Tor (Onion Router) is maintained by volunteers around the globe with one main focus – privacy security. Tor’s purpose is to provide a more secure, secure environment than is typically offered on the standard web, and it does this by using multi-layer encryption.
The Onion router uses the Firefox search engine as the default and provides an alternative for consumers who want to shop online without worrying about hackers stealing their personal information or identity. . At a time when online security is even more essential, more and more people are becoming Tor users.
Deep web access actually quite simple from a personal computer. All you really need to do is install the Tor browser or a plugin. But what about from an Android device? You can decide to download any one of the many Tor apps that the Google Play Store offers. Some of them also come with offers extra VPN security.
However, to get the full Tor experience, you’ll need to download and install three separate apps. You will also need to root and jailbreak your phone to enable installation of third-party apps.
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How to set up and use Tor on Android
Before using the necessary applications for Tor, we must first make sure that your Android device is rooted.
If you’re familiar with Windows Explorer, think source as C:\ of your device. By default, Android does not allow you to access this section to prevent users from accidentally deleting important files. However, in order to access Tor through the device, you will need to complete it.
Root your device
How you start rooting your device will be determined by the device model you own. Due to the wide range of device models, there is no universal method to root them all. Your best bet is to do a bit of research online about your phone model and how to start rooting it.
Jailbreak
Jailbreak is an odd term to use, as it makes it seem like you’re doing something illegal. This is not the case. All you’re doing is allowing your device to install apps from sources that aren’t in the Google Play Store.
The process is very simple, but will depend on the OS version your Android device is running.
For Android Nougat and earlier:
Wording may vary between versions, but the basic workflow remains the same.
- Enter Setting of your phone and tap to open Guard.
- Convert on Unknown sources options and verify changes with ALRIGHT.
For Android Oreo and above:
Suck around Setting no longer needed. Anything that hasn’t been downloaded via the Google Play Store will prompt you with a confirmation dialog. Click to activate settings from one Unknown source and you’re good to go.
OrWall app
OrWall forces all apps on your Android device to use the Tor network whenever data is transferred.
- Click the link to download the APK file and install it.
- Once installed, run through the setup process and reboot your device.
- Once the device is backed up, you can launch OrWall and decide for yourself which of your apps will be transferred via Tor.
OrBot . App
OrBot is the bridge from your device to the Tor network. The app can also be found in the Google Play Store but the link provided comes directly from Developers Location.
Once the app has been downloaded and installed, complete the setup wizard. This only happens when setting up OrBot for the first time. All subsequent activations can be performed from the Power button located within the application.
OrFox App
OrFox is the companion browser made for Orbot, also developed by the good people at Project Guardian. When OrBot offers Tor connectivity, OrFox is the vehicle you will use when traveling on the information highway. In other words, OrFox is your Tor browser, and if you can’t guess, the browser used is Firefox.
The application does not need to be set up before use other than depending on OrBot. Just launch it and wait for the “success” prompt to let you know you’re connected. OrFox offers the bonus of bypassing most online restrictions. So, if you’re currently at your office and can’t access certain websites, you and OrFox can become best friends.
OrWeb, which is the base version of Tor Browser for Android, was obsolete with the release of OrFox. OrWeb appears as the default browser that allows downloading and installing OrBot but has many limitations. Make sure you get OrFox to use with OrBot to limit your Tor browsing.
