Tor Network Visualization
Tor Network Visualization
An interactive guide to anonymous communication through onion routing
USER
Your device running Tor Browser. All traffic is encrypted through three layers for complete anonymity.
ENTRY
RELAY
Also called Guard Node. This relay knows your real IP address but cannot see your destination or data content.
MIDDLE
RELAY
The bridge relay that cannot see either the origin or destination. Adds a critical layer of anonymity.
EXIT
RELAY
Final relay before destination. Can see destination but has no knowledge of the original sender.
HIDDEN
SERVICE
A .onion site or clearnet website. Cannot determine original user IP address or location.
NETWORK COMPONENTS:
Data Packet
Entry Encryption
Middle Encryption
Exit Encryption
1. USER PREPARES DATA FOR TOR CIRCUIT: Your Tor Browser prepares a data packet with three layers of encryption - each layer can only be decrypted by its corresponding relay node in the circuit.
SPEED:
1x
HOW TOR PROTECTS YOUR PRIVACY
Tor (The Onion Router) creates a private network pathway by routing your connection through at least three relay nodes before reaching its destination. Each relay only knows its immediate connections, never the complete path.
The layered encryption works like an onion - each relay peels away one layer, but only sees the next destination, never your data or the final destination. This ensures:
- No single relay can trace your complete connection path
- Your real IP address remains hidden from destination sites
- Network surveillance cannot easily determine what you're viewing
- Traffic analysis becomes extremely difficult
For accessing .onion hidden services, your traffic never leaves the Tor network, providing end-to-end encryption and anonymity for both you and the service.
Created by Sam Bent • OSINT & OPSEC Specialist