Okay.
In this video we are going to post a question to VPN with Tor or not to VPN with Tor.
That is the question.
So this is a short clarification about Tor and VPNs, since I have gotten questions about this in the
past.
And there is, well, some debate, a lot of debate about whether it's good to use a VPN with Tor or
not use a VPN with Tor.
Now with everything, there are pros and cons to using VPN or not using VPN, using this tool, or not
using this tool.
And just to clarify, I don't work for Tor.
I'm not associated with the Tor group though.
I do really like their software and I do use it.
So no VPN option.
So.
In a interview a while back, someone that worked with the Tor Project recommended do not use a VPN
with Tor.
Don't add plugins with Tor.
Don't do bookmarks with Tor and don't actually maximize the window for Tor.
Keep everything default.
Now the reason for this.
Keeping your defaults help the traffic look the same, resolution the same, the browser settings are
the same, etc. etc. so, um, should there be something that circumvents the Tor security such as the
exit node, your identity may be compromised if you're not using a VPN.
So personally, if I'm surfing the dark web, visiting chat rooms, etc., I may not have a VPN engaged.
This really depends on how much of a threat I think it is going somewhere that I'm using Tor.
If I believe that the threat is pretty low, I'm just browsing, uh, doing some recon, doing browsing
some things.
Using the Tor browser might not even be the dark web.
It could just be the deep web.
For example, I might be I might use Tor to just for that extra layer of security.
I'm not going to worry about it now.
Uh, on the other hand, keeping a VPN on while you're while you're on tour can't give you the extra
layer of security.
Uh, especially since your traffic's anonymized by tor your traffic.
Traffic is anonymized by your VPN.
And the extra step is I personally use VPN that has a multi-hop, uh, um, multi-hop route that takes
kind of like Tor.
So the VPN I use uses, uh, I think it's two hops.
So it will go from, say, where I'm at to say New York from New York, and may go to Japan and to wherever
I'm going.
And then Tor will bounce itself around the different, uh, Tor routers and then go to again where it's
going to go.
The other thing about the, uh, the VPNs I tend to use, they have a kill switch, meaning that if
my VPN drops, it will kill my internet connection.
Now, the reason why I like this is if I'm using a VPN would tour and my VPN drops certain VPNs.
If you don't have a kill switch, you're not going to know that it dropped and you lose that layer of
protection.
So, um, the downside is your traffic will become more unique if someone's trying to fingerprint your
Tor traffic.
But again, depending on how dangerous, uh, where I'm going may be, I tend to like that extra layer
of security having my VPN multi-hop kill switch and then going through, um, the Tor traffic.
So what's right for you?
VPN with Tor?
Don't do a VPN with Tor.
That's something you're going to have to decide for your individual cases.
So again, I would think about how much protection do you need or at least you perceive that you might
need.
Is the tour traffic going to be okay?
Are you planning on messing with your tour browser, especially if you're going to mess with your tour
browser?
You're going to put it full screen because it's kind of hard to read, because it's small.
It's kind of a pain in the butt.
You want to add bookmarks.
You want to add these different plugins to your tour browser.
Well, in that case, you're already making your traffic unique.
You might as well use a VPN if, um.
But again, consider the pros and cons.
I just wanted to lay this out out there for you.
Unfortunately, there is no really good, um, black and white answer for this.
I, I don't think anyone could say you should do this period.
You should do that period.
It's again, you need to consider the pros and cons of both.
And hopefully that kind of laid it out for you.
So thank you for watching.
I'll see you next video.