OnionThe Tor Project
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2gzyxa5ihm7nsber64siykjcp73xlb2pt65ph2vwassqprzisrre4iqd.onion Official Tor Project site on the Tor network. Downloads, documentation and resources.
🔒 Tools & Privacy .onion
Privacy protection tools, VPN, encryption and security services accessible on Tor.
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OnionShare
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lldan5gahapx5k7iafb3s4ikijc4ni7gx5iywdflkba5y2ezyg6sjgyd.onion Open source tool for sharing files, hosting sites and chatting anonymously via Tor.
SecureDrop
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sdolvtfhatvsysc6l34d65ymdwxcujausez7istiqe6x7ber5jegsmiad.onion Open source whistleblowing platform. Used by media outlets to receive confidential documents.
Tails OS
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tails.net Portable privacy-focused operating system. Boots from a USB drive and leaves no trace.
Whonix
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dds6qkxpwdeubwucdiaord2xgbbeyds25rbsgr73tbfpqpt4a6vjwsyd.onion Desktop OS designed for advanced confidentiality. Isolates network traffic via Tor.
Ricochet Refresh
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ricochetrefresh.net Peer-to-peer instant messaging that depends on no central server. Each user hosts their own local .onion service. Zero metadata for an external observer. Standard for hardcore privacy.
Briar
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briarproject.org Open source messaging that works via Tor but also via Bluetooth and direct Wi-Fi in case of internet outage. Recommended by Access Now and Frontline Defenders for activists in repressive contexts.
Session
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getsession.org Signal alternative that requires no phone number or email. Uses Lokinet (anonymous network similar to Tor) to route messages. End-to-end encryption by default.
Signal
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signal.org Reference encrypted messaging, used by Edward Snowden, Bruce Schneier and millions of activists. No direct .onion access but works perfectly via Tor Browser for the web version and via Orbot on mobile.
Mullvad VPN
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o54hon2e2vj6c7m3aqqu6uyece65by3vgoxxhlqlsvkmacw6a7m7kiad.onion Swedish privacy-focused VPN. Accepts payment in cash (postal mail), cryptocurrencies. No email required at registration, random numeric identifier. Regular public audits by Cure53.
ProtonVPN
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proton.me/vpn Swiss VPN operated by Proton (formerly ProtonMail). Free plan available, paid plans with Secure Core (triple hop before exit). Based in Switzerland with robust legal protection.
IVPN
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ivpn.net Gibraltar-based VPN, publicly audited by Cure53. Full transparency on infrastructure, accepts anonymous payments, collects no identifiable user data. Premium alternative to Mullvad.
Qubes OS
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qubes-os.org Security-oriented operating system that compartmentalises tasks in isolated virtual machines. Supports Whonix as a template. Recommended by Edward Snowden for maximum security on a persistent machine.
Orbot
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orbot.app Tor proxy for Android developed by the Guardian Project. Allows any Android application to pass through Tor. Available on Google Play and F-Droid, open source.
KeePassXC
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keepassxc.org Open source, cross-platform password manager (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android). Local AES-256 encrypted database, no cloud. Included by default in Tails OS.
The privacy tools category brings together the most iconic projects of the Tor ecosystem: the software that allows you to communicate, share and work anonymously. Almost all of these tools are open source, audited by the community and free to use. Their presence on .onion reflects a philosophical coherence: tools that protect privacy cannot themselves expose their users to tracking servers.
The Tor Project maintains its official site on .onion, naturally. OnionShare allows you to temporarily share files, folders or static sites via a locally generated .onion address, without a third-party server. SecureDrop, the reference platform for whistleblowers, is used by more than 80 major newsrooms worldwide. Tails OS and Whonix are two operating systems designed to maximise anonymity: Tails runs from a USB drive without leaving traces, Whonix in isolated virtual machines.
Beyond these pillars, there are more specialised tools: Keybase for cryptographic identity, Ricochet Refresh for serverless peer-to-peer messaging, Briar for communicating even without internet via Bluetooth or direct Wi-Fi. Each of these tools meets a specific need in the modern privacy toolkit, used daily by journalists, activists, security researchers and privacy-conscious citizens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first tool to install to get started with Tor?
Tor Browser, plain and simple. Just download it from torproject.org, install it like any software and launch it. The default configuration protects the essentials, and the interface is Firefox, which you already know. For more advanced needs (isolated environment, maximum protection), Tails OS on a USB drive is the logical next step, but it is recommended to master Tor Browser first.
Why are all these tools open source?
A proprietary privacy tool poses a fundamental problem of trust: how do you verify that it is not sending your data to a third party without the source code? Open source allows any security researcher to audit the code, compile their own version, and confirm that the actual behaviour matches the documentation. Tor Browser, Tails, Whonix, OnionShare, Signal, Briar are all open source, and their public audits reinforce their credibility.
Should I use a VPN in addition to Tor?
The Tor Project does not systematically recommend adding a VPN to Tor. A VPN adds a layer that can be useful in certain cases (hiding from your internet provider that you are using Tor, bypassing a block), but it introduces a new point of trust: you depend on the VPN provider's word about the absence of logs. For most uses, Tor alone, correctly configured and up to date, offers largely sufficient security.
Are there privacy tools for mobile?
Yes, Tor Browser for Android is the official Tor Project application, available on Google Play and F-Droid. Orbot allows any Android application to pass through Tor. On iOS, Onion Browser is the recommended alternative. Briar and Signal offer secure messaging on mobile. For demanding professional use, a phone running GrapheneOS (hardened Android OS) remains the best option, but requires more technical knowledge to configure.