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Boost Your Anonymity with a TOR VPN

As the internet is turning out to be a commodity, the rate of malicious activity seems to rise. According to a study by Juniper Research 33 billion records will be stolen by 2023 and more than half of this criminal activity will target the US alone. In 2018, more than 60 million Americans were affected by identity theft, this indeed is alarming, and the solution is indeed simple. You must be familiar about how a VPN works and what Tor is but have you ever thought to combine both these security tools into a Tor VPN?

What is a Tor VPN?

Tor VPN means combining a VPN and Tor to yield maximum security online. Connecting to a VPN and then Tor (Tor over VPN) means to get all the benefits from Tor network and by the blessing of VPN you have an added protection so that no Tor node will be able to see your home IP address.

While using Tor VPN, you will not worry about being flagged by the home network that you are using Tor. Let me share an interesting story with you of a boy who sent a bomb threat to his university using Tor technology and the FBI tracked him. This boy was a Harvard student and had intentions to delay the exam even though he was using a Tor service but was eventually caught by the FBI.

He was using Harvard public WiFi which made him easily traceable because he was the only one using Tor. I wonder if he would have used a VPN; there would be no final exam the other day.

A Tor VPN combination is a military-grade privacy combination which will not only allow you to access the dark web but will ensure your anonymity isn’t compromised.

List of top 5 VPN Supports Tor

Tor is an incredible privacy tool which provides seamless anonymity on the web. Tor VPN however, is a more advanced version of internet privacy using which you enter a ghost mode online. There are only a few VPN providers that support Tor for additional security. Below is a list of top 5 VPN providers that support Tor better than anything in the market right now.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a British Virgin Island-based VPN provider who accepts Bitcoin and sticks to the ground principle of privacy “No-Logging.” It has an onion version of its websites for people willing to subscribe via Tor browser. Express VPN uses 256-bit AES encryption to ensure the secrecy and privacy of its users.

Express VPN;

  • Is Fast and Reliable
  • Does not keep logs
  • Accept Bitcoins for maximum anonymity
  • Has a .onion site for Tor users.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN offers steadfast access to its specialized servers that are preconfigured with Tor over VPN. This means that the traffic is first sent to the VPN and then is automatically directed towards Tor. A two VPN Tor option is also available via NordVPN, though it will take privacy and security to the next level let me warn you it will directly affect the speed of the connection.

Nord VPN;

  • Has Onion serves
  • Provides strong security online
  • Accepts Bitcoin payment
  • Doesn’t log user’s information

3. CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost is based in Romania which has no laws for data retention. This makes it a secure VPN provider to trust. Robust encryption protocols and features such as kill switch and leak protection gives users a perfect secret passage to surf online. CyberGhost is ranked as one of the best in the market because of its blazing speed which is enough to handle the Tor traffic.

CyberGost VPN;

  • Offers outstanding security protocols
  • Accepts Bitcoin payment
  • Keeps no logs on its users
  • Is Blazing fast perfect for Tor

4. Private Internet Access VPN

PIA VPN is one of the oldest in the market. It is affordable and features rich VPN that keeps no logs of its users and is perfect for Tor. Private Internet Access appreciates using Tor over VPN for an added layer of security. PIA claims that it is one of the fastest VPNs out there, but the speed can be compromised while a user uses Tor.

Private Internet Access VPN;

  • Easy to use
  • Robust encryption protocol enabled by default
  • Affordable pricing plans
  • Compatible with Tor

5. IPVanish VPN

IPVanish is yet another trustworthy VPN provider that allows up to 10 connections on a single subscription.  Custom software on popular platforms such as MacOS, Windows, iOS, and Android give a wholesome advantage and liberty to the user to use the web anonymously. IPVanish claims to take no logs and doesn’t sacrifice on its user’s privacy.

IPVanish VPN;

  • Provides outstanding security
  • No logs
  • Provides fast connection speed

Advantages of using Tor VPN

Now you must have a thorough idea of what a Tor VPN is and what role does it play in protecting us online. Let’s dive into some more advantages of using Tor over VPN.

  • By using Tor over VPN, you can fool your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Your ISP will not know if you are using Tor or not.
  • The entry node of tor will never know what’s your real IP; there it will indicate your fake one (the one your VPN provider gave you)
  • Tor VPN combo is an added layer to the online provided the VPN provider does not take logs of your browsing history.
  • Gives you the liberty to access Tor hidden services (.onion websites)

How to use a VPN and Tor?

You can use VPN and Tor in a number of ways the easiest of which is to download the Tor browser, or its extension or run a top operating system on your computer. VPNs that are compatible with Tor (Like the ones mentioned above) offer a simple one-click connection with Tor. It merely requires a single click to gain access of onion websites and enjoy the perks of a VPN and Tor.

The figure below depicts how Tor and VPN work side-by-side.

Why “Not” Connect Tor first and then VPN

There’s no doubt that Tor and VPNs are one of the best countermeasures to ensure maximum privacy online. When it comes to Tor, it is considered as the only thing (after VPN) that can thwart surveillance of sophisticated adversaries and well-funded agencies.

Using Tor over VPN boosts your privacy game and takes your internet anonymity to the next level. So what are you waiting for, connect your VPN and open Tor browser, and hide your identity from the entire digital world.

Conclusion

Writing this blog was so eventful for me that I didn’t know we’ve come to an end and I have to conclude it. There is no doubt in it that whenever we go online, we are exposed to risks such as malware and hacking. Even we can’t ask our government to protect us in this dire need of help as they are also interested to know our activities on the web. In this unusual but widespread dilemma, only privacy tools act as Avengers. Speaking of Avengers, if VPN is Iron Man and Tor is Captain America, then VPN + TOR is Thor the ultimate savior or your privacy.

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