Means of ensuring the security and anonymity of users when working on the Internet have recently gained unprecedented popularity and relevance, since solving the problems of protecting surfing or gaining access to resources blocked at the state level is becoming a priority for any user. All sorts of tools are developed specifically for this, such as VPN clients or anonymous proxy servers are used. However, if anyone does not know, in their image and likeness they very much resemble the notorious Tor browser, which, however, works according to slightly different principles. Unfortunately, sometimes you can find situations when the Tor browser does not start. Let's take a look together at what causes such problems and how to fix possible errors and crashes when trying to launch the browser.
Thor browser: what is this browser?
Himselfthe browser is a somewhat unusual browser that allows you to automatically change the external address of any computer or mobile device on which it is installed, as a result of which the user's regional binding also changes. Unlike all kinds of VPN clients and proxy servers, this browser uses its own Tor networks, in which protection is provided by encrypting routing, not transmitted and received traffic.
Where to download and how to install the Tor browser?
As for downloading and installing the browser, it is best to download its installer directly from the official website. When you enter the resource, if VPN is not enabled in the browser you are using, the language will be detected automatically. If this does not happen, you can choose the language yourself.
To download the Tor browser with the Russian interface, you just need to press the download start button. Once the installer file has been saved to your computer's hard drive, on all recent Windows systems, you will need to run it as an administrator and follow the instructions in the "Wizard".
In the process, you will be asked to unpack the directory with files on the "Desktop" and create a shortcut.
Note: please note that the Tor browser is distributed for free, therefore, if you come across resources on which it is offered to pay for it, even the minimum amount, you can be sure that this site belongs tomalicious pages, possibly containing ransomware.
First launch of the browser
When the installed applet is launched for the first time, a window with the choice of action will appear.
If there are no problems with browser blocking in your country, you can immediately use the connection to tor networks. In the start window that appears after that, it is advisable to immediately start checking networks, and at the same time completely disable script execution by clicking the button on the left of the top panel. When testing is completed, you can get to work. The only downside is the very slow page loading speed.
Thor Browser won't start: what to do first?
Now let's move on to fixing possible problems with starting the program. Most often, the Tor browser does not start only for the reason that the time and date are incorrectly set on the computer or laptop. Some ignorant users recommend setting the correct parameters directly in Windows. But this is just not worth doing!
In the system settings, it is better to use only Internet time synchronization, and set the current date and time in the primary BIOS/UEFI I/O system.
Also, just in case, try to add the installed browser application to the exception list of the antivirus of its own firewall (if any) and the Windows firewall (for this, the list of allowedapplications), and update your browser version by clicking the search for updates button on the main panel on the left.
Another problem with Tor not launching is that this software can be blocked by ISPs based on government directives. In this case, when you start the browser, you can immediately go to the settings and indicate that the browser is blocked in your region, but you can apply a more effective solution. It consists in setting up special bridges.
Setting bridges
To make these settings in a running browser, enter bridges.torproject.org, then click on the link to get bridges, click on the simple grant button, enter the verification code, then copy all the provided addresses.
Now on the browser panel on the left, click on the button with the image of an onion, go to the tor network settings, check the box for banning the browser in your country, activate the address entry box, and then just paste the copied links into the box below.
Using the mobile app
As for the use of a mobile application, even in special stores you are unlikely to find an applet of the same name, for example, in the form of the Tor browser for Android. However, there is a way out. A complete analogue, by the way, from the same developer, is the Orfox application, which functions according to the same principles and schemes that were describedfor the Tor browser. But it must be installed exclusively in conjunction with an additional Orbot applet, which is a virtual proxy server. The preferred region (country) must be selected manually. In addition, right in applications, you can activate VPN mode for all applets installed on a mobile device, without exception, which, in the process of work, can access certain (even blocked) resources on the Internet.
