What is Exit Node?
The final relay in a Tor circuit that connects to the destination server, the point where traffic leaves the Tor network and enters the regular internet.
Exit nodes are the most sensitive part of the Tor network — they see the decrypted traffic heading to its destination.
What Exit Nodes Can See
- The destination website you're visiting
- Unencrypted traffic content (HTTP, not HTTPS)
- Your traffic patterns and timing
What Exit Nodes Cannot See
- Your real IP address (only the middle relay's address)
- HTTPS-encrypted content
- Who you are
Risks
- Malicious exit nodes can intercept unencrypted traffic
- Some exit nodes inject malware or modify pages
- Government-operated exit nodes exist for surveillance
Protection
- Always use HTTPS when browsing through Tor
- Use onion services when possible (traffic never exits Tor)
- Tor Browser warns about unencrypted connections
Related Terms
Onion Routing
A technique for anonymous communication over a computer network where messages are encapsulated in layers of encryption, analogous to layers of an onion. Each relay decrypts one layer to reveal the next destination, but no single relay knows both the origin and final destination.
Tor Bridge
An unlisted Tor relay that helps users in censored regions connect to the Tor network when direct access is blocked.
Tor Network
A free, open-source software and network that enables anonymous communication by directing Internet traffic through a worldwide volunteer overlay network of thousands of relays. Tor conceals users' locations and usage from surveillance and traffic analysis.
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