One type of attack, for example, would identify users by minute differences in the clock times on their computers. Since 2006, according to a 49-page research paper titled simply “Tor,” the agency has worked on several methods that, if successful, would allow the NSA to uncloak anonymous traffic on a “wide scale” - effectively by watching communications as they enter and exit the Tor system, rather than trying to follow them inside. In 2013 the Washington Post broke an article citing reports that US government agencies had figured out how to de-anonymize Tor users on a “wide scale”. From the Washington Post: That governments can de-anonymize Tor users is another well-known point that’s been acknowledged for years. In this goal, they have largely succeeded with Tor being widely promoted in various privacy circles by people who don’t know any better.īut is Tor really a secure and trustworthy privacy tool? Today, Tor is being marketed as some kind of grass-roots privacy tool that will protect you against government surveillance and various bad actors.Īccording to Roger Dingledine (Tor co-founder) and other key Tor developers, getting people (outside the US government) to widely adopt Tor is very important for the US government’s ability to use Tor for its own purposes.

Never mind the fact that the Tor network is a popular hangout for pedophiles and drug dealers – along with the law enforcement these types attract.

Honest criticism of Tor is often met with accusations of “FUD” and ad-hominem attacks, so as not to disrupt the collective Groupthink. Unfortunately, Tor has garnered a cult-like following in recent years among people who pretend it’s infallible. No privacy tool is above criticism or scrutiny, and each has pros and cons. There is a growing chorus of people who blindly recommend Tor to anyone looking for online anonymity. This recommendation often ignores mountains of evidence suggesting that Tor is not the “privacy tool” it’s made out to be. This article will examine some facts about Tor and assess whether it is the infallible privacy tool it’s made out to be by some. There is a lot of misinformation being promoted in various privacy circles about Tor.

How to use tor safely