The exit node only knows about the middle of these three Tor computers. Tor typically bounces your data between three randomly chosen computers in its network. The outside world sees you as being physically located wherever the Tor exit node is located. This last computer is called an 'exit node,' it is where data exits (and re-enters) the Tor network. The first Tor computer you communicate with obviously knows where you are, but the last computer in the Tor network handling your connection, the one that dumps your data on the internet, does not know where the data came from. However, what you lose in control with Tor, you gain in anonymity.įrom the outset, Tor was designed to hide the physical location (IP address) of your computer. because Netflix offers more stuff in the U.S. Many Canadians use VPN servers in the U.S. Tor also encrypts data between itself and your device, and, as with a VPN, the encryption is not end-to-end.īoth Tor and a consumer VPN make you appear to be physically located somewhere else, but there are differences.Ī big difference is that a VPN lets you control the server you connect to with Tor you have no control. TorĮverything said so far, also applies to Tor (The Onion Router). If not, then the VPN provider will offer client software.Įven if the operating system supports a particular VPN, you still may prefer software from the VPN company because it adds extra features such as easily switching between VPN servers, avoiding trackers or insuring that no data ever leaves the device without going through the VPN. Depending on the type of VPN, the operating system on a computing device may be able to make the VPN connection on its own. The software that connects to a VPN server is called VPN client software. I cost myself money doing this back in April. So, if you live in the U.S., but connect to a VPN server in Canada, all the computers you come in contact with think you are in Canada.

Interestingly, when already-encrypted data is sent through a VPN tunnel, it is double encrypted.įor some VPN users, the encryption in the tunnel is secondary.Īs far as the outside world is concerned, your VPN-connected device is located wherever the VPN server it is connected to is located. Looked at another way, VPNs do not offer end-to-end encryption. Protocols such as HTTPS for web pages or IMAPS for email do provide end-to-end encryption.

Can my college see im using tor browser