Stop Using Tor With VPNs

Mental Outlaw

16 Oct 202311:41

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the host discusses the controversial topic of using a VPN with the Tor network. While some argue that a VPN adds an extra layer of security, the host points out that Tor is already highly effective at anonymizing traffic through its multi-hop encryption system. The video also addresses concerns about ISPs detecting Tor usage and the potential risks of using a VPN, especially in countries with strict internet censorship. The host advises against mixing VPNs with Tor, suggesting that it may actually draw more attention from authorities. Instead, they recommend running one's own Tor relay to contribute to the network's privacy and security. The video concludes with a call to action to support the channel and a reminder of the importance of privacy in the digital age.

Takeaways

🌐 The first layer of accessing the dark web using Tor is basic, involving connecting to the Tor browser on Windows.
🛡️ Layer Two involves using a VPN before connecting to the Tor browser, which is a common question and generally discouraged by the Tor community.
🔒 Tor (The Onion Router) provides a higher level of privacy and anonymity compared to VPNs by routing traffic through three different servers with three layers of encryption.
🔑 The decentralized nature of Tor allows anyone to run a relay, making it difficult for traffic logs to be compared and users de-anonymized.
🔒 Tor establishes new circuits every 10 minutes, further enhancing user privacy by changing the servers through which the traffic passes.
🕵️‍♂️ People who should be concerned about hiding their Tor usage from their ISP are those involved in criminal activities or living in countries that block Tor connections.
🚧 In countries like Iran and China, using a VPN or accessing Tor through bridges can be risky due to government surveillance and control.
🔎 Law enforcement often catches criminals on the dark web due to operational security mistakes unrelated to Tor, such as using personal accounts for clearnet and darknet activities.
⚠️ Using a VPN to connect to Tor can actually make users more conspicuous, especially if the VPN provider is required to keep logs or can be compelled to provide user information.
💡 For those who want to enhance their privacy, running their own Tor relay on a VPS can be a more effective and altruistic approach than using a VPN.
💰 The money spent on VPN subscriptions could be better used to support the Tor network by running a relay, which benefits the entire community.
📉 Using VPNs with Tor is generally not recommended due to the potential risks and the fact that Tor is designed to provide strong anonymity on its own.

Q & A

What is the title of the video posted by Network Chuck?
-The title of the video is 'How to access the dark web in 2023 three layers'.
Why does Network Chuck recommend using a VPN for the second layer when accessing the dark web?
-Network Chuck recommends using a VPN for the second layer to potentially increase security and privacy, although it is a debated topic within the Tor community.
What is the general consensus in official Tor forums and subreddits regarding the use of a VPN with Tor?
-The general consensus in official Tor forums and subreddits is that using a VPN with Tor is not necessary and could even be a bad idea.
How does Tor provide privacy and anonymity compared to a VPN?
-Tor provides privacy and anonymity by routing traffic through three different servers with three layers of encryption, making it more secure than chaining VPN servers together.
Why might someone want to hide the fact that they are using Tor from their ISP?
-People might want to hide their Tor usage from their ISP to avoid scrutiny or potential legal issues, especially if they are in countries that block or monitor Tor connections or if they are involved in activities that could attract law enforcement attention.
What are the two main categories of people who should be concerned with hiding their Tor usage from their ISP?
-The two main categories are people who are engaging in criminal activities or organizing protests on the dark web, and those who are in countries like Iran or China where connections to Tor are blocked.
How does using a VPN with Tor potentially make a user more visible to authorities?
-Using a VPN with Tor can make a user more visible because the traffic from a VPN to Tor stands out and may be targeted for scrutiny by law enforcement or intelligence agencies.
What is the author's recommendation for a VPN service that could be used with Tor if someone insists on doing so?
-The author recommends using a VPN service like Mulvad, which accepts Monero for payment and doesn't require an email address to create an account.
Why does the author suggest that running one's own Tor relay on a VPS might be a better use of money compared to paying for a VPN?
-Running a Tor relay helps the Tor network by increasing the diversity of entry points, making it harder for traffic analysis and surveillance. It also contributes to the privacy of all Tor users and can be a more ethical use of resources.
What is the author's final conclusion on mixing VPNs with Tor?
-The author concludes that mixing VPNs with Tor is a bad idea, as it is unnecessary and likely to make the user stand out, potentially attracting unwanted attention.
What is the significance of Tor establishing new circuits every 10 minutes?
-The practice of establishing new circuits every 10 minutes ensures that a user's traffic is routed through different servers, enhancing privacy by making it more difficult to track or analyze a user's activity.
Why does the author suggest that using a VPN to connect to Tor might lead to more information being revealed to authorities?
-The author suggests that VPN providers, especially those like NordVPN that enforce Know Your Customer (KYC) policies, may be compelled to share user information with authorities, which could include personal details and home IP addresses.

Outlines

00:00

🔒 Controversy Over Using VPNs with Tor

The video discusses the debate around using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) with the Tor browser. Network Chuck's video on accessing the dark web using a VPN has sparked controversy. While Tor is designed to provide privacy and anonymity through multiple layers of encryption and IP address changes, some experts argue that adding a VPN to the mix is unnecessary and could even be counterproductive. The video explains that Tor's decentralized nature and frequent circuit changes make it superior to VPNs for maintaining privacy. It also addresses concerns about hiding Tor usage from ISPs, especially in countries where Tor is censored, and suggests that using a VPN could actually make users more conspicuous to authorities.

05:03

🚨 Risks of Using VPNs for Dark Web Activities

The video elaborates on the potential risks of using VPNs, especially for individuals engaging in criminal activities or political protests on the dark web. It points out that most criminals caught on the dark web were apprehended due to operational security mistakes unrelated to Tor, such as using personal email addresses. The video argues that VPNs are not likely to offer protection against law enforcement, as evidenced by court records. It also highlights that VPN connections can be easily identified and monitored, making users who connect to Tor through a VPN more suspicious. The video advises against using VPNs like NordVPN for Tor due to their requirement for personal information and suggests using VPNs that accept anonymous payment methods and do not require an email address for an account.

10:06

🛡️ Alternatives to Using VPNs with Tor

The video concludes by advising against the use of VPNs with Tor, stating that it is unnecessary and could potentially expose users. Instead, it recommends using Tor as intended, which allows users' traffic to blend with the millions of others using the network, enhancing its effectiveness. The video also suggests that the money spent on VPN subscriptions could be better used to run one's own Tor relay on a Virtual Private Server (VPS), which would contribute to the network's resilience against surveillance. The host encourages viewers to support privacy by running a Tor relay and offers a discount on merchandise for using the cryptocurrency Monero.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Dark Web

The 'Dark Web' refers to a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines and requires specific software, configurations, or authorization to access. It is often associated with increased privacy and anonymity, but also with illegal activities. In the video, the main theme revolves around accessing the dark web and discussing the safety and privacy concerns associated with it.

💡Tor Browser

The 'Tor Browser' is a free and open-source web browser that enhances privacy and security by enabling users to browse the internet anonymously. It is a core component of the Tor network, which is mentioned as the first layer for accessing the dark web in the video. The script discusses the use of the Tor browser in the context of privacy and anonymity.

💡VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN is a service that creates a secure, encrypted connection between your device and a server over the internet. It is used to protect online privacy by hiding your internet activity and making it appear as though you are in a different location. The video discusses the use of a VPN as part of a layered approach to accessing the dark web and questions its effectiveness and safety.

💡Layer

In the context of the video, 'Layer' refers to the different stages or steps involved in accessing the dark web. The script outlines three layers, starting with the Tor browser, then a VPN, and finally the dark web itself. Each layer represents an additional step for privacy but also raises questions about the necessity and potential risks.

💡De-anonymization

De-anonymization is the process of identifying an anonymous entity. In the video, it is mentioned in the context of the low probability of successfully de-anonymizing a user of the Tor network due to its decentralized and encrypted nature. The concept is central to the discussion on the security of using the dark web.

💡ISP (Internet Service Provider)

An ISP provides customers with internet access services. The video discusses the visibility of a user's activities to their ISP, particularly when accessing the Tor network. It raises concerns about whether using a VPN can effectively hide the fact that a user is connecting to the Tor network from their ISP.

💡

💡Threat Model

A 'Threat Model' is a theoretical framework used to design systems with a focus on security and to identify, quantify, and prioritize risks. The video establishes a threat model to understand who should be concerned about hiding their Tor usage from their ISP, such as criminals or activists.

💡Criminal Activity

The term 'Criminal Activity' is used in the video to describe actions that are illegal and subject to prosecution. It is discussed in the context of people who might be using the dark web for illicit purposes and the potential risks associated with being detected by law enforcement.

💡Law Enforcement

Law enforcement refers to the organizations and authorities responsible for upholding the law. In the video, it is mentioned in the context of how they might monitor and track individuals using the dark web, particularly those using VPNs to connect to Tor, which could make them stand out.

💡Quantum-resistant

Quantum-resistant refers to cryptographic algorithms that are believed to be secure against attacks by quantum computers. The video discusses the use of quantum-resistant tunnels in VPNs as a way to protect user information, although it also notes that such users might still be easily identifiable.

💡Running a Tor Relay

Running a Tor relay involves contributing to the Tor network by allowing traffic to pass through one's own server, which can enhance the overall privacy and security of the network. The video suggests that instead of using a VPN, users could run their own Tor relay to support the network and maintain privacy.

Highlights

Network Chuck has posted a video on how to access the dark web in 2023, which has become one of his most viewed videos this year.

The video suggests using a VPN in conjunction with the Tor browser, which is a common question and topic of debate within the Tor community.

Many official Tor forums and subreddits advise against using a VPN with Tor, suggesting it's unnecessary and could be counterproductive.

Tor provides a high level of encryption and anonymity by routing traffic through three different servers, making it superior to chaining VPNs.

The decentralized nature of Tor allows anyone to run a relay, further enhancing privacy by reducing the chance of traffic log correlation.

Using a VPN primarily to hide Tor usage from an ISP may not be effective, especially in countries where Tor is blocked.

Criminals on the dark web are often caught due to operational security mistakes unrelated to Tor, such as using personal accounts to advertise hidden services.

A VPN connection to Tor stands out more than a direct connection and could attract unwanted attention from law enforcement.

Law enforcement can monitor edge traffic from Tor nodes and VPNs, making VPN-to-Tor connections highly suspicious.

Using a VPN like NordVPN with Tor is not recommended due to its requirement for personal information and lack of anonymous subscription options.

Instead of using a VPN with Tor, it's suggested to use Tor as intended, blending traffic with millions of other users for better anonymity.

Running your own Tor relay on a VPS can be a more beneficial use of resources, enhancing the network's resilience against surveillance.

Using a VPN to connect to Tor is deemed unnecessary and potentially harmful to privacy, as it can make users more conspicuous.

The video recommends against mixing VPNs with Tor, especially when using services like NordVPN that require extensive personal information.

For those concerned about privacy, the video suggests using a VPN like Mulvad that accepts cryptocurrency and doesn't require an email for account creation.

Mulvad's app is open-source and supports quantum-resistant tunnels, providing a higher level of security.

Despite these options, using a VPN with Tor still makes users stand out and is not advised for those seeking to blend in with regular Tor traffic.

The video concludes that using a VPN with Tor is not recommended and suggests contributing to the Tor network by running a relay instead.