Tor circuit works to maintain your privacy and anonymity when browsing the internet:
1. Data Routing Through Relays:
- When you use the Tor network to browse the internet, your data takes a specific path known as a “Tor circuit.” This circuit is designed to anonymize your online activity. Your data is sent through a series of relays or nodes before it reaches its final destination.
2. Multiple Relays in the Chain:
- A typical Tor circuit consists of multiple relays or nodes. These relays are operated by volunteers who contribute to the Tor network’s infrastructure. Each relay in the chain has a specific function:
- Entry Node (Guard Relay): The first relay in the chain, known as the entry node or guard relay, is the point at which your data enters the Tor network. It only knows your IP address but doesn’t have access to your actual data or its destination.
- Middle Nodes: In the middle of the circuit, there are one or more middle nodes. These nodes receive data from the entry node and pass it along to the next relay in the chain. Each middle node only knows the identity of the previous and next relays in the circuit, enhancing the privacy of your data.
- Exit Node: The final relay in the circuit is the exit node. This node connects to the destination server or website you want to access. It knows the data’s destination but doesn’t know the original source (your IP address).
3. Maintaining Privacy and Anonymity:
- The key feature of a Tor circuit is that each relay only knows limited information about the data it is handling. This ensures your privacy and anonymity while browsing the internet. Here’s how the process works:
- The entry node knows your IP address but doesn’t have access to the content of your data or its destination.
- The middle nodes only know the identity of the previous and next relays in the chain, making it difficult to trace the data back to its source.
- The exit node knows the data’s destination but lacks information about the original source, protecting your identity.
4. Layered Encryption:
- To further enhance security, each relay in the Tor circuit adds a layer of encryption to the data it receives. This layered encryption ensures that even if one relay is compromised, the data remains protected. It’s like wrapping your data in multiple layers of protection, with each relay peeling off one layer before passing it along