TOR Browser vs. VPN Connection

Nowadays, privacy is a very controversial and debatable issue. Knowledge of online privacy helps the user to hide their activities from Internet Service Providers and Government Agencies.

Both TOR Browser & VPN Connection help to secure online activity and also maintain some degree of anonymity. Let's discuss both of them in a little detail.

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TOR Browser vs. VPN Connection

What is TOR?

Tor is a program that helps individuals to keep safe on the internet and maintain anonymity. It is a browser where users access websites and data securely. It also helps the user to prevent tracking of location and hide access websites. e.g., suppose a TOR user accesses http://www.abc.com, instead of making a direct connection with the site’s server, the browser uses virtual tunnels and volunteer-operated servers to connect the site.

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What is a VPN connection?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is a Network connection that helps the user to hide activities from Internet Service Providers and eavesdroppers. It also hides your location.

It works on technology in which the client makes a connection of a virtual tunnel with the VPN server, and the server makes a connection with the target server. All internet traffic passes through an encrypted tunnel to secure data.

Similarity

Both help the user to maintain anonymity but use different technologies to achieve the task.

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Advantages | TOR

• Extremely difficult to trace back user IP as traffic travels through different volunteer-operated servers to reach the destination IP.
• As the network is distributed, it is difficult for the government or enforcement agencies to shut it down.

Disadvantage | TOR

• Very Slow as traffic needs to travel through many volunteer-operated servers.

Advantages | VPN

• Fast compared to TOR as only one proxy server is there to forward traffic to a destination server.
• Able to spoof the IPs of different countries.
• Some VPNs also provide malware protection to secure sensitive data from unauthorized access.

Disadvantages | VPN

• A good VPN connection costs money.
• Sometimes, government agencies demand logs from VPN providers, which risk the privacy of the user.

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Difference Between Tor Browser and VPN (Virtual Private Network)

Parameter	Tor Browser	VPN (Virtual Private Network)
Objective	Anonymize browsing by routing traffic through Tor network	Anonymize browsing by routing traffic through the Tor network
Anonymity	Provides strong anonymity by bouncing traffic through relays	Offers privacy by encrypting data, and hiding IP, but not as anonymous
Rate	Slower due to multiple relays and encryption	Typically faster compared to Tor due to fewer relays and encryption
Traffic	All traffic is routed through the Tor network	Only internet-bound traffic is routed through the VPN
Access	Accesses .onion sites on the dark web	Doesn't provide direct access to .onion sites on the dark web
Network	Uses the Tor network, comprising volunteer-operated relays	Utilizes servers across various locations provided by VPN service
Encryption	Traffic within the Tor network is encrypted	Encrypts data between the device and the VPN server
Level of Privacy	Provides a higher level of anonymity and privacy	Offers privacy and security but may not provide complete anonymity
Cost	Free to use	Paid service (though some VPNs offer free versions with limitations)

Conclusion

Both TOR and VPN are great tools for privacy online. But, no doubt, it will cause some inconvenience in your online experience while accessing the internet.