Security Response

Privacy is a big concern when surfing theInternet. One major application has attempted to make Internetactivities somewhat anonymous. “Tor”is an anonymous Internet communication system that allows users to surfthe Web, send email, and use IM; all the while attempting to avoidnetwork surveillance, traffic analysis, and state security. Tor users’IP addresses (a computer’s basic identity) and exact locations are keptsecret as the users read important stories on the Web, send theirgrandmother an email, or chat with their new best friend.

Unfortunately, Tor also opens up other avenues of attack and one mustbe aware of the risk, in return for the benefit of being partlyanonymous. The way Tor works is that packets sent from your computeractually go to someone else’s computer, to someone else’s computer, andso on and so forth. Eventually, your data reaches what is known as an“exit node” (which is just another...