Pretty self explanatory. I’ve read pros on both sides. I think VPN over Tor is the way to go if you can get a good VPN that’s not connected to your identity that’s the way to go.
Using a VPN over Tor is generally a bad idea. There are many posts on this, and references in the sidebar, if you want to read more. It may be the most common question on this sub.
From privacytools.io:
“Should I use Tor and a VPN?
By using a VPN with Tor, you’re creating essentially a permanent entry node, often with a money trail attached. This provides 0 additional benefit to you, while increasing the attack surface of your connection dramatically. If you wish to hide your Tor usage from your ISP or your government, Tor has a built-in solution for that: Tor bridges.”
Edit: This is regarding a slightly different scenario i.e. TOR over VPN. OP inquired about VPN over TOR.
FAQ
Oh man, the same stupid question every day. Can’t you even use the search function? The same stupid question every day. Why is anyone still answering this nonsense at all?
No. Best case scenario, you slow down your connection by that smidgen more. worst case you ruin your privacy. but there is very little gain
using a VPN as an entry only (PC-VPN-Tor-Web) usually provides miniscule benefit. maybe if for some reason tor bridges doesn’t work.
encapsulation (PC-VPN-Tor-VPN-Web) can down right ruin your anonymity, and compromise you completely if not setup right. and provides very little benefit over just using a regular VPN. with the added benefits of above, and choosing your exit IP.
But I can see absolutely no valid reason you would risk yourself to that degree. or even bother with the first method, given the lack of benefit, and extra cost.
I have yet to use tor. I read the configurations you can do with tor. But how is it just by itself, is that safe? This question may have been answered but I have not seen it yet.
Just tor is more better.
All the web sites tells that because they are sponsored.
If you use VPN then there is no extra advantage of tor because it just hides the fact that you are using tor from your ISP or maybe from hacker’s while you do some shady stuff on dark web.
Some VPN provides have tor over vpn option which allows you to access onion sites through your normal browser. So just use a good vpn service if you are too cautions.
Just TOR is enough for normal browsing and alone is not enough for dangerous sites.
Only difference is that TOR is free and funded by US government, while VPN’s are paid and you have to risk you identity on some provides…
This is bullshit.
This is my experience:
I use Nordvpn. They have over 5,300 servers in 60 countries. You can ensure that you are never using the same “entry node” each time.
Speaking of which, who but Nordvpn will know what server you’re connecting to? No one other than Nord, because the tunnel is encrypted.
And, Nordvpn has passed audits over the past few years regarding their “No Log Policy”. So,…once again…who has the magic to know for sure what one would be doing in the VPN before connecting to the Tor entry node or a bridge? It’s encrypted.
I’ve used Tor both ways—through a VPN and not. No one in the past 20 years I’ve been using Tor has shown me that I was ever exposed.
Jeez, people—use a little bit of critical thought.
By the way, I don’t care if I get down-voted. This is not a popularity contest. It’s a contest of facts.
/
isnt that tor over a vpn, and not a vpn over tor
vpn over tor would be
your internet —> tor —> vpn
tor over a vpn would be
your internet —> vpn —> tor
tor over vpn would be bad as stated above, but can you answer about vpn over tor
Are Tor bridges pretty easy to use?
How is my ISP not also a permanent entry node?
Thanks for link, very useful
Just search “vpn” in this sub and you’ll find tons of these posts, many with a lot more info than this particular post too.
Websearch “how tor works”
Exactly, all the fear mongering is total bullshit. I use PIA, another large vpn provider with perhaps nearing 2 million current subscribers. Thousands of ip addresses and 70 or something countries where the servers are located. If i wanted, i could run Tor browser everytime through a different exit ip of the vpn. Cycle it around like a carousel. Its not at all the same thing as just using Tor browser with your isp.
And to those who are mindlessly screaming “oh but whst if they log???”. So what? Logging the guard node ip in tor browser doesnt tell you anything at all about the exit relay ip.
As if the isp is somehow not logging. If its a small isp and its not mandated in your country to log, then maybe. But in my experience, isps are dependent on their countries governments to tell them to log or not, and most will mandate logging. Maybe things are different in the U.S., i dunno im not from there.
So does Nord know your IP addr or not?
Also, how exactly did you verify their no log policy?
Reddit is a popularity contest though so
Who has audited nord?
Agreed.
All of these articles all reference the exact same tails document that doesn’t say either way. Personally, I use computer-> router with custom firmware, proxy &DNS → ISP → proxy → VPN.
I don’t rely on a single VPN provider though, I often use VPN gate or use a provider for 1-3 months before cycling.
I use providers that have been cited in court cases as not being able to provide logs, such as PIA.
Any VPN worth anything accepts anonymous payments and don’t require an email, simply a username.
SHARED VPNS (ESPECIALLY ones that also operate as a tor exit node), will give you a better layer of privacy than simply connecting to TOR via your ISP.
I hate the article that the top comment links to, it’s utter garbage.