Leave TOR alone the NSA has hacked TOR. It's useless and you will be traced.
(Note: Couldn't quote exactly what LordPanda said due to moderation flagging the C word).
If you're referring to the netflow vulnerability which allows someone to discover a TOR users IP address; that's a side channel attack, not a weakness with TOR itself.
If you're referring to browser based vulnerabilities like the one with Firefox awhile back to discover the users IP address, those require the user to visit a site that implements the exploit.
If it involves giving details about the system using TOR, that's what the TAILS operating system was designed to prevent, as all traffic is routed through TOR at the system level and memory is wiped every time the system restarts.
TOR is still a great program but it has to be used with a vpn and socks proxy just like it has been since it came out.
That's not necessary and may even be more of a security risk since it involves 3rd parties that might be vulnerable in some way, or compromised at worst.
And it doesn't matter if the NSA is monitoring unless your a terrorist.
While it's not the NSA's objective to go after drug trafficking, and cooperation between various agencies isn't exactly easy; quid pro quo still applies. DEA might ask the NSA for details for an investigation in exchange for details it has on an investigation the NSA is performing. So while they don't share everything, they do share some things.
I thought silkroad was shut down.
"Based on data from 3 February 2012 to 24 July 2012, an estimated $15 million in transactions were made annually on Silk Road" Damn...
The original version was, after a sting operation where they were able to get the owner to solicit a federal agent to assassinate someone they had a dispute with. Not all of the management team was caught, and they created a second version. Which I believe disappeared shortly after with all of the bitcoins in the system along with it. Heard about it being revived again, but everyone I know, if they were smart, never used SR again after the first one closed; and if they were more than just a customer, they dropped off the grid.
I am curious about the deep/dark web and am looking to browse through certain sites like silkroad using the Tor browser. Is it illegal or can i get in trouble for browsing the silk road/other marketplaces?
I am not interested in buying anything. any tips for browsing the deep web and staying safe/anonymous?
With the exception of child pornography, just looking at something is not a crime in the US. Even people who were caught buying stuff off SR, as long as it was personal use amounts, would generally receive what was referred to as a "love note" from the USPS stating that their package is being kept at the post office due to it containing controlled substances, and that you can come pick it up if you have documentation showing you have a permit to possess it.
For larger amounts, or when law enforcement decided for whatever reason to actually bust you, they'd perform controlled drops to positively ID the recipient and show that they were expecting it, to aid prosecution; as well give them the opportunity to perform surveillance to see what they did with it (in case the person was just a courier). Was typically the reason for always checking the box "no signature required", since there is no reason for the mailman to personally hand it to you.
Though the USPS does monitor package tracking requests on their website made from TOR exit nodes; so some people did get popped that way.
Long story short: Use TOR all you want. Don't commit any crimes, and if you stumble upon illegal photographs, close the window immediately. That way it's more believable when you say it wasn't intentional (mens rea based defense).
