What is the purpose of The Onion Router (TOR)?

The Onion Router (TOR) is designed specifically to enable anonymous web browsing. It achieves this by routing internet traffic through a series of volunteer-operated servers or "nodes," which encrypt the data and hide the user's IP address. When a user connects to the TOR network, their internet traffic is transmitted through multiple layers of encryption, similar to the layers of an onion, hence the name. This process helps protect the user's identity and location, allowing them to browse the internet anonymously.

The primary goal of TOR is to provide privacy and anonymity online, making it particularly useful for individuals in oppressive regimes, whistleblowers, or anyone needing to communicate without fear of surveillance. Unlike enhancing website speeds, securing satellite communications, or filtering malicious websites, TOR focuses explicitly on providing users with a private and secure browsing experience.