Onion Routing

Onion Routing is the technique of providing anonymity in the process of communication over the network. The strategy involves enclosing the messages with a layer of encryption and sending them through “onion routers” where each successive router strips off a layer of encryption and passes the message to the next router until it gets to the last router where the message is delivered to its intended recipient. The method described above is called “onion routing” because this procedure resembles the process of peeling the onion layers.

How it is used?

Onion Routing is mostly used in the Tor network (the Onion Router) since it allows users to access the web with anonymity. Tor hides a person's activities from spying and following. Aside from Tor, onion routing is used in other forms of anonymous network systems and applications that warrant the application of secrecy and security.

Anonymity and Security

Onion Routing also helps hide the identity and location of the user. When using the Tor network, the original IP address is replaced with another IP address. In a network, only the nodes know the IP address of the previous and next nodes in the progression of a packet, while the source and the destination are unknown. For example, a journalist can use the Tor network to whistleblow and convey sensitive messages safely without being followed or recognized. The actual message transmission and receipt are protected by a series of layover encryptions in Onion Routing. In the message flow, each node convert one layer alone in succession while revealing the subsequent node, even if one of the connected nodes is compromised, the attacker cannot view the rest of the route or the message's content. For example, an activist can use Tor to transmit sensitive information while keeping it secure from surveillance.

Circumventing Censorship

In many countries, online content is restricted by censorship. Onion Routing allows users to access restricted information. The network facilitates access to websites and content that are otherwise blocked. For instance, individuals in restrictive regions can use Tor to access news from independent media outlets, thereby bypassing state-imposed censorship.

Data Protection

Information being transferred through the onion routing system is protected from both interception and change. It is done such, that every message can be decrypted only by a final node of the chain which is preserving data integrity and confidentiality. Users can utilize onion routing for privacy and security to guarantee that their messages remain unobserved and unaltered when in transit.