What is Onion Over VPN?


What is Onion Over VPN?

While data could be a valuable resource, we keep leaking it daily without thinking of what would happen after decades. Although VPN is a very good internet security tool, it’s not automatically the most exclusive. The onion router (Tor) is perfect for privacy but doesn’t guarantee maximum security. What is Onion over VPN? 

Tor over VPN, also known as Onion over VPN, is a merger of technologies used to protect and anonymize web traffic. Internet traffic passes through one of the servers, goes through the Onion network before it reaches the internet. 

Users should first connect to a reliable VPN service that goes through The Onion Router (Tor) network. Guiding the connection of a user through more than four systems conceals the origin. This article discusses Onion over VPN and how it’s used for maximum online security. 

What is The Onion Router (Tor)? 

Tor is a web used for undesignated communication. Its servers are disseminated around the world that discrete volunteers perpetuate. This has made Tor connections hard to obstruct because they don’t depend on an entire company or firm. 

How does Tor work?

  • By entering a request, Tor application software encodes it three times for three divergent nodes– a guard interchange, a central server, and an exit node;
  • The Onion Router operating system then conveys it to the guard interchange. It disconnects one layer of codification and moves it to the next server. The guard node can identify your IP address, but it can’t read the encoded message;
  • The central node decorticates the second layer and conveys the message and its final codification layer to the exit node;
  • The exit node disconnects the final layer and can identify your coded message. However, it cannot remember the disseminator. This node conveys the message to the receiver.

How Safe is Tor? 

The last step is very sensitive because the message could be seen by an individual or firm running the exit node.  Anyone can set a node, and so its security hangs on the owner. 

The solution for this is to use an HTTPS link encoded by TLS protocols or a feature of Onion Over VPN. By running guard and exit nodes, the user and their message could be seen. 

A firm running many Tor servers could obstruct users, but it is hard for an individual to do so. However, organizations such as security agencies may have the assets and wish to track the Tor web in this way. 

Onion over VPN has many advantages regarding your web privacy and security instead of using either The Onion Router or VPN independently.

Setting up Onion over VPN and How to Use It

You require three things to setup Onion over VPN:

  1. An internet connection
  2. A VPN
  3. Means of accessing/connecting to the Tor web or Tor Web.

After you finish setting up, now turn on your VPN app. Connect to the VPN. Once you are connected to VPN, turn on the Tor Browser.   

Merits of Using Onion over VPN

  1. Your ISP cannot perceive that you’re using Tor but that you’re using a VPN. 
  2. Your VPN cannot perceive what websites you see/visit or the contents of your link. 
  3. You can connect to both Dark Web and Deep Web
  4. You can browse the clear web without being recognized.
  5. The Tor entry interchange cannot perceive the address of IP but only that of your VPN server. 
  6. You can still use a VPN on a normal browser when handling less critical tasks.  

Demerits of using Onion over VPN

  1. When using Onion over VPN, you’re likely to experience a slower connection.
  2. Your VPN can recognize your actual IP address and realize you’re using Tor.
  3. Apps and websites can easily know that you’re browsing through a Tor exit interchange, resulting in some sites blocking you or becoming unresponsive.
  4. High chances of leaking data to compromised Tor exit nodes.

Onion over VPN Compared to Double VPN

Double VPN traffic is routed through two servers, while Tor onion involves routing traffic across many nodes to improve complexity to recognition/detection. Onion over VPN consists of Tor plus a node, that is, one node. 

Onion over VPN is more secure than VPN or even Double VPN by assuming that all nodes do not leave any evidence/trace of your web traffic. The only disadvantage is that it could be slower due to the many servers involved. 

Double VPN, also known as double-hop VPN, offers about the same speed as a standard single-hop connection when connected to a single virtual private network. This means that you won’t experience a reduction in speed/ slower connection.

Onion over VPN can be slower when users establish the connection themselves in a browser or using an operating system of their own rather than when offered as a service feature of VPN. 

Tor compared to VPN

Tor is better than VPN based on anonymity, but when connection speed and traffic security from internet service providers or a public Wi-Fi is more paramount, VPN does better. It is important to consider the anticipated threat then match it using a VPN, the onion router (Tor), or both.

Tor slows down the internet connection speed for gadgets connected through the network. This is because of the variation in internet bandwidth and the quality of the computer hardware of Tor servers. 

Combining the two (Tor and VPN) Onion over VPN does not add significant security or privacy for the ordinary user. Tor over VPN may be overload, but when do you consider using Tor or a standard VPN?     

Conclusion

Onion over VPN proves to be safe by routing a user’s web traffic through a trusted VPN through various arbitrary servers hence hiding its origination. Using Tor alone, you must always remember to remain incognito, staying away from tasks that incorporate personally identifiable information.

Mark Lewis

Security nerd with a Data Privacy First mindset!

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