tor-tb-manual.git

1) <page xmlns="http://projectmallard.org/1.0/"
2)   type="topic"
3)   id="managing-identities">
4) 
5) <info>
6)   <desc>Learn how to control personally-identifying information in Tor Browser</desc>

7)   <link type="guide" xref="index" group="five" />

8) </info>
9) 

10) <title>Managing identities</title>

11)  
12) <p>
13) When you connect to a website, it is not only the operators
14) of that website who can record information about your visit. Most
15) websites now use numerous third-party services, including social networking
16) “Like” buttons, analytics trackers, and advertising beacons, all of which
17) can link your activity across different sites.
18) </p>
19)  
20) <p>
21) Using the Tor network stops observers from being able to
22) discover your exact location and IP address, but even without this
23) information they might be able to link different areas of
24) your activity together. For this reason, Tor Browser includes some additional
25) features that help you control what information can be tied to your identity.
26) </p>
27) 
28) <section id="url-bar">
29) <title>The URL bar</title>
30) <p>
31) Tor Browser centers your web experience around your relationship with
32) the website in the URL bar. Even if you connect to two different sites
33) that use the same third-party tracking service, Tor Browser will force
34) the content to be served over two different Tor circuits, so the tracker will
35) not know that both connections originate from your browser.
36) </p>
37)  
38) <p>
39) On the other hand, all connections to a single website address will be
40) made over the same Tor circuit, meaning you can browse different pages
41) of a single website in separate tabs or windows, without any loss of
42) functionality.
43) </p>

44) 
45) <p>
46) <media type="image" width="600" src="media/managing-identities/circuit_full.png" />
47) </p>
48) <p>
49) You can see a diagram of the circuit that Tor Browser is using for the
50) current tab in the onion menu.
51) </p>

52) </section>
53) 
54) <section id="logins">
55) <title>Logging in over Tor</title>
56) <p>
57) Although Tor Browser is designed to enable total user anonymity on the web,
58) there may be situations in which it makes sense to use Tor with websites
59) that require usernames, passwords, or other identifying information.
60) </p>
61)  
62) <p>
63) If you log into a website using a regular browser, you also reveal your
64) IP address and geographical location in the process. The same is often
65) true when you send an email. Logging into your social networking or
66) email accounts using Tor Browser allows you to choose exactly which
67) information you reveal to the websites you browse. Logging in using Tor
68) Browser is also useful if the website you are trying to reach is
69) censored on your network.
70) </p>
71)  
72) <p>
73) When you log in to a website over Tor, there are several points you
74) should bear in mind:
75) </p>
76)  
77) <list>
78)  <item>
79)   <p>
80)   See the <link
81)   xref='secure-connections'>Secure Connections</link> page
82)   for important information on how to secure your connection when
83)   logging in.
84)   </p>
85)  </item>
86)  <item>
87)   <p>
88)   Tor Browser often makes your connection appear as though it is coming
89)   from an entirely different part of the world. Some websites, such as
90)   banks or email providers, might interpret this as a sign that your
91)   account has been hacked or compromised, and lock you out. The only
92)   way to resolve this is by following the site’s recommended procedure
93)   for account recovery, or contacting the operators and explaining the
94)   situation.
95)   </p>
96)  </item>
97) </list>
98) </section>
99) 
100) <section id="new-identity">
101) <title>Changing identities and circuits</title>
102) <p>

103) <media type="image" width="600" src="media/managing-identities/new_identity.png" /> 
104) </p>
105) <p>

106) Tor Browser features “New Identity” and “New Tor Circuit for this Site”
107) options, located in the Torbutton menu.
108) </p>
109) <terms>
110)  <item>
111)   <title>New Identity</title>
112)   <p>
113)   This option is useful if you want to prevent your subsequent browser
114)   activity from being linkable to what you
115)   were doing before. Selecting it will close all your open tabs and
116)   windows, clear all private information such as cookies and browsing

117)   history, and use new Tor circuits for all connections. Tor Browser
118)   will warn you that all activity and downloads will be stopped, so
119)   take this into account before clicking “New Identity”.