How to Mask Your IP Address
As the Internet evolved, so did the need for anonymity. Many online criminals exist which can use your IP address for malicious purposes. Proxies only take you so far in anonymous browsing, but even they sometimes keep logs of your activity online. Fortunately, a new kind of method exists for those wanting absolute encrypted anonymous browsing called onion routing (OR). Using Advanced TOR, onion routing is as easy as downloading a program, installing it, and setting up your browser for it.
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Instructions
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Install Onion Routing
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1
Go to the Advanced TOR webpage and download the latest version of Advanced TOR. Do not download the versions with "src" at the end since those are source code.
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2
Open the zip file you downloaded and extract the folder called "AdvTor" into any desired location.
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3
Go to the AdvTor folder you extracted and double-click "AdvTor.exe" to open it.
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4
Click "Start TOR" once the window opens.
Set up FireFox for Onion Routing
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5
Go to the "Tools" menu. Click "Options." Go to "Advanced." Click the "Network" tab. Click the "Settings..." button on the top.
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6
In the new window, click the "Manual proxy configuration" radio button.
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7
Write "localhost" in the "HTTP Proxy" text box and "9050" as the port next to it. Click "OK."
Set up Internet Explorer for Onion Routing
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8
Go to the "Tools" menu. Click "Internet Options." Click the "Connections" tab. Click the "LAN Settings" button.
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9
In the new window, make sure that the checkbox under "Proxy Server" is checked.
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10
Under the "Address" textbox, write "localhost" and under "Port" write "9050".
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11
Click "OK."
Set up Google Chrome for Onion Routing
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12
Click on the icon that looks like a wrench on the top right corner of Google Chrome.
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13
Click "Options."
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14
In the new window, click the tab named "Under the Hood."
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15
Under "Network," click the "Change Proxy Settings" button.
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16
Refer to Steps 3 to 7 under "Set up Internet Explorer for Onion Routing."
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to use a port other than 9050, you can configure this under the starting window of AdvTor. Port 9050 is usually the default for onion routing, but there is no harm in choosing another port, especially if you have other purposes intended for that particular port. If you find an application that does not have proxy configuration capabilities, you can use AdvTor's "Force Tor" utility which will let you select the process and force it to use a proxy. Take note that this does not always work, but it doesn't hurt to try. You can configure AdvTor to open as soon as your operating system starts. Go to the "System" panel and check the "Start with Windows" checkbox. You can also check the "Start TOR automatically" checkbox to ensure that AdvTor begins connecting to the OR network as soon as the program starts running.
Do not use onion routing for any malicious purposes. Sooner or later, you will be caught doing it. Onion routing is intended for people who do not want to fall victim to cyber criminals.
