This article shows you how to download and install the Tor browser on a Linux computer.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Download the Tor Package
Step 1. Log in to the official Tor website
Open this address with the internet browser of your choice. This is the web page where you can download the Tor installation file.
Step 2. Go to the Downloads tab
Press the button of the same name at the top right of the page that appears. You will be automatically redirected to the section where you can download the Tor installation file.
Step 3. Press the Download button
It is purple in color and placed on the left side of the page.
- The button indicated should show "Linux 64-bit" at the bottom. If it contains the name of another operating system, for example "Windows", select the link before pressing it Linux placed on the right.
- If you are asked to choose what to do with the installation file, be sure to select "Save" or "Download" before continuing.
Step 4. Wait for the download of the installation file to complete
It should only take a few seconds.
Step 5. Note the full name of the installation file
It should appear in a specific place in the browser window. To be able to install Tor on your computer, you need to know the language and version number of the program.
- For example, by downloading the 64-bit Italian version of Tor you will get an installation file named "tor-browser-linux64-7.5.2_it.tar.xz".
- If you can't find the full name of the installation file you just downloaded, try looking for it in your computer's "Downloads" folder.
Part 2 of 2: Install Tor
Step 1. Open a "Terminal" window by clicking the icon
It is characterized by a black square inside which white characters are visible. It is usually located on the system dock or desktop.
- Using some versions of Linux you will first have to go to the main menu and choose the item Terminal from the list of available applications.
- Alternatively, press the key combination Alt + Ctrl + T.
Step 2. Go to the "Downloads" folder
Type the cd Downloads command and press the Enter key. In this way the command prompt of the "Terminal" window will refer to the indicated folder where the Tor installation file downloaded earlier should be present.
If you have saved the file in a folder other than the one indicated, you will need to modify the command so that you have access to the correct directory
Step 3. Extract the Tor installation file
Type the command tar -xvJf tor-browser-linux64-7.5.2_ language_code.tar.xz in the "Terminal" window, being careful to replace the "language_code" parameter with the language you have chosen, for example it, then press the Enter key.
For example, to decompress the installation file of the 64-bit Italian version of Tor, you will need to type the command tar -xvJf tor-browser-linux64-7.5.2_it.tar.xz and press the Enter key
Step 4. Go to the Tor directory
Type the command cd tor-browser_ language, where the language parameter represents the language of the version of Tor you downloaded, then press the Enter key.
Step 5. Start Tor
Type the command./start-tor-browser.desktop and press the Enter key. At this point, wait for the Tor window relating to the initial configuration to appear on the screen.
Step 6. Press the Connect button
It is located in the lower left part of the appeared window. In this way the program will be able to connect to the Tor network and, once the connection is established, the browser window will be displayed. At this point you should be able to browse the web without any problems using Tor.
Advice
- Contrary to what people believe, the Tor browser is not dangerous at all and it is not illegal to use it. To demonstrate this concept it is in fact based on an old version of Firefox.
- While most applications must be installed on Linux using the sudo apt-get install command, Tor is a portable internet browser that can be installed anywhere. This means that the related files must be created in a specific way, something that a traditional installation file could not offer.
Warnings
- Tor is often used to access what is called the "dark web" or "deep web". It is basically a section of the internet that is not indexed by normal search engines. Avoid using Tor for this purpose as it is normally a risky procedure that may be illegal in the country you live in.
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There are some important things to consider when using the Tor browser:
- Tor is unable to anonymize all data traffic to the web. The only communications that are hidden are those generated by Firefox. Other browsers or other applications must be configured to use proxy servers before they can access the Tor network.
- The Tor button in Firefox can block tools and technologies that can potentially trace your identity. This type of elements include: Java, ActiveX, RealPlayer, QuickTime, and the Adobe plug-in. In order to use these components within the Tor browser, the configuration file must be edited manually.
- Cookies that were present on the system before Tor was installed could continue to grant third parties access to the user's identity data. To make web browsing completely anonymous, you need to delete all cookies on your computer before installing Tor.
- The Tor network encrypts all the data that passes through it, that is, from the input node to the output node. To fully protect their information, users should use the "HTTPS" protocol or some other secure encryption system.
- Always check the integrity of any applications you download from the Tor network. Applications could be a potential problem if a router on the Tor network has been compromised.
