What is Tor Bridge?
An unlisted Tor relay that helps users in censored regions connect to the Tor network when direct access is blocked.
Tor bridges are entry points to the Tor network that aren't publicly listed, making them harder for censors to block.
Why Bridges Exist
- Some countries block connections to known Tor relays
- ISPs can see you're connecting to Tor if you use public relays
- Bridges provide a way around these blocks
Types of Bridges
- obfs4: Disguises Tor traffic to look like random data
- meek: Makes Tor traffic look like connections to major cloud services
- Snowflake: Uses WebRTC to create temporary bridges through volunteers' browsers
How to Get Bridges
- Request from bridges.torproject.org
- Email bridges@torproject.org from a Gmail or Riseup address
- Use the built-in bridge option in Tor Browser
Limitations
Bridges add latency and can eventually be discovered. They're a cat-and-mouse game between the Tor Project and censors.
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 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.
Traffic Analysis
The process of examining patterns in communication metadata—who talks to whom, when, how often, and how much—to extract intelligence without accessing content. Even encrypted communications leak metadata that can reveal sensitive information.
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