- -

This document is obsolete. See the new Tor documentation page. -

- -

Running the Tor client on MS Windows

-
- -

-Note that these are the installation instructions for running a Tor -client on MS Windows (98, 98SE, NT4, 2000, XP, Server). -If you want to relay traffic for others to help the network grow (please -do), read the Configuring a server -guide. -

- -

Step One: Download and Install Tor

-
- -

-The install for MS Windows bundles Tor, -TorCP -(a Tor controller that lets you monitor and control Tor), and Privoxy (a filtering web proxy) into -one package, with the three applications pre-configured to work together. -Download either the stable or -the experimental version from the download page. -

- -

-If you want to configure yourself to be a Tor server via TorCP, -you will need the experimental version of the bundle. -

- -

If the bundles don't work for you, you can download Tor by itself -from the download page, and then install -and configure Privoxy on your own. -

- -

- -

If you have previously installed Tor, TorCP, or Privoxy -you can deselect whichever components you do not need to install -in the dialog shown below. -

- -

- -

After you have completed the installer, the components -you selected will automatically be started for you. -

- - - -

- -

Step Two: Configure your applications to use Tor

-
- -

After installing Tor and Privoxy, you need to configure your -applications to use them. The first step is to set up web browsing.

- -

If you're using Firefox (we recommend it), check out our Tor SwitchProxy howto to set up -a plugin that makes it easy to switch between using Tor and using a -direct connection.

- -

Otherwise, you need to manually configure your browser to HTTP proxy -at localhost port 8118. -(That's where Privoxy listens.) -In Mozilla, this is in Edit|Preferences|Advanced|Proxies. -In Opera 7.5x it's Tools|Preferences|Network|Proxy servers. -In IE, it's Tools|Internet Options|Connections|LAN Settings|Advanced. -You should click the "use the same proxy server for all protocols" -button; but see this -note about Tor and ftp proxies. -In IE, this looks something like:

- -

- -

Using Privoxy is necessary because browsers -leak your DNS requests when they use a SOCKS proxy directly, which -is bad for your anonymity. Privoxy also removes certain dangerous -headers from your web requests, and blocks obnoxious ad sites like -Doubleclick.

- -

To Torify other applications that support HTTP proxies, just -point them at Privoxy (that is, localhost port 8118). To use SOCKS -directly (for instant messaging, Jabber, IRC, etc), you can point -your application directly at Tor (localhost port 9050), but see this -FAQ entry for why this may be dangerous. For applications -that support neither SOCKS nor HTTP, take a look at SocksCap or -FreeCap. -(FreeCap is free software; SocksCap is proprietary.)

- -

For information on how to Torify other applications, check out the -Torify -HOWTO. -

- -

Step Three: Make sure it's working

-
- -

-Check to see that Privoxy and TorCP are running and that TorCP has -successfully started Tor. Privoxy's icon is a green or blue circle with a "P" -in it, and TorCP uses a fat grey onion with a green checkmark in your -system notification area, as shown below: -

- -

- -

-Next, you should try using your browser with Tor and make -sure that your IP address is being anonymized. Click on the Tor -detector and see whether it thinks you're using Tor or not. -(If that site is down, see this -FAQ entry for more suggestions on how to test your Tor.) -

- -

If you have a personal firewall that limits your computer's -ability to connect to itself, be sure to allow connections from -your local applications to local port 8118 and port 9050. If -your firewall blocks outgoing connections, punch a hole so -it can connect to at least TCP ports 80 and 443, and then see this -FAQ entry. -

- -

If it's still not working, look at this -FAQ entry for hints.

- -

Step Four: Configure it as a server

-
- -

The Tor network relies on volunteers to donate bandwidth. The more -people who run servers, the faster the Tor network will be. If you have -at least 20 kilobytes/s each way, please help out Tor by configuring your -Tor to be a server too. We have many features that make Tor servers easy -and convenient, including rate limiting for bandwidth, exit policies so -you can limit your exposure to abuse complaints, and support for dynamic -IP addresses.

- -

Having servers in many different places on the Internet is what -makes Tor users secure. You -may also get stronger anonymity yourself, -since remote sites can't know whether connections originated at your -computer or were relayed from others.

- -

Read more at our Configuring a server -guide.

- -

If you have suggestions for improving this document, please post -them on our bugtracker in the -website category. Thanks!