Yes it is still around, usable, and used.
Subjectively, more sites block it now mostly through their CDN (Cloudflare or endless Google Captchas or whatever), but by and large it's still very, very "usable".
Just my opinions below, please feel free to school me. I think the "benefits" are theoretically twofold still, same as ever was:
1. I think it's safe to OPERATE on the basis that it's compromised or heavily subject to attack somehow, just like anything online. But I think it's still at least another LAYER of obfuscation or headache or whatever, in theory, at least for basic marketing annoyances and the like. Yeah, maybe it's largely pwnd, I have no way of knowing that for sure. Or maybe there's AI and timing attacks that are really good, I don't know, I see gross incompetence in some places and apparent competence in others, so no idea on this area. And maybe you need JS off which most sites fail on. But it's at least not making IP fingerprinting easy or giving in to another more-pwnd commercial VPN providers, etc., etc. etc.
2. IMO, a big altruistic reason for using Tor browser, would be that one helps the people who actually need it (say, dissident journalists in developing nations that lack freedom of speech and rule of law) get the "cover" that they need to avoid unfair treatment, by creating enough noise/traffic to get lost in, or something.
What'd I miss?
FAQs
Tor is not illegal in the US. Tor is often associated with dark web criminality, but the dark web also hosts many legitimate resources like the dark web wikipedia, secure email services, and research databases. If you're not engaged in illicit activities, it's not a crime to use the dark web to protect your privacy.
Why has Tor stopped working? ›
If Tor Browser was working before and is not working now your system may have been hibernating. A reboot of your system will solve the issue. Delete Tor Browser and install it again. If updating, do not just overwrite your previous Tor Browser files; ensure they are fully deleted beforehand.
What happened to Tor website? ›
Tor Publishing Group announced via press release that the Tor.com site will be rebranded as Reactor on January 23, 2024. The launch includes a redesigned website.
Why does Tor take forever? ›
Multi-hop design: Unlike a regular browser that connects directly to a website, Tor bounces your traffic through a series of three relays, each in a different location. The increased anonymity gained by this comes at the cost of adding extra steps and increasing travel time for your data.
Is Tor legal in the USA? ›
Tor is legal in the US. You won't likely get in trouble just because you use the Tor browser. However, Tor is not a lawless domain, so you can't use this browser for illegal activities. If you use Tor for buying drugs or weapons, you are held responsible against the law.
Can Tor be traced? ›
Tor doesn't provide a new IP address when you open the browser, so anyone watching knows you're using Tor and could track your true location. It does encrypt your traffic on most nodes, but it doesn't offer encryption at the exit node.
What is better than Tor? ›
Using VPNs as an alternative to Tor offers several advantages: Enhanced Security: VPNs provide strong encryption and secure communication channels, protecting users' sensitive information from interception.
Is Tor being blocked? ›
To check if Tor is blocked, you can install OONI Probe on your mobile device or on your desktop, and run the "Circumvention Test". An OONI Tor Test can serve as an indication of a potential block of the Tor network, but a thorough analysis by our developers is crucial for a conclusive evaluation.
What is the problem with Tor? ›
Tor needs your system clock (and your time zone) set to the correct time. Antivirus or malware protection blocking users from accessing Tor Browser. Sometimes these also pop up with false positives regarding malware and/or vulnerabilities.
Is Tor even safe anymore? ›
Despite Tor and the dark web being closely linked, using Tor browser doesn't mean involving in illicit activities. It can be very useful software to certain internet users. Because of how it operates, Tor is generally safe to use, and Tor onion browser offer several benefits like heightened safety and privacy.
DuckDuckGo is the default search engine in Tor Browser. DuckDuckGo does not track its users nor does it store any data about user searches.
Is Tor the dark web? ›
What's known as the dark web exists within the deep web; it's an area of the internet that is only accessible by users who have a Tor browser installed. In general, most average internet users will never need to access content on the dark web, although it is perfectly legal to use Tor.
Why is Tor no longer connecting? ›
One of the most common issues that causes connection errors in Tor Browser is an incorrect system clock. Please make sure your system clock and timezone are set accurately. If this doesn't fix the problem, see the Troubleshooting page on the Tor Browser manual.
Which is faster Tor or VPN? ›
VPNs are faster than Tor because Tor uses multiple servers/relays to route your connection, whereas VPNs offer a single-hop connection to the server.
Can you use Tor as a daily? ›
If you're okay with a slower connection, you could use Tor every day. And if it's not a compromise you're willing to make, just remember to use Tor every time you visit a website you don't want anyone in between to know you visited.
Why can't Tor be shut down? ›
Tor is also used by banks, diplomatic officials, members of law enforcement, bloggers, and many others. Attempts to disable the Tor network would interfere with all of these users, not just ones disliked by the attacker. Every person has the right to privacy. This right is a foundation of a democratic society.
In what countries is Tor illegal? ›
Tor is legal in most countries, including the US. However, China and Russia have banned Tor. Internet users should check if Tor is allowed in their country before downloading it. Using Tor is completely legal if you only browse safe content and do not partake in illegal activities accessible on the dark web.
Why is Tor not private? ›
Tor does not protect all of your computer's Internet traffic when you run it. Tor only protects applications that are properly configured to send their Internet traffic through Tor.
