Tor doesn’t guarantee 100% anonymity when surfing the Internet – but it is the best tool available in this regard. Like so many things in life, the Tor project is a double-edged sword: On the one hand, it is used by journalists and bloggers to research or publish anonymously, but on the other hand, it is also used by criminal hackers for various malicious purposes.
If you come across someone again who complains about the “evil dark web” that someone should finally do something about, please remind them that bank robbers also flee the crime scene after their “work” is done, but no one comes up with the idea of wanting to ban cars and roads. You should use the Tor browser, especially for mobile use. There is an official app for Android devices and a Tor Project-authorized but unofficial app for iOS.
VPNs
Virtual Private Networks do not offer anonymity. But because everyone expects VPNs in an article like this, we’re going to dispel this myth right away. All a VPN does is redirect traffic from your ISP – or, if you’re traveling, hotel or airport WiFi – through an encrypted tunnel. There are many legitimate reasons to use VPNs – anonymity is not one of them. Not even close.
Unlike Tor – which routes your traffic through three different nodes spread across the global network, making it difficult (though not impossible) for potential adversaries to see what you’re doing – a Virtual Private Network simply redirects. The VPN provider is therefore able to track your activities at any time. On the other hand, this means that malicious or state actors who gain access to the VPN servers – be it via hack or court order – can do this just as well.
Just so we understand each other correctly: VPNs are a good thing. Use them whenever you can. But don’t expect anonymity.
Zero Knowledge Services
Google can see every email you write and receive. Office 365 scans every line you write. DropBox analyzes each of your uploads. Each of these companies – and many others – are PRISM providers, cooperating with state actors as part of mass surveillance programs. If you use the services of these companies, privacy is fundamentally non-existent.
