By default, Tor uses at least three relays between your device and the final connection, hiding your IP address behind several layers and encrypting the data. Each such re-routing point is known as a relay or node, and they receive and send the data forward. It works by routing and encrypting connections through several other users' computers.

The networking system operates on an open network that anyone can join. It can mean either the Tor networking system or the Tor browser. Tor is (or used to be) an abbreviation of The Onion Router. Thus, disguising your IP and making it seem as if you're connecting from a different country. The latter allows you to connect to large server fleets with the possibility to pick almost any country in the world. You can set up a VPN server yourself or buy a subscription from a VPN service provider. It also disguises your real IP address with that of a VPN server. The connection between your device and the server is encrypted, making your connection impossible to intercept from the outside. As with everything, there are benefits as well as drawbacks.Ī VPN is a virtual private network, a technology to route your connection through an intermediary server. Many people who are looking for anonymity indeed usually use just one of them. It's impossible to explain how Onion over VPN works without touching how each component works separately.

Using tor network