Manage updates with the Download App
CNET Editors' review
Tor Browser Bundle for Mac is a package that installs and manages the Tor project software on your Mac. Tor allows you to hide your identity and prevent IP address-tracking back to your device. The Tor Browser Bundle for Mac comprises a number of files, but it's easy enough to install.
Tor uses a set of servers around the world, most maintained by individuals, that reroute your URL request through two, three, or more different servers in an attempt to make your path from your Mac to the destination URL difficult to track back. Each hop in the Tor network hides your IP address a bit more, and after three hops it is very difficult for the destination device to know where the connection originated from. This effectively hides your IP address. Of course, the problem is the more hops, the longer it takes for traffic to route between the end URL and your machine, so Tor is a slower way of accessing the Internet. The Tor Browser Bundle for Mac is from the Tor project and includes files saying how to set up and use Tor. There's a set of videos on the Tor project Web site to help you get everything working properly, regardless of the browser you ultimately use.
Tor has been around for a while and is a well-used method of hiding your identity and IP address. The Tor Browser Bundle for Mac makes installing Tor on your machine easier. While still a work in progress, the Tor Browser Bundle for Mac is worth installing and using if you value your privacy and want to hide your location from remote sites. While not as friendly as some all-in-one packages available that use Tor, the Tor Browser Bundle for Mac is more versatile.
Tor Browser Bundle - Protect your online privacy - Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From The Tor Project:
Tor is free software and an open network that helps you defend against a form of network surveillance that threatens personal freedom and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships, and state security known as traffic analysis. Tor protects you by bouncing your communications around a distributed network of relays run by volunteers all around the world: it prevents somebody watching your Internet connection from learning what sites you visit, and it prevents the sites you visit from learning your physical location. Tor works with many of your existing applications, including web browsers, instant messaging clients, remote login, and other applications based on the TCP protocol. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world use Tor for a wide variety of reasons: journalists and bloggers, human rights workers, law enforcement officers, soldiers, corporations, citizens of repressive regimes, and just ordinary citizens. See the Who Uses Tor? page for examples of typical Tor users. See the overview page for a more detailed explanation of what Tor does, and why this diversity of users is important. Tor doesn't magically encrypt all of your Internet activities, though. You should understand what Tor does and does not do for you. Tor's security improves as its user base grows and as more people volunteer to run relays. (It isn't nearly as hard to set up as you might think, and can significantly enhance your own security.) If running a relay isn't for you, we need help with many other aspects of the project, and we need funds to continue making the Tor network faster and easier to use while maintaining good security.
More Products to Consider
-
Protects privacy online and secures your computer.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Antivirus app powered by the open-source ClamAV engine.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Get Wi-Fi privacy and security, protect yourself from malware t...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Protect your PC against the latest viruses and spyware.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Maintain your anonymity online and secure your web session.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Detect apps that establish outgoing Internet connections.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Secure your privacy and maintain your anonymity while surfing t...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Easy-to-use protection from viruses, Trojans and worms. Quarant...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
MacKeeper is like 911 for your Mac.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Scan the page behind any link you click on or any web address y...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Encrypt your valuable sensitive data.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Network protocol analysis app: deep inspection, live capture & ...DownloadThis download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
Installed
Smart Install -
Detect spyware, clean up Internet privacy clutter and protects ...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Encrypt or decrypt your PDF documents.Visit SiteThis download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
-
Store passwords, logins, notes, then sync to your mobile phone ...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Record keystrokes, log visited websites, take screenshots and s...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Monitor your home and your loved ones from anywhere - with any ...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Protect your privacy by blocking online tracking.DownloadThis download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
Installed
Smart Install - Protect the Data You Share & Store in the Cloud.Download
Installed
Smart Install -
Securely and automatically log into websites and store private ...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install - For network pros to use LAN & host based services simultaneousl...Download
This download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
Installed
Smart Install -
Monitor user activity on your Mac Pro, iMac, MacBook, MacBook A...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Find out what your kids are doing online.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
A DFS (Distributed File System) browser.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install
-
All versions:
3.7 starsout of 6 votes
-
Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-6 of 6
-
"Works the same as the old browser"
Version: Tor Browser Bundle 2.3.25.4
Pros
I can't tell. As far as I can see it works exactly the same
Cons
Every time you update Tor, it loses all the settings, tabs and bookmarks you had in the previous version.
This is particularly annoying if you've put a lot of time in creating macros and scripts for your download client.
Since the Tor browser is essentially Firefox, it shouldn't be that hard for Tor to have the browser act like the regular Firefox and keep all of it's settings after the update. -
"The link is for 32-bit Tor, but 64-bit also available!"
Version: Tor Browser Bundle 2.3.25.4
Pros
The wonders of the Onion project, Vidalia, and the Tor network all running on Firefox. It is much simpler than it used to be...
Cons
...But this is still fundamentally geekware IMHO if you want to use much more than its anonymity features. The learning curve is kind of rocky.
Summary
NOTE: The 32-bit version is downloaded via the link here. HOWEVER! There is also a 64-bit version! You can choose which of the two versions to download HERE:
https://www.torproject.org/download/download-easy.html.en
There are a lot of terrific things you can do with Tor and the Tor community. Read read read and play play play to learn and figure it all out.
You still have to be careful out there because ratty types like to hang out anonymously too. Be safe at all times. Enjoy your natural right to PRIVACY. Don't let any bozos take it away. Not ever! -
"***? Updated flash and still get an error message"
Version: Tor Browser Bundle 2.2.39-5
Pros
Interface was fine.
Cons
All I got was an error message telling me to update Flash Player.
Summary
I'm a MAC user for several reason one of which I like when applications JUST WORK! If I wanted to spend time geeking around with an app I'd be a winblowz user.
Tried to view a youtube video not allowed in the 3rd world I'm in now. Tried this browser. A message telling me to update my Flash Player appeared. OK. Updated flash. Still no luck. What's the point? -
"Tor works just great!"
Version: Tor Browser Bundle 2.2.37-1
Pros
It took me a while to find a way to hide my IP address and I finally 'discovered' the Tor Browser. I have been using Tor for about two months and it does exactly as detailed on the Tor website.
Cons
So far I have none.
-
"Hello,what about Tor for windows?!please consider"
Version: Tor Browser Bundle 0.2.1.30
Pros
Hello,what about Tor for windows?!please consider
Cons
Hello,what about Tor for windows?!please consider
Summary
Hello,what about Tor for windows?!please consider
-
"The Ultimate Proxy for Personal Privacy"
Version: Tor Browser Bundle 0.2.1.29
Pros
Tor is an Open Source project, independent of any political or oligarchic meddling. It works beautifully and restores faith in the human right of privacy. Once you understand what it's for, what it does and how to use it, it just works.
Cons
There is a steep learning curve if you want to understand Tor/Vidalia. It essentially is geekware, requiring patience with the accompanying difficult or missing documentation.
Summary
I learned about the Onion/Tor project via studying computer security and an interest in circumventing the deceitful "1984"-like political atmosphere developing in the USA over the last decade. I also wanted to circumvent ridiculous and abusive marketing blackouts around the world that prevent the sharing of information and media around the world. Tor/Vidalia is brilliant in solving these problems. Once you comprehend everything about it, I also found it remarkably easy to use.
However, getting to the point of comprehension is a very steep climb. If you can find someone who understands Tor to help you set it up for you to fulfill your purposes it makes things much easier. I did not and found it tough going, requiring all my supergeek powers of patience, research, curiosity and persistence. It has paid off grandly and I greatly admire the work of the people who have set up this software and the entire Tor network. Bravo.
If you value and demand your human right to personal privacy on the Internet, this is one of the primary and best tools in your arsenal. Put together with additional tools you can return to and maintain a state of anonymity, freely sharing among other Internet users any data you choose.
Stick with the learning curve and you'll find this terrific software indispensable and profoundly important.
