Myth of Levels in the Network Tor

Debunking the Myth of ‘Dark Layers’ in the Tor Network: Understanding How Tor and TCP/IP Really Work​

Introduction​

The Tor network, often associated with the “dark web,” is frequently misunderstood and misrepresented. A common myth suggests that Tor contains progressively “darker” layers, where each layer becomes more secretive, illegal, or dangerous. In reality, Tor is simply a privacy-focused network built on standard TCP/IP protocols. This article demystifies the myth of Tor’s supposed “dark layers” by explaining how Tor really works, using TCP/IP to protect user privacy rather than creating hidden, ominous levels.

The Tor Network: Basics and Purpose​

The Tor (The Onion Router) network was developed to provide users with anonymity by routing their internet traffic through multiple volunteer-operated servers (or nodes). This design makes it difficult to trace a user’s origin, IP address, or browsing activity, protecting users from surveillance and censorship.

Contrary to popular belief, Tor is not inherently illegal nor does it contain layers that become “darker” or more dangerous. Tor’s purpose is to promote privacy and freedom of expression, often used by journalists, activists, and anyone concerned about online privacy.

Understanding the Layers in Tor: Why ‘Dark Layers’ Don’t Exist​

Tor operates by encapsulating data in layers of encryption—often referred to as “onion routing” because each layer of encryption is peeled away at each node, revealing the next destination without exposing the origin. Here’s how it works:

1. Circuit Creation
   When a user connects to Tor, their device establishes a connection path (or circuit) through a series of Tor nodes, usually three: the entry node, the middle relay, and the exit node. Each node has access only to the previous and next nodes, preventing any single node from knowing the entire path.
2. Layered Encryption
   The user’s data is encrypted in multiple layers, each corresponding to a Tor node. As the data passes through each node, a layer of encryption is removed, revealing the data’s next destination.
3. Exit Node and Destination
   Once the data reaches the exit node, the final layer of encryption is removed, and the data is forwarded to its intended destination. The original IP address remains hidden from the destination, protecting user privacy.

These “layers” are simply layers of encryption—there is no secret “depth” or hidden hierarchy within Tor. Each layer represents a hop in the network, not a darker or more dangerous level.

TCP/IP Basics: Understanding How Data Travels in Tor​

To understand why the idea of “dark layers” in Tor is inaccurate, it helps to know how TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) works. TCP/IP is the set of rules that governs how data packets are sent, routed, and received across the internet.

1. Data Packetization
   When you request data over the internet (for instance, visiting a website), the data is broken into smaller packets. Each packet contains both a header (containing source, destination, and routing information) and payload (the actual data).
2. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
   TCP ensures that data packets are transmitted reliably by verifying the successful arrival of each packet and reassembling them in the correct order. This protocol prioritizes data accuracy, ensuring packets arrive intact and in sequence.
3. Internet Protocol (IP)
   IP is responsible for routing the packets to the correct destination using IP addresses. Each packet includes source and destination IP addresses, enabling routers to send packets along the most efficient path.

How Tor Uses TCP/IP to Provide Anonymity​

Tor’s design is built on top of TCP/IP, meaning it works like any other internet-based service with added layers of encryption and routing for privacy.

1. Packet Routing Through Tor Nodes
   When you connect to Tor, your data is still broken into TCP/IP packets. However, unlike standard internet traffic, Tor wraps each packet in multiple layers of encryption. Each Tor node peels away a layer, revealing only the necessary information to forward it to the next node, eventually reaching its destination.
2. Masking the Source IP Address
   Tor uses the same TCP/IP model, but the encryption layers prevent any intermediate nodes from seeing the true source IP address. Instead, each node only knows the previous and next nodes, ensuring that the origin remains anonymous.
3. No Hidden “Dark Layers” in TCP/IP
   TCP/IP handles data uniformly, regardless of what network it’s on. There’s no concept of hidden or progressively darker layers. Tor simply adds encryption layers to each data packet, removing them at each node to keep the packet moving without exposing its origin.

Debunking Myths About ‘Dark Layers’ in Tor​

Here are some common myths about Tor’s supposed “dark layers” and the reality of how Tor works:

1. Myth: Tor Contains Secret Dark Levels Only Accessible to Hackers
   Reality: Tor doesn’t have hidden or secret levels. The “layers” in Tor refer to encryption layers, not additional or secret levels within the network. Anyone can use Tor by simply downloading the Tor Browser.
2. Myth: Each Layer of Tor Becomes Darker or More Dangerous
   Reality: All data in Tor goes through the same process of encryption and routing. There are no “darker” layers in the network, only encryption layers that each node decrypts to move the data forward.
3. Myth: Tor Gives Access to Hidden Parts of the Internet
   Reality: While Tor enables access to the .onion domain, this part of the internet, commonly referred to as the “dark web,” is not organized into secret levels. It’s simply a collection of websites accessible only through Tor due to privacy needs.

Examples of TCP/IP Traffic in Tor​

Let’s look at a simplified example of how TCP/IP works within Tor, highlighting the layered encryption that’s often misinterpreted as “dark layers”:

1. Initial Request
   A user’s browser sends a request to access a website through Tor. The browser creates an encrypted packet with the request data and IP address, which is encapsulated in multiple layers of encryption.
2. First Layer Removed at Entry Node
   The entry node decrypts the first layer, revealing only enough information to forward the packet to the next relay. The original IP address remains hidden.
3. Middle Relay and Second Layer
   The middle relay removes another encryption layer, revealing the next relay (the exit node) without exposing the origin. TCP/IP packets are re-encrypted for transmission but remain the same fundamentally.
4. Exit Node and Final Destination
   At the exit node, the last layer of encryption is removed, and the request is sent to the destination site. This site sees the exit node’s IP address, not the user’s true IP, maintaining anonymity.

This process involves no hidden or secret layers—only layers of encryption.

Key Takeaways on the “Dark Layers” Myth and Tor’s True Functionality​

1. Tor Layers Are Encryption Layers, Not Secret Levels
   The term “layers” in Tor refers to encryption layers, not hidden depths or secret levels. Each layer serves to protect user anonymity by preventing any one node from seeing the entire communication path.
2. TCP/IP Provides Structure, Not Darkness
   Tor uses standard TCP/IP to route traffic, just like any other internet service. TCP/IP has no concept of “darkness”; it only facilitates packet transmission from source to destination.
3. Tor Provides Privacy, Not Complete Anonymity
   Tor is an excellent tool for privacy, but it does not guarantee complete anonymity. Websites can still track users through methods like cookies and fingerprinting, so additional privacy tools may be needed.
4. No Secret “Levels” in Tor
   The myth of “dark levels” within Tor is unfounded. Tor is a network of volunteer nodes designed for privacy, not a gateway to hidden levels or dark secrets.

Conclusion​

The myth of progressively darker “layers” in the Tor network stems from misunderstandings about how Tor’s encryption and routing work. Tor simply uses layers of encryption to route traffic anonymously across volunteer nodes, with no secret depths or levels. By understanding how TCP/IP operates within Tor, users can see that Tor is a privacy tool, not a mysterious gateway. This knowledge helps demystify the Tor network, allowing users to appreciate its role in promoting privacy without falling for myths and misconceptions.