Tor is software designed to protect web browsing by diverting all communications into a distributed transmission network managed by volunteers around the world. This system prevents someone from checking your connection to the web, identifying the sites you visit, as well as not allowing the same sites to trace the location where you are. Tor can work in conjunction with many common applications, including Firefox, although Tor Browser is highly recommended for maximum privacy.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Configure Tor Using BlackBelt
Step 1. Download BlackBelt Privacy for Windows
This method is only available for Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. If you are using one of these operating systems, start the simple Tor installation by downloading BlackBelt Privacy at this link. The file is approximately 15 megabytes, so it will be completed in minutes with most internet connections.
If you're using a different operating system, follow the manual Tor installation instructions
Step 2. Open the BlackBelt file you just downloaded and choose an option
A window should open asking you to choose how you will use Tor. If you don't know which option to choose, you should probably consider one of the following three:
- Choose "Bridge Relay Operator" if you want to use Tor and help other people stay private by using your computer as a relay.
- Choose "Tor Client Only Operator" if you want to use the Tor network without participating in it.
- Choose "Censored User" if you live in a state that censors internet traffic.
Step 3. Complete the BlackBelt installation
The program will automatically close Firefox if it is open, and will modify its settings to create a new Tor Firefox icon on your desktop. Use this icon to switch to Firefox Tor mode.
Step 4. The BlackBelt installation should finish in a minute or two
Once completed, open Firefox. You should now be able to browse using the Tor network.
If you are having trouble installing, try contacting a BlackBelt administrator for more information
Step 5. Browse the internet
If you are connected to the Tor network, it will be much more difficult for people to access your personal data. Using Tor with Firefox isn't the safest way to browse though, especially if you don't change your habits. For added security, follow the advice in the last section.
Method 2 of 3: Configure Tor on Firefox Manually
Step 1. Download the Tor browser
You will find it for all popular operating systems and in many different languages. Choose a download downloads from the Tor Project web page. With most internet connections, it will only take a few minutes to download the file.
Step 2. Open the file you downloaded
Extract the file by opening it or dragging it to the Applications folder. Open the Tor Browser application and leave it open for the rest of this method.
The Tor browser is the safest way to browse the internet, and can also be used to connect to the Tor network. You will need to leave the Tor browser open if you want to use the Tor network with another browser, such as Firefox
Step 3. Access the Firefox proxy settings
The Tor network encrypts your requests to web pages and passes them through a network of private computers. To connect to this network with Firefox, you will need to change the program's proxy settings. This step may vary according to your Firefox version and operating system, but these instructions should work in most cases:
- On Firefox for Windows, go to Tools → Options → General → Connection Settings, or skip this process and use BlackBelt as described above.
- On Firefox for Mac OS X, go to Firefox → Preferences → Advanced → Network → Settings.
- On Firefox for Linux, go to Edit → Preferences → Advanced → Proxy.
Step 4. Set up manual proxy configuration
The default is "No proxy". Instead, check the "Manual proxy configuration" box. Enter the following information exactly in the list of other options:
- In the field SOCKS host, insert: 127.0.0.1
- In the field Brings type 9050.
- Select SOCKS v5 if you see this entry.
- After No Proxy for:, insert 127.0.0.1
Step 5. Check that your browser is working
If the settings don't work, you probably won't be able to load any web pages. If this happens to you, double-check the information you entered and that the Tor browser is open. If you are able to load web pages, visit check.torproject.org to make sure you are using Tor.
If you can't get Tor to work, go back to the "No Proxy" setting to continue using Firefox as normal while trying to fix the problem
Step 6. Troubleshoot
If you can't get Tor to work following these instructions, find your problem on the Tor FAQ. If you don't find the answer on that page, contact the Tor Project developers by email, phone, or regular mail.
The developers offer help in English, Arabic, Spanish, Farsi, French or Mandarin
Step 7. Browse the internet
When you want to use Tor, you will need to open the Tor Browser, wait for it to connect to the network, then set Firefox to the "Manual proxy configuration" you entered earlier. You will only be partially protected, but you can increase the security by following the instructions in the next section.
Method 3 of 3: Browse More Safely and Privately
Step 1. Check the Firefox version number
In 2013, the US National Security Agency exploited a flaw in Firefox version 17 to collect data sent over the Tor network. Check the Firefox change log to find out if it fixes an urgent security issue. If not, consider waiting a week or two before updating, and check the internet to see if the update has introduced a new security issue.
Step 2. Don't expect videos to be safe
Browser plugins like Flash, RealPlayer, and Quicktime can be used to reveal your IP address and identify your computer. To get around this, you can try YouTube's experimental HTML 5 video player, but you won't find this option on most sites.
Many websites run these plugins automatically to show embedded content. You will need to disable these plugins entirely in the Firefox options to ensure maximum privacy
Step 3. Avoid torrents and don't open downloaded files if you are online
Remember that Torrent sharing applications often ignore your privacy settings, which makes it easy to track down your computer. You can download other files as normal, but turn off your internet connection before opening them to prevent the application from transmitting data.
You will often find internet resources in.doc and.pdf files
Step 4. Use https encryption if possible
L' http you see at the beginning of the web addresses indicates the protocol used to exchange requests for information between you and the web server. You can type manually https to add an encrypted protocol, but installing the https everywhere add-on for Firefox is a much easier way to do this, by automatically forcing https on all websites that support this feature.
Step 5. Consider using the Tor Browser
While the above steps can make Firefox reasonably private, it's easy to make mistakes and reveal your information. Firefox also develops much faster than Tor, so there is a good chance that security issues related to the interactions between Tor and Firefox are not discovered and not fixed. The Tor Browser, which you may have already downloaded to set up Firefox, automatically uses the maximum privacy settings, and you should use it when you risk serious repercussions, such as from an oppressive government.
