Tor Browser For Android Finally Here To Protect Your Privacy
All major browser have one form of "Do Not Track" privacy mode or another. Some users, however, may not be so trusting of companies who have a vested interest in keeping track of users, for one reason or another. For some, even Mozilla's Firefox falls under that category. Few web browsers achieve that degree of fame and infamy as Tor's own web browser. And now it has finally come on Android, though in an unfinished alpha version.
Tor, which originally stood for "The Onion Browser", achieved its popularity (and notoriety with some governments) thanks to its use of a large volunteer overlay network made up of thousands of relays. Hence the association with an onion. This has practically made it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to track the path that network traffic takes in the network. In other words, it can completely mask your origin or destination and prevents fingerprinting and tracking.
That's fine and dandy if you only ever browse the Web on your desktop or laptop. Most people these days, however, browse on their smartphones and, therefore, remain unprotected from snooping eyes. Be it criminals' or even governments'. With its fresh new browser for Android, Tor is promising the following privacy advantages your average web browser can't give:
BLOCK TRACKERS
Tor Browser isolates each website you visit so third-party trackers and ads can't follow you. Any cookies automatically clear when you're done browsing.
DEFEND AGAINST SURVEILLANCE
Prevent someone watching your connection from knowing what websites you visit. All anyone monitoring your browsing habits can see is that you're using Tor.
RESIST FINGERPRINTING
Tor aims to make all users look the same, so Tor Browser for Android makes it difficult for you to be fingerprinted based on your browser and device information.
MULTI-LAYERED ENCRYPTION
When you use Tor Browser for Android, your traffic is relayed and encrypted three times as it passes over the Tor network. The network is comprised of thousands of volunteer-run servers known as Tor relays. Watch this animation to learn more about how it works.
BROWSE FREELY
With Tor Browser for Android, you are free to access sites your local internet service provider may have blocked.
You can download the Tor Browser from Google Play Store but if you're uneasy about that, you can also download the APK directly from the Tor Project, usual security disclaimers apply. The app is still in beta form and to use it, you'll have to download a separate Orbot proxy app. The developers hope the final version won't require the separate app anymore.