VPN VS. TOR For Anonymizing Browsing/IP

[comingdown]

Before I start, let me first say that I am not advocating or trying to discuss the use of TOR for dark onion sites or anything illegal. This is from a perspective of IP/browsing anonymizing

My Question is what is the communities perspective/opinions regarding using TOR or using VPN to anonymize browsing on the internet and hiding IP addresses? I know you have to trust your VPN and that TOR can have corrupt nodes in which people are doing man-in-the-middle attacks etc to obtain info/logins etc but trying to find out what pros/cons of each and what each person's preference is along with any additional security steps to minimize digital footprint

I am sure there are more technical people on this site with great knowledge on cybersecurity. I am trying to generate some thoughts and ideas for the community and myself to keep their browsing habits safe.

Especially after the CISA act was just passed, which was bullshit 2k paper but in the middle of a budget bill that had to pass asap, with only a short notice for reps to read and understand it, but it is basically a second patriot act and allows agencies to get info shared from other agencies and info from ALL US companies etc. circumvent privacy laws etc. very shady.

So what are your thoughts on what is best to use to anonymize IP and web browsing from your ISP and others etc? What weaknesses does each have and what benefits does each have? and best practices for leaving the least amount of cyber-footprint

Hopefully some of our talented IT and knowledgeable members will see this and contribute. I appreciate everyone's input, as I am only looking to make the community safer for us. Thank you friends!

[barq2]

Before I start, let me first say that I am not advocating or trying to discuss the use of TOR for dark onion sites or anything illegal. This is from a perspective of IP/browsing anonymizing

My Question is what is the communities perspective/opinions regarding using TOR or using VPN to anonymize browsing on the internet and hiding IP addresses? I know you have to trust your VPN and that TOR can have corrupt nodes in which people are doing man-in-the-middle attacks etc to obtain info/logins etc but trying to find out what pros/cons of each and what each person's preference is along with any additional security steps to minimize digital footprint

I am sure there are more technical people on this site with great knowledge on cybersecurity. I am trying to generate some thoughts and ideas for the community and myself to keep their browsing habits safe.

Especially after the CISA act was just passed, which was bullshit 2k paper but in the middle of a budget bill that had to pass asap, with only a short notice for reps to read and understand it, but it is basically a second patriot act and allows agencies to get info shared from other agencies and info from ALL US companies etc. circumvent privacy laws etc. very shady.

So what are your thoughts on what is best to use to anonymize IP and web browsing from your ISP and others etc? What weaknesses does each have and what benefits does each have? and best practices for leaving the least amount of cyber-footprint

Hopefully some of our talented IT and knowledgeable members will see this and contribute. I appreciate everyone's input, as I am only looking to make the community safer for us. Thank you friends!

There is potentially quite a long list of pros and cons for TOR or VPN. However, it doesn't have to be either/or. Some people use a VPN and then connect to TOR.

With TOR you potentially have compromised exit nodes. VPNs are only safe if you trust them - that might mean going offshore, paying by bitcoin, and opting for one who doesn't log usage. These are all major concerns to P2P file sharers (or pirates, depending on your viewpoint). Torrentfreak did quite a good run down of which services actually take privacy seriously - assuming you trust the information provided.

hxxps://torrentfreak.com/anonymous-vpn-service-provider-review-2015-150228/

BTW There is some discussion about this over in another thread: hxxp://www.ioplist.org/showthread.php?tid=923&page=6

[replace xx with tt in both URLs]

[Charon]

Hi, barq. Happy new year. Perfect post, btw.

[Flippity]

I don't know much about anything

I've read everywhere that you should use a vpn with Tor, but I just use tor and configure my browsers, and top it off with a plugin. LOL, that's on one of my computers. That one isn't windows.

I use search engines that supposedly don't track you - with a few tweaks here and there.
I clear my cookies.... not that it matters.

I used to use pgp but now I don't bother, unless the other person insists. I figured that if I could find my key, that everyone else could, as well.
I am totally into privacy and whatnot, and I have no idea of what I am doing. Seriously.
Barq pretty much summed it up. There is someone else here that uses pgp. I remember he mentioned it. Probably in that link that barq posted.

[barq2]

Hi, barq.  Happy new year.  Perfect post, btw.

Hi Charon, Happy New Year to you too! All the best for 2016.

[Flippity]

Isnt it great to see how far tor has come? I mean, I remember years ago when it was like using dial up internet. Now, Tor is so much bigger.
I honestly wouldn't be brave enough to use only proxies. VPNs I mean. Using both should scramble things and be good as back up or compliment the other wouldnt it?

I made the mistake of upgrading my windows and i cant use tor on that one. And i cba fiddling.

[selfless-desires]

Other thing to think about is vpn encrypted data is seen by your isp and depending on who cares it could be suspicious and if you use just tor it's not that different. Many ISPs even block tor use. Using both they can only see the encrypted traffic going to the vpn ip and it allows for use of tor without alerting isp.

---

Isnt it great to see how far tor has come? I mean, I remember years ago when it was like using dial up internet. Now, Tor is so much bigger.
I honestly wouldn't be brave enough to use only  proxies. VPNs I mean. Using both should scramble things and be good as back up or compliment the other wouldnt it?

I made the mistake of upgrading my windows and i cant use tor on that one. And i cba fiddling.

If you're really serious about security you can use an operating system callled tails. It boots off of a USB stick so it doesn't matter what operating system is installed on your computer. It's an amnesic OS that routes all traffic through Tor. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Cool but honestly unnecessary. Way to much to go through when you could simply be diligent with security.

[Lunar]

It sounds like using both tor and vpn is the way to go. Tor is pretty self explanatory, anyone mind recommending a few trustworthy VPNs? Free or payable with bitcoin.

Has anyone used any of the new technology for anonymizing that utilizes bitcoin-like protocols? Not just for payments, but for massaging and surfing?
-End relevant questions-
-Begin unnecessary background-
I looked into using proxies back in the day(we're talking when DSL was the new kid on the block) and at the time, I wasn't very tech savy and found the free ones we're either too slow or simply didn't work at all.(That's assuming I even configured them correctly)

Call me old fashion, but I believe in a little something called inherent rights. As apposed to benefits and privileges to be granted or revoked by whatever illegitimate de facto govt. assumes authority of the day, rights, real rights are innumerable and only end where anther's begin. Something that is inherent means it's neither granted nor can be given away, but by choice(whether informed or not) can be left unpracticed. Privacy is one of those rights, but since at the time I was only interested in proxies out of principle alone, I wound up choosing not to practice that right in favor of convenience.

But today I find myself with renewed interest, because whether or not I have an inherent right to decide what I put in my body, there exists a govt. with really big guns who seems to be forever building new jails that insists on depriving me of that right so it's only wise to use safer surfing practices.

[Reddington]

I use surf easy VPN, it's an app on my phone, it constantly changes your IP address about every 30 seconds but I'm sure there are some much better ones out there.

[graham3735]

I tried to use Tor back in the silkroa days but could never get it to install. And I've never had a reason to use another anonymous type of browser till now it seems like a good idea. But I'm not familiar with it at all. Can anyone give me an idea where to find out how it works or more important how and when to use it?