The Onion Router refers to a proxy server similar to the P2P principle and is also a tool set. Its main function is to encrypt messages layer by layer and package them into onion-like data packets, so it is vividly called an onion router (that is, various organizations and individuals can use it to enhance their own security on the Internet).

Users using this router are both proxy server users and proxy server providers. The Onion Router is built by volunteers spending their own bandwidth.

Onion Router detailed functions:

1. Browse the web anonymously. The Onion Router can run in the background of the operating system, creating a proxy link to connect users to the Tor network. As more and more software and even operating systems begin to allow users to choose to send all traffic through Tor links, this allows users to mask their identity with almost any type of online service.

2. Research malware. Onion Router can be used with URL fetching command line tools such as wget, or when connecting to an SSH, FTP or IRC server. There are tools available that encapsulate Tor into an application to ensure that its connection appears to be coming from the Tor network and not directly from your network.

3. Resist traffic analysis. The goal of the Onion Router is to resist traffic analysis, which is a form of network surveillance that threatens personal anonymity and privacy, the confidentiality of commercial activities and business relationships, and national security.

Reference for the above content? Baidu Encyclopedia-Onion Router