When browsing the Internet there are many factors that can influence our security and privacy. Users look for ways to preserve their data and not compromise the equipment. We have different tools at our disposal, as well as services and functions that we can use. In this article we are going to talk about two of them. We will explain what is the Tor network and the Tor browser , to know how to identify both concepts. We already know that they are tools that we can use to improve privacy.
Differences between the Tor network and the Tor browser
Both are synonymous with tools to improve privacy when browsing. They serve to keep our personal information safe and have no problems that compromise our data. However, we must know the differences between the Tor network and the Tor browser.
What is the Tor network
The Tor or TOR network comes from the English words The Onion Router. It is basically an Internet network or better known as Darknet, which remains hidden from search engines such as Google. It is, so to speak, a place where a series of hidden web pages remain and can only be accessed using necessary tools.
This network works in a particular way, since it is based on a layering technique (onion) that serves to protect communications and ensure total anonymity on the Internet. The objective is to offer greater privacy to users who browse through this network.
When browsing the normal network , our computer connects to the Internet servers directly. This means that the route is simple and can be intercepted by our operator. Basically they know where the request to access a page comes from.
What the Tor network does is encrypt these access requests to Internet servers. He figures it as if it were an onion, in layers. In this way it provides greater privacy when browsing the network and hides user data.
What is the Tor browser
As we mentioned, the Tor network is designed to improve privacy and works by encrypting connections as if they were layers. The pages that stay in it do not appear in Google as the normal ones that we see in our day to day.
This means that to enter the Tor network we will need something different. This is where the Tor browser comes into play. Its function is to allow users to surf the Tor network. It is a browser like any other, since it is also based on Firefox. However, it has the peculiarity that it is capable of allowing users to navigate the Tor network. Its operation is simple.
To navigate the Tor pages we will have to use a search engine within the Tor browser. An example is DuckDuckGo, which allows you to find .onion pages , which are those that are within the Tor network. Only then can we really navigate this network.
The Tor browser is available on both desktop computers and mobile devices. It has a wide range of possibilities in terms of compatibility.
In short, as we have seen the Tor network and the Tor browser are not the same. Basically we can say that the Tor browser is the indispensable tool to navigate the Tor network, which is designed to preserve the privacy of users.
Maintain network privacy, a fundamental factor
Keep in mind that maintaining privacy on the network is a fundamental factor for users. There are many reasons that encourage Internet users to maintain their anonymity on the web. Many marketing companies can find a way to get our data. They do this to target advertisements or put users in advertising campaigns.
Luckily we have at our disposal a wide range of possibilities to protect our data . The first thing we can do is use tools that protect us on the Internet. We can also use browsers that are based on privacy, as we have seen in the case of Tor.
