Before diving into the advantages of using a proxy server with Tor, let us first discuss the browser and proxy servers and how they work. By utilizing a high-quality proxy server with Tor, it is possible to make the most of Tor and even access it in areas where it is not available.
What Is the Tor Browser?
Tor, more commonly known as The Onion Router, is a web browser or software designed to make your web traffic anonymous. Its main purpose is to allow you to browse the internet without having your activity tracked or monitored. To do this, it directs your traffic through a free, global overlay network containing over 6,000 relays. This hides your location and usage from third parties and prevents them from carrying out traffic analysis or network surveillance.
The Tor browser is ideal for those who want to research an opposing litigant in a legal dispute, monitor their competitors, or just keep their government and internet service provider from knowing which websites they visit.
What Is a Proxy Server?
A proxy server is a third-party server that acts as an intermediary between your device and the websites and services you access online. It takes your web requests, processes them, and forwards them to the right destination. It also receives web responses from the destination and sends them back to your device. When sending and receiving web requests and responses, the proxy server uses its own IP address instead of yours, making it look like the requests are coming from the proxy instead. This way, your true IP address, location, and other identifying information remain hidden from the websites you visit and the rest of the internet.
Proxy servers are different from the Tor browser, which also provides online anonymity. While both technologies can protect your privacy, the Tor browser takes an extra step by encrypting all your traffic, making it more secure.
Advantages of Using a Proxy for Tor
Combining the Tor browser with a good proxy server can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. Here’s how proxies can help you maximize the use of Tor:
Achieve Full Anonymity
Though the Tor browser can help make your online activity anonymous and private, it is not entirely secure. This is because your personal details, such as your IP address, are vulnerable or visible at the point of entry into the Tor network. As a result, anyone monitoring the Tor network could easily identify your IP and other identifying information. Additionally, your encrypted data will be decrypted at Tor’s exit node when reaching the final destination server.
By utilizing a proxy server with Tor, however, you can safeguard your data at both the entry and exit node. This is because the proxy will give you a new IP address and location before entering the Tor network, making you anonymous even to Tor. Thus, your web requests will enter and exit the Tor network as if they were coming from a different device and location, allowing you to attain full anonymity on the Tor network.
Accessing Sites that Block Tor Users
Some websites and applications ban Tor users for various reasons. If you would like to visit a website or app that is denying access due to the Tor browser, a proxy server can help you access it. By masking your Tor activity, you can deceive these websites into believing that you are not using Tor, allowing you to access the service.
Using Tor in Countries Where it is Not Available
Some countries or governments may block access to the Tor browser as they want to monitor their citizens’ online activity. By using a proxy server, though, you can change your geographical location and access Tor from a location where the browser is allowed.
What Are the Best Tor Proxies?
Both residential and datacenter proxies are suitable for use with the Tor browser. For online activities that require optimal anonymity and security, residential proxies provide the most secure connection, as they provide real IP addresses from real devices. On the other hand, datacenter proxies are better suited for those who are more concerned with getting the highest possible upload and download speeds, as Tor tends to be slower due to its lack of a direct connection to the internet. No matter which type of proxy you choose, it is important to ensure reliability by selecting a premium provider, such as ProxyCompass, who offer both anonymous and secure residential proxies as well as fast and reliable datacenter proxies.