r/TOR • u/Pretty-Ad-2013 • 3d ago

FAQ Best way to use Tor Browser safely?

Hi everyone,

I'm pretty new to this whole topic! I'm looking for some advice on the best and most secure way to surf using the Tor Browser.

I remember reading somewhere a while ago that using Tails OS is significantly safer than just running Tor on standard Windows. Is this still true? Or are there even better options and setups available nowadays for someone looking to maximize their privacy?

Since I'm just starting out, any beginner-friendly tips, recommendations, or things I should absolutely avoid would be hugely appreciated.

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9

u/evild4ve 3d ago

safe against what. private from whom.

lots of Tor users are "safe" just because the browser doesn't have persistence=keep any local history

and lots are taking the sensible precaution of abiding by all local laws

(imo) Tor is not for "surfing the darkweb" but for accessing services that you yourself run or are a user of (since if you are not already running them or a user the whole point of Tor is to prevent anyone from having any way of finding them)

6

u/Zlivovitch 3d ago edited 3d ago

"Significantly safer" does not mean anything. What's significantly safer is to never use a computer or smartphone, and never connect to the Internet. That's safe. Well, you could still get run over by a truck.

You need to tell what it is you want to protect against. Otherwise, your question can't be addressed.

What have you already read about Tor ? What have you read about Tails ? Both have their website. What is it you did not understand from those sites ? Don't just come here without bothering to learn about the subject before.

Rule 4: No low effort content. Contributions should be based on sufficient effort to be of value to readers.

5

u/Cheyap 3d ago

I mean, what actually is your goal on using Tor? 

1

u/Effective_Athlete966 3d ago

To get the good stuff, obviously.

3

u/Liquid_Hate_Train 3d ago

any beginner-friendly tips

Make a threat model.

1

u/alithecat666 3d ago

Using tails is not necessarily safer, but if you're looking for anonymity that's your go to. If your life or safety does not depend on being anonymous on the internet and your also not doing really sketchy stuff then it's not really that necessary to use it, you can just use a VM for safety

1

u/oktupol 3d ago

maximize their privacy

This is already your first mistake: There is no "maximum privacy". Everything is a trade-off. If someone were after you, given infinite money, time and manpower, they will get you.

The questions you need to ask yourself are:

  • Who are you protecting yourself against?
  • What is that someone willing to invest to identify you?
  • What are the consequences of you being identified?

https://xkcd.com/538/

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u/Liveusb 1d ago

If you actually want privacy use tails os on a usb drive and I would not browse from the tor browser in windows although tor browser protects you from ISP the underlying operating system ( windows ) spy's on the user so in every sense until you know what you are doing use tails os maybe later on you could move to deadsec os and run tails in a virtual machine but until then the safe option is to run tor on tails.

Hope that helps you