feature helps you choose a “bridge” using your location.</p> <p><img height="539" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/759/image-20230710131814-9.gif" width="957">The first time Tor Browser starts, it might take a long time. Be patient, within a minute or two Tor Browser will connect.<img height="740" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/780/image-20230710142529-11.png" width="1114">You will be greeted by the welcome screen. Click on the purple onion icon in the upper left corner to review a tutorial on how Tor works.</p> <p><img height="894" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/781/image-20230710142632-12.png" width="1167">The tutorial includes an explanation of how Tor circuits work and how they allow you to browse privately online.</p> <p><img height="683" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/782/image-20230710142710-13.png" width="1355"></p> <p><img height="686" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/783/image-20230710142714-14.png" width="1209"></p> <p><img height="689" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/784/image-20230710142728-15.png" width="1236"></p> <p>The Tor Browser's default security level will block many known privacy and security issues found in other web browsers. For example, it uses an HTTPS-only mode and <a href="https://support.torproject.org/glossary/noscript/">NoScript</a> by default. You can also crank up the security further if needed.</p> <p>Click the shield icon in the top right corner, then click "Settings," and you're taken to the "Privacy & Security" settings. Changing Tor's "Security Level" to its "Safest" setting disables a variety of website features that can potentially be used against you. This will make you safer from well-funded attackers who can interfere with your internet connection or use new unknown bugs in these features. Unfortunately, the "Safest" setting can make some websites unusable. The default "Standard" setting is fine for everyday privacy protection, but you can set it to "Safest" if you are worried about sophisticated attackers, or if you don't mind if some websites do not display correctly. You can get more information about each security level <a href="https://tb-manual.torproject.org/security-settings/">here</a>.</p> <p><img height="707" src="https://ssd.eff.org/files/ssd/wysiwyg/pictures/787/image-20230710143406-2.png" width="1186"></p> <p>Finally, browsing with Tor is different in some ways from the normal browsing experience. We recommend reading <a href="https://tb-manual.torproject.org/running-tor-browser/">these tips</a> for properly browsing with the Tor Browser and retaining your anonymity.</p> <p>You are now ready to browse the Internet anonymously with the Tor Browser.</p> </div></div> </div> </div> </div> <footer> <div class="center"> <a class="logo" href="/" title="Home"> <img src="https://ssd.eff.org/assets/logo-footer-216585e7032331c8163db209c6fba94ae72baee66b6d4e62ef1b67fe534d7c84.png" alt="Surveillance Self-Defense logo" /> </a> <div class="site-name"> Surveillance<br>Self-Defense </div> <div class="footer-nav" role="navigation"> <ul class="flex-parent" dir="ltr"> <li><a href="/pages/about-surveillance-self-defense">About</a></li> <li><a href="/#index">Index</a></li> <li><a href="/glossary">Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="/pages/credits">Credits</a></li> <li><a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate">Donate</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </footer> <div id="footer-bottom" class="center" dir="ltr"> <ul class="flex-parent"> <li><a href="https://www.eff.org/copyright">Copyright (CC BY)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.eff.org/policy">Privacy</a></li> </ul> </div> <script type="importmap" data-turbo-track="reload">{ "imports": { "jquery": "/assets/jquery-dffa084d8915bf507ac4c876f4dedea0cab68baacd9266ff82a66706ef56f264.js", "ckeditor/ckeditor": "/assets/ckeditor/ckeditor-53b7205163eeca5b511b43e34f1df6b2b0b401d11cf2c6884adfbbc4150c2881.js", "jquery-ui/jquery-ui": "/assets/jquery-ui/jquery-ui-0507eea9215b37aa68aced7033f3f0919a5f17b9a8c1ac7308e0fba7fd11e3bd.js", "railsujs": "/assets/railsujs-57c6effce760f866866bfa973534bccaa9f2ae315c8a64066bad179fa22bce0f.js", "select2/select2": "/assets/select2/select2-f79333530e65fc28b0339227e71cfc769d0229c39d7b2955c6045ad5e4f15f65.js", "sortable": "/assets/sortable-37be89ef017d92ccb51699051b444072861ad6d6593081f9935b43c601d955b6.js", "toastui-editor": "/assets/toastui-editor-b824a348e845a818ec06beadd61d1d53a267dd434b98e5fb02c9a80852b52ba2.js", "datatables.net": "/assets/datatables.net-0f394ccc57627c8f9eb6e629fe6db7e959b2cc5d2819e95f0d7fe2ba83dec8b0.js", "application": "/assets/application-48a5218f9ce75c4772ab1f2d4bd5da662eb82e8573e3ba95d4208eba9ed0cc66.js", "cms": "/assets/cms-1b0c9275141f603f9878406f671d40ac25a6cd61b47a6b12530718d687dcd80c.js", "ckeditor/otters-ckeditor": "/assets/ckeditor/otters-ckeditor-a9d8d6e2ba21bd0e980093eb169427f8ff929d81bcf0154096faf46070fdc2c9.js", "otters/cms/manual": "/assets/otters/cms/manual-86f2a686441461c7be9c9d5f8e29dad21a8a1c729cc2d2596c76c8ad1cf89121.js", "otters/cms/menus": "/assets/otters/cms/menus-410967d3575fd76437f229cf5f20e0dfb554346d059baef58f7f7e47488977aa.js", "otters/cms/nodes": "/assets/otters/cms/nodes-66e061029610ef74b7c97ecb095ae1cbf85191696a218851367af5a84a5b718e.js", "otters/cms/search": "/assets/otters/cms/search-05b89023d7b4bae4eb27c390119df904c2a2f2930b17dccd523fbd48dee474fd.js", "otters/cms": "/assets/otters/cms-aacfc3fe121fc90c1ae9907c42fd1ac96381ce40495714d410ebda6d41c3254c.js", "efforg/application": "/assets/efforg/application-17440bb0f83ef30483503814976f91b12a56e4015f179d060f215636a794a0d3.js", "efforg/cms": "/assets/efforg/cms-8e6c351a16668fe27601a562dcef4d608e38a9fadd1ae57d45a575ec1f35ab12.js" } }</script> <link rel="modulepreload" href="/assets/application-48a5218f9ce75c4772ab1f2d4bd5da662eb82e8573e3ba95d4208eba9ed0cc66.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" href="/assets/cms-1b0c9275141f603f9878406f671d40ac25a6cd61b47a6b12530718d687dcd80c.js"> <script src="/assets/es-module-shims.min-d89e73202ec09dede55fb74115af9c5f9f2bb965433de1c2446e1faa6dac2470.js" async="async" data-turbo-track="reload"></script> <script type="module">import "application"</script> <noscript> <img referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://anon-stats.eff.org/matomo.php?idsite=52&rec=1" style="border:0" alt="" /> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> var _paq = window._paq = window._paq || []; /* tracker methods like "setCustomDimension" should be called before "trackPageView" */ _paq.push(['trackPageView']); _paq.push(['enableLinkTracking']); (function() { var u="https://anon-stats.eff.org/"; _paq.push(['setTrackerUrl', u+'matomo.php']); _paq.push(['setSiteId', '52']); var d=document, g=d.createElement('script'), s=d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; g.type='text/javascript'; g.async=true; g.src=u+'matomo.js'; s.parentNode.insertBefore(g,s); })(); </script> </body> </html>