tor browser

tor browser is a hardened firefox build that routes everything through tor and makes every user look alike - the default way to reach onion sites safely.

tor browser is the tor project's ready-to-use package: a modified firefox extended support release wired so that all traffic - including dns - goes through the tor network, with no configuration required. it is the only mainstream browser that opens .onion addresses natively.

beyond routing, the hardening matters just as much: window dimensions are standardized so screen sizes do not fingerprint you, third-party state is heavily restricted, and the security slider (standard / safer / safest) trades convenience for attack surface. safest mode disables javascript on non-onion sites by default and is reasonable for casual browsing of markets and forums.

handling rules that actually make a difference: always download it from the official tor project site and verify the signature, keep it updated (old versions accumulate known deanonymization bugs), do not install extensions or torrent through it, and resist maximizing the window since resizing nudges you out of the anonymity set.

it pairs naturally with the tools on this site: verify the download's checksum before first launch, and use the onion status checker inside tor browser itself when a market refuses to load and you want to know whether the problem is the site or your circuit.