Introduction

Tor Browser protects your privacy while you are surfing the Internet: it prevents somebody watching your Internet connection from learning what sites you visit, it prevents the sites you visit from learning your physical location, and it lets you access sites which are blocked.

Tor Browser is based on Firefox and will be familiar to many users.

To keep your protection strong you need to update the Tor Browser regularly. In Debian the easier way to do that is to install Tor Browser using torbrowser-launcher. Which automatically install Tor Browser, run it, update it to keep its protection strong and protect your privacy.

The advantage of using the Debian package torbrowser-launcher over the official TorBrowser package is threefold:

* you will benefit from automatic upgrades * if using AppArmor, you will benefit from the AppArmor profiles contained in the package * you will not have to manually create launchers from your desktop or menu entries

Install

Debian 9 "Stretch"

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Frequently Ask Questions (F.A.Q.) for Debian 9 "Stretch"

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Debian 8 "Jessie"

To install Tor Browser please choose one of the following two options:

If unsure, it is suggested to use the first option Debian 8 "Jessie" with Backport. Because it is more secure.

Debian 8 "Jessie" with Backport

  1. If not already done add the Backport repository to your sources.list.

  2. Using Terminal as Root execute the following command
    apt-get install torbrowser-launcher -t jessie-backports
  3. Run the browser in GNOME by typing "Tor Browser" in the Activities Search. Alternatively, run it form the Terminal by entering torbrowser-launcher command.

  4. On the first start the new version of the browser will automatically be downloaded and installed. On every subsequent run a check for updates will be done.

Frequently Ask Questions (F.A.Q.) for Debian 8 "Jessie" with Backport

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Debian 8 "Jessie" without Backport

  1. Using Terminal as Root execute the following command
    apt-get install torbrowser-launcher
  2. Run the browser in GNOME by typing "Tor Browser" in the Activities Search. Alternatively, run it form the Terminal by entering torbrowser-launcher command.

  3. On the first start the new version of the browser will automatically be downloaded and installed. On every subsequent run a check for updates will be done.

Frequently Ask Questions (F.A.Q.) for Debian 8 "Jessie" without Backport

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Debian 7 "Wheezy"

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Frequently Ask Questions (F.A.Q.) for Debian 7 "Wheezy"

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Update

To update choose one of the following two options. If unsure, the "automatic update" option is easier and recommended.

Automatic update

Tor Browser will automatically prompt you to update the software once a new version has been released. The Torbutton icon will display a small yellow triangle. When you are prompted to update Tor Browser:

  1. Click on the Torbutton icon
  2. Select “Check for Tor Browser Update” option. If needed see those screenshots to clarify the location.

  3. When Tor Browser has finished checking for updates, click on the “Update” button.
  4. Wait for the update to download and install, then restart Tor Browser. You will now be running the latest version.

Alternatively, if you installed Tor Browser using the torbrowser-launcher package. Simply close all Tor Browser windows. Then re-open Tor Browser. It will automatically check if a new version is available. Follow the instructions on your screen.

Manual update

Before manually updating Tor Browser it is suggested to periodically backup any valuable data. Such as your bookmarks. Which you could import after the manual update.

Manually update Tor Browser

  1. When you are prompted to update Tor Browser, finish the browsing session and close the program.
  2. Remove Tor Browser from your system by deleting the folder that contains it. If needed see that Uninstalling section for more information.

  3. Visit https://www.torproject.org/projects/torbrowser.html.en and download a copy of the latest Tor Browser release, then install it as before.

Advanced Tor Usage

Torrc File Location

Jessie-Backports 64 Bit

If you installed "torbrowser-launcher" using "jessie-backports" on 64 bit. The "torrc" advanced configuration file is located at:

Related documentation

See also

References