Tor Network
The Tor Network is a free, open-source software and network that enables anonymous communication by directing internet traffic through a worldwide volunteer overlay network of relays to conceal a user's location and usage from surveillance and traffic analysis. It works by encrypting data multiple times and routing it through a series of randomly selected nodes, making it difficult to trace back to the original source. This system is widely used for privacy protection, censorship circumvention, and secure access to hidden services on the dark web.
Developers should learn and use the Tor Network when building applications that require strong privacy, anonymity, or censorship resistance, such as secure messaging platforms, whistleblower tools, or systems operating in restrictive regions. It's also valuable for testing security vulnerabilities, accessing research data anonymously, or developing services that need to protect user identities from tracking and surveillance. Understanding Tor is crucial for cybersecurity professionals and those working on privacy-focused technologies.