Understand the benefits and risks

The Onion Router (Tor) relies on the support of a network of volunteers who offer their computers and internet bandwidth to bring it all together. There are millions of users around the world who trust Tor for the purpose of protecting their online privacy and the ability to access various websites without compromising their identity.

Hosting your own Tor relay or node gives you the chance to help other users enjoy the same freedoms online with a few added benefits. However, it’s also good to understand the potential risks. Speed isn’t one of the highlights of using Tor. A faster alternative would be a trusted VPN service if anonymity is your goal.

There are also those who choose to use the anonymity of the service to engage in criminal activity. By doing so, it can shine a spotlight on you that you would otherwise not be interested in. You can expect a call from your ISP if they suspect something is amiss.