If your browser shows you coming from a location that is not your own, you are good to go. To make sure you’re connected to Tor go to, which will automatically detect your location based on your Internet Protocol address. Some people like to check the installation file to make sure they’ve downloaded the proper version of the browser and not something that’s been tampered with. Once you’ve downloaded the installer, you have two options: You can just install the software or you can check the installation file’s GPG signature first. This is a modified version of Firefox along with a bunch of other software that connects you to the Tor network. The easiest way to use Tor is to download the Tor Browser.

But if the NSA or other three-letter agency decided to actively target your browsing habits that’s a whole different ballgame. If, like the librarians in Massachusetts, you don’t have an exotic reason for using Tor, it’s still a good tool to keep your browsing private from your ISP, advertisers, or passive government data collection. Activists masking their location from oppressive regimes and journalists communicating with anonymous sources are two simple examples. While Tor is gaining a reputation as a tool for buying illicit goods online, the software has numerous legitimate uses.

The tor web browser