Does Connecting VPN Before TOR Makes Me More Anonymous?

Connecting to a VPN (Virtual Private Network) before using the Tor network can provide an additional layer of anonymity. The process can be elaborated as:

When you connect to a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted and routed through the VPN server before it reaches the Tor network. This hides your IP address from the websites and services you access. It also prevents your internet service provider (ISP) from seeing your online activities. Now if you connect it to TOR Browser, it bounces your internet traffic through multiple volunteer-operated servers (nodes) to anonymize it. It makes it extremely difficult for anyone to trace your online activity back to you.

There are the following advantages of connecting VPN before TOR:

1. Enhanced Privacy: The VPN hides your IP address from the Tor network, making it harder for anyone to correlate your VPN IP with your Tor traffic.
2. ISP Anonymity: Your ISP can’t see that you’re using Tor because your traffic is first encrypted and sent to the VPN server.
3. Bypassing Tor Blockages: In some countries, Tor may be blocked or restricted. Using a VPN can help you access the Tor network in such situations.

Another area of concern using TOR with VPN is you have to trust your service provider. But TOR Web browser reduce this concern by providing its own VPN. The Tor network by TOR Web Browser is maintained and used by a global community of privacy advocates and experts. It’s a well-established and respected system for achieving anonymity.