Tor: What is Tor? Why do we need anonymity?

Tor is a free tool that allows people to use the internet anonymously allows people and groups to improve their privacy and security on the Internet.

Tor anonymizes the origin of your traffic by bouncing your communications around a distributed network of relays run by volunteers all around the world

Individuals use Tor to keep websites from tracking them or to connect to those internet services blocked by their local Internet providers.

Why Do We Want Anonymity?

1.To protect privacy

2.Avoid tracking by advertising companies

3.Protection from prosecution

4.Not every country guarantees free speech

5.Downloading copyrighted material

6.To prevent chilling-effects

7.It’s easier to voice unpopular or controversial opinions if you are anonymous

Implementation Of Tor

1.Tor Browser for windows, be useLinux and Mac OS

2.Tails

3.The Guardian Project is actively developing a free and open-source suite of application programs and firmware for the Android operating system to improve the security of mobile communications.

The applications are:

ChatSecure instant messaging client.

OrbotTor.

Orfox.

ObscuraCam.

Pros

Avoid surveillance.

Anonymity.

Secure encryption of data.

Cons

Exit nodes see your traffic in plain.

Performance Issues

Can be used by anyone including cyber criminals.

Tor is a technique that hides the ends of the conversation , so that no “traffic analysis “can be used to reveal the anonymity and to ensure completely secure communication the users have to user other applications such as secure email and HTTP to protect the information.

To increase security, a large numbers of nodes should be available in the directory. Fortunately,  the nodes in the tor network is increasing every year. So the system is getting more and more secured.

So, the tool make sure that the person anonymity is not compromised and from this too, a user have some freedom to access the internet without the thought of surveillance and all.

And for more information visit https://www.torproject.org.

From the above link, anyone can get more tools which are free of cost and can be supported on different platform.