🧅 Tor Browser Basics

🔐 What is Tor?

Tor (The Onion Router) is a free network designed to provide online anonymity and privacy. When you use Tor, your internet traffic is encrypted and bounced through multiple relay servers around the world before reaching its destination.

Why is it Called "The Onion Router"?

Like an onion with multiple layers, Tor encrypts your data in multiple layers. Each relay in the network only knows where the data came from and where it's going next—not the complete path. This makes it nearly impossible to trace your activity back to your real IP address.

Key Benefits:

• Anonymity: Hides your real IP address and location from websites you visit
• Privacy: Prevents your internet provider from seeing what websites you visit
• Censorship Resistance: Access blocked websites in restrictive countries
• Free & Open Source: No cost, transparent code that anyone can audit

🌐 What are .onion Sites?

.onion domains are special websites that can only be accessed through the Tor Browser. These sites are hosted within the Tor network itself, providing end-to-end encryption and maximum privacy.

Why .onion Sites are More Secure:

• No Exit Nodes: Traffic never leaves the Tor network, eliminating the risk of exit node monitoring
• End-to-End Encryption: All communication stays encrypted within the Tor network
• Hidden Location: The server's real IP address and location are concealed
• Self-Authenticating: .onion addresses are cryptographically generated, preventing impersonation

🚀 Getting Started with Tor Browser

1 Download Tor Browser

Visit the official Tor Project website to download the browser for your operating system:

Important: Only download Tor Browser from the official Tor Project website (torproject.org). Do not download from third-party sites to avoid malware or compromised versions.

2 Install & Launch

• Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions
• Tor Browser is portable—you can install it on a USB drive if needed
• Launch Tor Browser and click "Connect" to join the Tor network
• Wait a few seconds while it establishes a secure connection

3 Access .onion Sites

Once connected to Tor, you can access .onion sites by typing the .onion address directly into the Tor Browser address bar:

• Copy our .onion address: bzcajujczdh7kgn5gcky2buyu2a6yocaji63ksoqodi5ughkd6qzagad.onion
• Paste it into the Tor Browser address bar
• Press Enter and you'll be connected to Dark Web Academy via Tor!

⚠️ Important Security Tips

Do's:

• ✅ Keep Tor Browser updated to the latest version
• ✅ Use HTTPS websites whenever possible (look for the padlock icon)
• ✅ Keep the browser window in default size (don't maximize) to avoid fingerprinting
• ✅ Use strong, unique passwords for each website
• ✅ Enable the "Safest" security level for maximum protection (shield icon in address bar)

Don'ts:

• ❌ Don't install browser extensions or plugins in Tor Browser
• ❌ Don't download torrents through Tor (it exposes your IP address)
• ❌ Don't sign into personal accounts that could identify you
• ❌ Don't resize the browser window to unusual dimensions
• ❌ Don't mix Tor and non-Tor browsing in the same session

🎓 Why Dark Web Academy Recommends Tor

As a privacy-focused educational platform, we strongly encourage using Tor to access our content:

• No IP Logging: We never collect IP addresses from .onion users
• 10% Discount: Tor users automatically get 10% off all subscriptions
• Full Feature Access: Everything works identically on our .onion site
• Practice Privacy: Learning about privacy is more effective when you practice it

📚 Learn More

Want to dive deeper into Tor, privacy, and anonymity? Check out these resources:

• Tor Project History - Learn about the origins of Tor
• Tor Browser Manual - Official user guide
• Our Logging Policy - How we protect your privacy
• Dark Web Foundations Course - Free course on privacy & security basics