As the name suggests, when using Onion over VPN your device first connects to a VPN server and then to the Tor network. This adds an extra layer of security and prevents any surveillance of your internet activity. However, using both technologies together slows down your internet connection considerably. Moreover, you might not be able to visit websites that block Tor exit nodes. Using Onion over a VPN is very straightforward with NordVPN. NordVPN is a premium VPN service that offers its own Onion over VPN servers. You can connect to the Tor network using the NordVPN app itself and don’t have to take any additional steps. For instance, journalists and researchers working in authoritarian nations are at risk of imprisonment if their online activity is revealed. It’s important for them to know how to bypass online censorship to protect their identity and their interests. In such situations, combining the Onion Network and a VPN provides additional security. This is known as Onion over VPN or Tor over VPN. When using Onion over VPN, internet traffic is routed through VPN and Tor servers. This adds an extra security layer and makes it difficult to trace your activity online. Now, let’s break down each of the components involved in setting up an Onion over VPN connection, and explain how it works.
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a service that encrypts your internet traffic before routing it through servers around the globe. In other words, it creates a secure tunnel between your device and the Internet. Moreover, it changes your IP address and protects your digital identity from your Internet Service Provider and others online.
Using a virtual private network has several benefits. In addition to protecting your digital identity, it is used to circumvent geo-restrictions and use the internet more freely. The easiest way to use a VPN is by buying a subscription to a premium VPN provider, like NordVPN. You can simply use the VPN provider’s app and avoid the hassle of manually configuring a VPN. Premium VPN providers like NordVPN also provide additional security features, such as double VPN, specialty P2P servers, and obfuscated servers. However, in some situations, you may need to manually add a VPN to your device. For instance, joining the VPN hosted by your company sometimes requires manual configuration.
What is the Onion Network? How Does It Work?
When you usually connect to the internet, your data travels from your device to the ISP’s server and then to the internet. It’s a fairly direct connection. However, when using the Onion network, your data is sent through a network of volunteer-operated servers, known as nodes or relays. Usually, the data is sent through three kinds of nodes (guard, middle, and exit) making it difficult to trace the activity back to you. The first node is the relay node. This is your access point to the Tor network and it knows your IP address. Thereafter, your data travels through additional middle nodes which add more layers of security and obscure the origins of the traffic. Finally, the data arrives at the exit node where it is decrypted and sent to internet services. To these services, it will seem as if your traffic originated from the exit node. The Onion Network refers to this network of relays and nodes across the globe. It can be accessed using the Tor browser and provides nearly perfect online anonymity. As a result, journalists and political activists use it to store and transfer sensitive information. There are currently 7,000 nodes across the world, all of which are run by volunteers. Now that we know what both a VPN and the TOR network are, let’s understand what Onion over VPN is.
How Does Onion Over VPN Work?
As the name suggests, Onion over VPN combines elements of both a VPN and the Onion network. Indeed, it refers to a situation when an individual links on to the Onion Network after being connected to a VPN server. In essence, the connection to the VPN servers adds an extra layer of security as it obscures your IP address when it connects to the relay node. But what does this mean in practice? Let’s go over the benefits and disadvantages of using Tor over VPN.
Benefits of using Onion over VPN
Using Onion over VPN offers a variety of different benefits as compared to a direct connection with the Onion network. Some of the major ones are: As we mentioned earlier, the Onion network is associated with illegal activities that occur on the dark web. Hence, several ISPs and governments block traffic from Tor nodes. Using a VPN allows the use of Tor even in areas where it’s restricted, such as China and Russia.
Disadvantages of using Tor over VPN
The added security and privacy provided by Tor over VPN does come at a price. Some of the disadvantages of using it are:
When Should Onion Over VPN be Used?
Given the advantages and advantages listed above, there are only a few specific situations when you should use Onion over VPN. Essentially, Onion over VPN should be used when privacy and anonymity are of utmost importance and the connection speeds don’t matter. This holds true for journalists, diplomats, and other political activists located in regimes that clamp down on dissent. Tor over VPN can also be used to access the Onion network in countries where the Onion Network is explicitly banned. However, it is likely that using a VPN in such countries could also land you in trouble. Hence, you should always check the potential legal ramifications of using a VPN and the Onion Network in the country you’re currently residing. People working with sensitive data can also use Onion over VPN since it provides extra encryption. Conversely, there is no need to use Onion over VPN for normal browsing activity. If you want to maintain privacy during regular browsing, using just a VPN is a more viable option. Similarly, Onion over VPN should not be used while streaming or downloading content. The streams and downloads will take ages to load, leading to a frustrating experience.
What’s the Difference Between Tor Over VPN and VPN Over Tor?
As we’ve mentioned, Tor over VPN is when you first connect to a VPN server and then the Tor network. On the other hand, VPN over Tor is when you first join the Tor network and then connect to a VPN server. Each kind of connection has its own pros and cons, though Onion over VPN is more commonly used. The main advantage of VPN over Tor is that you can access websites that block Tor exit nodes since your traffic reaches the website from the VPN server. This also helps protect you from malicious exit nodes as they can no longer monitor your activity. However, the advantages of using a VPN over Tor fade when compared to its drawbacks. To begin with, it’s considerably harder to set up. You also won’t be able to access .onion websites, which is the main benefit of using the Tor network. You’ll also lose out on the privacy benefits that Onion over VPN provides. For instance, your ISP will be able to see that you’re using the Tor network.
How to Use Onion Over VPN?
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get to setting up an Onion over VPN connection. We’ll be using NordVPN for this guide as it provides one of the easiest and most convenient ways to set up over Onion over VPN. There are a couple of reasons for this:
NordVPN offers its own OnionVPN servers which means you access the Tor network using a normal browser as well It has a double audited no-logs policy which means you don’t have to worry about your VPN provider spying on your activity It’s effective in avoiding geo-restrictions even in countries such as China and Russia
Here’s how you can set up an Onion Over VPN connection using NordVPN:
Final Thoughts on Onion Over VPN
When privacy and anonymity are crucial, it makes sense to use Onion over VPN. That said, the combination of the two does have serious drawbacks which makes it unfit for daily use. You’re much better off going with a regular VPN connection for regular browsing. You can even try a double VPN. If you do intend on trying Onion over VPN, we’d suggest sticking with NordVPN. It provides a seamless connection experience that’s easy for beginners to use as well while offering ironclad security.
