The Tor Project#Tools

The Tor Project, Inc. was founded on December 22, 2006 by computer scientists Roger Dingledine, Nick Mathewson and five others. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) acted as the Tor Project's fiscal sponsor in its early years, and early financial supporters of the Tor Project included the U.S. International Broadcasting Bureau, Internews, Human Rights Watch, the University of Cambridge, Google, and Netherlands-based Stichting NLnet.{{Cite web|url = https://www.torproject.org/about/findoc/2008-TorProject-Form990.pdf|title = Tor Project Form 990 2008|date = 2009|accessdate = 30 August 2014|website = Tor Project|last = |first = }}{{Cite web|url = https://www.torproject.org/about/findoc/2007-TorProject-Form990.pdf|title = Tor Project Form 990 2007|date = 2008|accessdate = 30 August 2014|website = Tor Project|last = |first = }}{{Cite web|url = https://www.torproject.org/about/findoc/2009-TorProject-Form990andPC.pdf|title = Tor Project Form 990 2009|date = 2010|accessdate = 30 August 2014|website = Tor Project|last = |first = }}{{cite web |url=https://www.torproject.org/about/sponsors.html.en |title=Tor: Sponsors |website=Tor Project |accessdate=11 December 2010}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2008-06-06|title=The NLnet Foundation funds two projects|url=https://blog.torproject.org/nlnet-foundation-funds-two-projects|access-date=|website=Torproject blog}}{{cite news |url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2007/08/attacks_prompt_update_for_tor.html?nav=rss_blog |title=Attacks Prompt Update for 'Tor' Anonymity Network |first=Brian |last=Krebs |newspaper=Washington Post |date=8 August 2007 |accessdate=27 October 2007}}

In October 2014, the Tor Project hired the public relations firm Thomson Communications in order to improve its public image (particularly regarding the terms "Dark Net" and "hidden services") and to educate journalists about the technical aspects of Tor.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/tor-media-public-relations-perception/|title=Can Tor solve its PR problem?|website=The Daily Dot|date=26 March 2015 |accessdate=19 April 2015}}

In May 2015, the Tor Project ended the Tor Cloud Service.[https://cloud.torproject.org "Tor Cloud"]{{cite web |url=https://blog.torproject.org/blog/tor-cloud-service-ending-many-ways-remain-help-users-access-uncensored-internet |title=Tor Cloud Service Ending; Many Ways Remain to Help Users Access an Uncensored Internet |date=May 8, 2015 |author=karsten}}

In December 2015, the Tor Project announced that it had hired Shari Steele, former executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, as its new executive director. Roger Dingledine, who had been acting as interim executive director since May 2015, remained at the Tor Project as a director and board member.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/12/tor-hires-a-new-leader-to-help-it-combat-the-war-on-privacy/|title=Tor Hires a New Leader to Help It Combat the War on Privacy|magazine=WIRED|language=en-US|access-date=2016-04-29}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.scmagazine.com/former-eff-executive-director-takes-reins-at-tor-project/article/459249/|title=Shari Steele named executive director of the Tor Project|date=2015-12-11|website=SC Magazine|access-date=2016-04-29}}{{Cite web|url=https://blog.torproject.org/blog/roger-dingledine-becomes-interim-executive-director-tor-project|title=Roger Dingledine Becomes Interim Executive Director of the Tor Project {{!}} The Tor Blog|website=blog.torproject.org|access-date=2016-04-29}} Later that month, the Tor Project announced that the Open Technology Fund would be sponsoring a bug bounty program that was coordinated by HackerOne.{{cite web|last1=Cox|first1=Joseph|title=The Tor Project Is Starting a Bug Bounty Program|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-tor-project-is-starting-a-bug-bounty-program/|website=Motherboard|publisher=Vice Media LLC|access-date=14 February 2016|date=29 December 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Conditt|first1=Jessica|title=Tor plans to launch a bug bounty program|url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/12/31/tor-plans-to-launch-a-bug-bounty-program/|website=Engadget|publisher=AOL Inc.|accessdate=14 February 2016|date=31 December 2015}} The program was initially invite-only and focuses on finding vulnerabilities that are specific to the Tor Project's applications.

On May 25, 2016, Tor Project employee Jacob Appelbaum stepped down from his position;{{Cite web |url=https://blog.torproject.org/blog/jacob-appelbaum-leaves-tor-project|title=Jacob Appelbaum leaves the Tor Project |date=2016-06-02 |publisher=The Tor Project, Inc. |access-date=2016-06-04 |author=ssteele }}{{Cite news |url=https://mic.com/articles/145279/jacob-appelbaum-digital-rights-activist-leaves-tor-amid-sexual-misconduct-allegations |title=Jacob Appelbaum, Digital Rights Activist, Leaves Tor Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations |work=Tech.Mic |first=Jack IV |last=Smith |date=2016-06-04 |accessdate=2016-06-05 }}{{Cite web |url=https://blog.torproject.org/blog/statement |title=Statement |first=Shari |last=Steele |publisher=The Tor Project, Inc. |date=2016-06-04 |accessdate=2016-06-05 }} this was announced on June 2 in a two-line statement by Tor.{{cite web | url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/jacob-appelbaum-leaves-tor-project-over-multiple-sexual-misconduct-accusations-504873.shtml | title=Jacob Appelbaum Leaves Tor Project amid Multiple "Sexual Misconduct" Accusations: Tor Project leadership distances itself from Applebaum as the "sexual misconduct" accusations gain more ground | publisher=Softpedia | date=2016-06-06 | accessdate=2016-06-05 | author=Cimpanu, Catalin}} Over the following days, allegations of sexual mistreatment were made public by several people.

On July 13, 2016, the complete board of the Tor Project – Meredith Hoban Dunn, Ian Goldberg, Julius Mittenzwei, Rabbi Rob Thomas, Wendy Seltzer, Roger Dingledine and Nick Mathewson – was replaced with Matt Blaze, Cindy Cohn, Gabriella Coleman, Linus Nordberg, Megan Price and Bruce Schneier.{{cite web|last1=Perlroth|first1=Nicole|title=Tor Project, a Digital Privacy Group, Reboots With New Board|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/14/technology/tor-project-a-digital-privacy-group-reboots-with-new-board.html|website=The New York Times|accessdate=14 July 2016|date=13 July 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Farivar|first1=Cyrus|title=In wake of Appelbaum fiasco, Tor Project shakes up board of directors|url=https://arstechnica.com/security/2016/07/in-wake-of-appelbaum-fiasco-tor-project-shakes-up-board-of-directors/|website=arstechnica.com|publisher=Ars Technica|accessdate=14 July 2016|date=13 July 2016}}[https://www.theverge.com/2016/7/13/12176262/tor-project-new-board-members-announced "Tor Project installs new board of directors after Jacob Appelbaum controversy"], Colin Lecher, July 13, 2016, The Verge[https://blog.torproject.org/blog/tor-project-elects-new-board%C2%A0-directors "The Tor Project Elects New Board of Directors"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806172413/https://blog.torproject.org/blog/tor-project-elects-new-board%C2%A0-directors |date=2017-08-06 }}, July 13th, 2016, Tor.org A new anti-harassment policy has been approved by the new board, as well as a conflicts of interest policy, procedures for submitting complaints, and an internal complaint review process.{{cite web | url=https://blog.torproject.org/blog/statement-0 | title=Statement | publisher=The Tor Project, Inc. | date=2016-07-27 | accessdate=2016-07-27 | author=Stelle, Shari}}{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/07/tor-inquiry-many-people-reported-being-humiliated-by-appelbaum/ | title=Tor inquiry: "Many people" reported being "humiliated" by Appelbaum: Going forward, group will now have a new anti-harassment policy, among other changes | website=Ars Technica | date=2016-07-27 | accessdate=2016-07-27 | author=Farivar, Cyrus}} The affair continues to be controversial, with considerable dissent within the Tor community.{{cite web | url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/dissent-and-distrust-in-tor-community-following-ja | title=video Tech Dissent And Distrust In Tor Community Following Jacob Appelbaum's Ouster: In the aftermath of the explosive allegations against its most famous advocate, and under new leadership, the Tor Project struggles to move on | publisher=BuzzFeedNews | date=2016-08-23 | accessdate=2016-08-24 | author=Bernstein, Joseph}}

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tor project's core team let go of 13 employees, leaving a working staff of 22 people.{{Cite web|url=https://blog.torproject.org/covid19-impact-tor|title=COVID-19's impact on Tor {{!}} Tor Blog|website=blog.torproject.org|access-date=2020-04-20}}

In 2023, the Tails Project approached the Tor Project to merge operations. The merger was completed on September 26, 2024, stating that, "By joining forces, the Tails team can now focus on their core mission of maintaining and improving Tails OS, exploring more and complementary use cases while benefiting from the larger organizational structure of The Tor Project."{{Cite web |title=Uniting for Internet Freedom: Tor Project & Tails Join Forces |url=https://blog.torproject.org/tor-tails-join-forces/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Tor Project}}{{Cite web |last=Sawers |first=Paul |date=2024-09-26 |title=The Tor Project merges with Tails, a Linux-based portable OS focused on privacy |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/26/the-tor-project-merges-with-tails-a-linux-based-portable-os-focused-on-privacy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926122144/https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/26/the-tor-project-merges-with-tails-a-linux-based-portable-os-focused-on-privacy/ |archive-date=2024-09-26 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

{{as of|2012}}, 80% of the Tor Project's $2 million annual budget came from the United States government, with the U.S. State Department, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and the National Science Foundation as major contributors,{{cite web |url=http://articles.boston.com/2012-03-08/business/31136655_1_law-enforcement-free-speech-technology/2 |title=Privacy software, criminal use |first=Jenifer B. |last=McKim |website=The Boston Globe |date=8 March 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312225054/http://articles.boston.com/2012-03-08/business/31136655_1_law-enforcement-free-speech-technology/2 |archivedate=12 March 2012}} "to aid democracy advocates in authoritarian states".{{cite news|author1=J. Appelbaum|author2=A. Gibson|author3=J. Goetz|author4=V. Kabisch|author5=L. Kampf|author6=L. Ryge|title=NSA targets the privacy-conscious|url=http://daserste.ndr.de/panorama/aktuell/nsa230_page-1.html|accessdate=4 July 2014|work=Panorama|publisher=Norddeutscher Rundfunk|date=3 July 2014}} The Swedish government and other organizations provided the other 20%, including NGOs and thousands of individual sponsors.{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324677204578185382377144280 |title=Tor: an anonymous, and controversial, way to web-surf |first=Geoffrey A. |last=Fowler |work=Wall Street Journal |date=17 December 2012 |accessdate=19 May 2013}} Dingledine said that the United States Department of Defense funds are more similar to a research grant than a procurement contract. Tor executive director Andrew Lewman said that even though it accepts funds from the U.S. federal government, the Tor service did not collaborate with the NSA to reveal identities of users.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/09/06/the-feds-pays-for-60-percent-of-tors-development-can-users-trust-it/ |title=The feds pay for 60 percent of Tor's development. Can users trust it? |first=Brian |last=Fung |work=The Switch |publisher=Washington Post |date=6 September 2013 |accessdate=6 February 2014}}

In June 2016, the Tor Project received an award from Mozilla's Open Source Support program (MOSS). The award was "to significantly enhance the Tor network's metrics infrastructure so that the performance and stability of the network can be monitored and improvements made as appropriate."{{Cite web |title=Mozilla Awards $385,000 to Open Source Projects as part of MOSS "Mission Partners" Program {{!}} The Mozilla Blog |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/mozilla-awards-385000-to-open-source-projects-as-part-of-moss-mission-partners-program/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=blog.mozilla.org |language=en-US}}

• Metrics Portal

::Analytics for the Tor network, including graphs of its available bandwidth and estimated user-base. This is a great resource for researchers interested in detailed statistics about Tor.

• Nyx

::a terminal (command line) application for monitoring and configuring Tor, intended for command-line enthusiasts and ssh connections. This functions much like top does for system usage, providing real time information on Tor's resource utilization and state.

• Onionoo

::Web-based protocol to learn about currently running Tor relays and bridges.

• OnionShare

::An open source tool that allows users to securely and anonymously share a file of any size.

• Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI)

::a global observation network, monitoring network censorship, which aims to collect high-quality data using open methodologies, using Free and Open Source Software (FL/OSS) to share observations and data about the various types, methods, and amounts of network tampering in the world.

• Orbot

::Tor for Android and iOS devices, developed and maintained in collaboration with the Guardian Project.

• Orlib

::a library for use by any Android application to route Internet traffic through Orbot/Tor.

• Pluggable Transports (PT)

::helps circumvent censorship. Transforms the Tor traffic flow between the client and the bridge. This way, censors who monitor traffic between the client and the bridge will see innocent-looking transformed traffic instead of the actual Tor traffic.

• Relay Search

::Site providing an overview of the Tor network.

• Shadow

::a discrete-event network simulator that runs the real Tor software as a plug-in. Shadow is open-source software that enables accurate, efficient, controlled, and repeatable Tor experimentation.

• Stem

::Python Library for writing scripts and applications that interact with Tor.

• Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System)

::a live CD/USB distribution pre-configured so that everything is safely routed through Tor and leaves no trace on the local system.

• Tor

::free software and an open network that helps a user defend against traffic analysis, a form of network surveillance that threatens personal freedom and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships, and state security. The organization has also implemented the software in Rust named Arti.{{Cite web |title=Arti 1.0.0 is released: Our Rust Tor implementation is ready for production use. |url=https://blog.torproject.org/arti_100_released/ |author=nickm |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Tor Blog}}

• Tor Browser

::a customization of Mozilla Firefox which uses a Tor circuit for browsing anonymously and with other features consistent with the Tor mission.

• Tor Phone

::A phone that routes its network traffic through the Tor network.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Ars |date=2016-11-22 |title=Tor phone is antidote to Google "hostility" over Android, says developer |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/11/tor-phone-prototype-google-hostility-android-open-source/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813072819/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/11/tor-phone-prototype-google-hostility-android-open-source/ |archive-date=13 August 2022 |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} Now defunct.

• TorBirdy

::Extension for Thunderbird and related *bird forks to route connections through the Tor network.

• txtorcon

::Python and Twisted event-based implementation of the Tor control protocol. Unit-tests, state and configuration abstractions, documentation. It is available on PyPI and in Debian.{{cite web|url=https://www.torproject.org/projects/projects.html.en|title=Projects Overview|first=|last=|date=|website=The Tor Project, Inc.|accessdate=15 November 2018}} 50px This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)] license.

In March 2011, the Tor Project received the Free Software Foundation's 2010 Award for Projects of Social Benefit. The citation read, "Using free software, Tor has enabled roughly 36 million people around the world to experience freedom of access and expression on the Internet while keeping them in control of their privacy and anonymity. Its network has proved pivotal in dissident movements in both Iran and more recently Egypt."{{cite web |url=http://www.fsf.org/news/2010-free-software-awards-announced |title=2010 Free Software Awards announced |website=Free Software Foundation |accessdate=23 March 2011}}

In September 2012, the Tor Project received the 2012 EFF Pioneer Award, along with Jérémie Zimmermann and Andrew Huang.{{cite web|title=EFF Pioneer Awards 2012|url=https://www.eff.org/awards/pioneer/2012|publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation|accessdate=17 August 2015|date=20 September 2012}}

In November 2012, Foreign Policy magazine named Dingledine, Mathewson, and Syverson among its Top 100 Global Thinkers "for making the web safe for whistleblowers".{{cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/11/26/the_fp_100_global_thinkers?page=0,48 |title=The FP Top 100 Global Thinkers |first=Alicia P.Q. |last=Wittmeyer |website=Foreign Policy |date=26 November 2012 |accessdate=28 November 2012 |archivedate=30 November 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130221322/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/11/26/the_fp_100_global_thinkers?page=0,33 |url-status=dead }}

In 2014, Roger Dingledine, Nick Mathewson and Paul Syverson received the USENIX Test of Time Award for their paper titled "Tor: The Second-Generation Onion Router", which was published in the Proceedings of the 13th USENIX Security Symposium, August 2004.{{cite web|title=USENIX Test of Time Awards|date=4 September 2013 |url=https://www.usenix.org/conferences/test-of-time-awards|publisher=USENIX|accessdate=29 August 2015}}

In 2021, the Tor Project was awarded the Levchin Prize for real-world cryptography.{{cite web |title=The Levchin Prize for Real-World Cryptography |url=https://rwc.iacr.org/LevchinPrize/winners.html |website=Real World Crypto Symposium |publisher=International Association for Cryptologic Research |access-date=9 April 2024}}

• Privacy software

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Category:2006 establishments in Massachusetts

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Category:Computer science organizations

Category:Computer security organizations

Category:Internet privacy organizations

Category:Organizations based in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Category:Organizations based in Seattle

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Massachusetts

Category:Scientific organizations established in 2006

Category:Science and technology in Massachusetts

Category:Tor onion services