Navy Project Allows Anonymous Browsing

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – While its applications might run counter to certain provisions of the Patriot Act, an open-source program originally developed by the Navy is being used to mask the identities of web surfers.

The application that became Tor was launched by the Naval Research Labs in 1996 as a means of allowing officials to search the web without having their identities revealed by way of IP or machine address. The program uses a function called “onion routing,” which sends data through three different servers, each partially invisible to the last and, allegedly, totally invisible to the next-to-last server.

Tor is currently managed by the Free Haven Project, a team comprised mostly of MIT alumni which aims to “deploy a system for distributed, anonymous, persistent data storage which is robust against attempts by powerful adversaries to find and destroy any stored data.” In other words, Tor employs a peer-to-peer model.

Tor’s capacity to provide faster routing is increased with the number of users connected to the system, because each user’s computer becomes a possible data router. Like the SETI at Home project (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), founded in 1993, Tor originated as a government peer-to-peer project that was taken over by private or academic interests.

Tor, which is a free download for Windows, Mac and Linux users, can be used by students hoping to circumvent Internet content restrictions in schools, employers wishing to spy on employees or corporate whistleblowers desiring anonymity. In this regard its applications exceed its intended scope, but also leaves its future up to its users.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Sara Jay, Dan Leal to Sponsor XBIZ Amsterdam Kick-Off Event

Sara Jay’s Wyde Syde Productions and Porno Dan Leal’s Market64 will co-sponsor the Bottoms Up Day Drinking kick-off event for XBIZ Amsterdam 2025 at Excalibur Café on Sept. 2, from 2-4 p.m. (CET).

AEBN Publishes Report on DP Trends

AEBN has published a report on DP and extreme penetration categories from its straight and gay theaters.

Free Speech Coalition Appoints Megan Stokes to Board of Directors

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) announced today that it has appointed Megan Stokes to its Board of Directors.

FansRevenue Acquires DivaTraffic

FansRevenue has acquired web traffic service DivaTraffic.

AEBN Announces Peter Green as Top Male Boy/Girl Performer for Summer 2025

AEBN has revealed its top 10 male Boy/Girl performers for summer 2025, with Peter Green landing atop the leaderboard.

Spicey AI Relaunches Site, Debuts $Spicey Tokens

Interactive voice chat platform Spicey AI has relaunched its website and introduced $Spicey tokens.

FSC: Missouri Age Verification Rule Will Not Take Effect August 30

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) announced that Missouri's proposed age verification legislation will not take effect on August 30, as it had originally estimated.

Little Caprice, Marcello Bravo to Co-Host 2025 XMA Europa Awards

XBIZ is pleased to announce that husband-and-wife duo Little Caprice and Marcello Bravo will co-host adult’s biggest night in Europe: the 2025 XMA Europa Awards on Sept. 4, in the epic climax to XBIZ’s fall events series.

Germany Will Block Payments to AV-Noncompliant Adult Sites as of Dec. 1

Starting Dec. 1, Germany will implement new rules prohibiting financial institutions from providing payment services to adult sites deemed to have inadequate age verification systems and making it easier for the government to target websites mirroring the content of such sites.

Jerkmate Joins Pineapple Support as Partner-Level Sponsor

Jerkmate has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Show More