How to set up Tor bridges

If you need to hide online, a regular VPN may not be enough. You need more serious tools - for example, the Tor network and Tor Browser, which will help hide your actions from providers, websites and security forces.

Sometimes you can't connect to Tor directly. In this case, you can use intermediary nodes, which are called bridges. In the new guide, we explain how to configure these bridges.

1

What is the Tor network and what other bridges are there?

Tor (The Onion Router) is a tool for anonymity on the Internet. The principle of the Tor network is the same as that of a VPN. You communicate with the site you need through an intermediary server over an encrypted channel to hide your traffic. But instead of one intermediary, several randomly selected communication nodes are used at once. Each node can only decrypt its own layer and see only its part of the route.

The Tor Project is a non-profit organization that maintains the TOR network and related software products.

Tor bridges (or Tor bridges) are special nodes in the Tor network that are used to bypass blocking and censorship, as well as to improve user privacy. They are not visible by default, so they are less likely to be blocked.

2

Why are Tor bridges needed?

Bypassing blockages. In some countries or regions, access to the TOR network may be blocked or limited. Bridges allow users to bypass these blocks because they do not use standard public addresses that can be blocked. Bridges look like regular HTTPS sites and are usually not blacklisted.

Confidentiality. Tor bridges are hidden from the public list of nodes, making them difficult to discover. When you connect to Tor through a bridge, your traffic is not identified as coming from Tor, providing an additional layer of protection against monitoring and censorship.

3

How to set up Tor bridges?

• Install Tor Browser. If you don't have a browser, download it from the official Tor Project website.
• Launch your browser. After installation, open Tor Browser. When you first launch it, it will prompt you to choose a connection method. Connect – if there are no blockages. Configure connection - if access to TOR is blocked in your country or region, additional settings are required.
• Add bridges in settings. Configure connection → Connections → Bridges → Select a built-in bridge/Add new bridges

4

Which bridge to choose?

• Built-in bridges. You can try connecting to the network through bridges built directly into the Tor Browser. To do this, click Select a built-in bridge. You will be offered several bridges - each of them has its own characteristics. If you have problems connecting through a standard bridge, you should try to get the address manually.
• Add a bridge manually. If you have a specific bridge address that you want to use, select Add new bridges and enter the IP address and port of the bridge.

5

How to get the bridge address?

• Via the Tor site.
• Via email. Send a request to [email protected] with the text “get bridges” to get bridges to connect. The response will contain data to be entered in the settings.
• Via Telegram. Send a message to the GetBridgesBot bot.
• Directly in Tor Browser: Settings → Connection → Request Bridges

6

Connection via bridge

Once you have entered bridges manually or selected them automatically, click the Connect button. After this, you will be able to use the TOR network and Tor Browser.