While certain browser extensions such as HTTPSEverywhere (rewrites requests to use HTTPS by default) and NoScript (optionally disables technologies like JavaScript, Java, Flash) can increase security, a browser such as Firefox or Chrome which is configured with security in mind cannot always provide sufficient security. The Tor Browser is an alternative, privacy-oriented browser developed by the Tor Project. It uses the Tor Network to attempt to ensure anonymity.
Tor Browser Bundle
The Tor Browser Bundle contains Tor, Vidalia, a modified Firefox ESR, and Torbutton.
- Tor: a network of virtual tunnels that allows people and groups to improve their privacy and security on the Internet.
- Vidalia: a cross-platform graphical controller for the Tor software, built using the Qt framework.
- Firefox ESR: Firefox is a browser developed by Mozilla. ESR stands for "Extended Support Release."
- Torbutton: the component in Tor Browser Bundle that takes care of application-level security and privacy concerns in Firefox.
Functionality
- Proxy Obedience: prevent browser from bypassing Tor proxy settings for any content
- State Separation: prevent states from non-Tor activity from being combined with the Tor Browser state
- Disk Avoidance: prevent browser activity from being written to disk, or from being stored in memory beyond the duration of the browsing session
- Application Data Isolation: reduce and/or eliminate local traces of Tor activity
- Cross-Origin Identifier Unlinkability:
- Cross-Origin Fingerprinting Unlinkability: a user's activity on one site from being linked to their activity on another site
- Long-Term Unlinkability: