User privacy is in focus in today’s era of data leaks. Regularly, behemoth companies like Google or Facebook are in the news because they’ve either been hacked or they’ve surreptitiously collected data in questionable ways.
This is particularly relevant in the light of the recent investigation into Google’s collection of client data while using their Chrome browser’s incognito setting. To maintain privacy Online users need to use either a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or a browser like TOR (The Onion Router) to remain anonymous.
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about using these services simultaneously, so we’re going to take a look at the pros & cons associated.
VPN
Basically, a VPN conceals your IP address from prying eyes. Neither the end connection, nor your ISP will be able to detect either your actual location or your device’s specifications. Your browsing data will remain your own, but there are certain flaws in this universal belief.
Firstly, your VPN knows who you are & can log your activity, they have your payment details, after all. Secondly, if forced to divulge information they might very well do so, particularly if they keep logs.
TOR
The Onion Router is a free & open source network. Data is routed from a computer & the Internet through a series of volunteer servers, which hide the user’s identity & location from anyone monitoring Internet traffic. The downside of using this protocol over a regular browser is that it’s very slow. Also, there’s always a concern that your identity could be revealed when you disconnect from the end point & your ISP can “see” that you’ve initiated TOR.
Using TOR & a VPN
Obviously, using both protocols in tandem will offer a greater degree of security, although this method is not recommended by all experts. There are 2 methods.
- TOR over VPN – Connect to your VPN prior to using TOR, which means that although your ISP knows you are using a VPN, it cannot see that you’ve initiated TOR, the VPN cannot log the sites you visit & although your “message” can be read from the Exit Relay(server), this cannot be connected to your actual IP.
- VPN over TOR – VPN encrypts each connection in the Tor network. Using this approach your ISP can see that you’re using TOR & you can’t use the dark web.
To conclude: Overall using both services simultaneously will still slow down your browsing experience, but if you feel that your privacy is being compromised you might think it’s worth it. For most ordinary people a good quality VPN is probably sufficient, especially if they allow you to pay using cryptocurrency, which eliminates the threat that can arise from supplying them with payment details.
Image credit: Stefan by Pixelmob
