Tor Browser releases a major service update with a boost to privacy, security and usability

The Tor Browser just released a major service update that includes a boost in privacy, security, and usability.

Tor Browser 14.0 is the first version built upon Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR) 128 and integrates a year’s worth of critical upgrades that are expected to deliver stronger protection against online threats and easier-to-use software across the board.

Considered even more secure than the best VPN apps, Tor is a volunteer-run and free-to-use security tool that protects your online anonymity and browsing data by encrypting your internet connections in at least three layers of encryption. Keep reading and I’ll walk you through the new and improved release.

Tor Browser 14.0: What’s New?

As mentioned earlier, Tor 14.0 says goodbye to Firefox ESR 115 and welcomes the latest version: 128. The change is significant and introduces new functionality in addition to stronger privacy and security protections – including new typography to improve both readability and accessibility, Encrypted Client Hello (ECH) for even safer browsing and more proactive blocking capabilities against untrustworthy URLs.

Also the Tor team during the transition viewed and addressed more than 200 issues within the Firefox code that could have compromised user safety.

Other major technical improvements include changes to Tor’s user-agent spoofing, a technique used to mask browser identity that has now been enhanced to better protect against cross-site tracking and browsing fingerprint threats. Simply put, it should be even harder to track you across the Internet if you use the new Tor.

In addition to these updates, Tor 14.0 includes a new circuit feature for Android. This is a useful option if you’re having trouble connecting to a website and need to change the Tor relay, as it allows you to request a new circuit without needing a new credential directly in the app.

At the same time, Tor Browser 14.0 comes with a series of known issues. The provider does a great job of transparency here and has included them all in one accessible list.

For example, if you use Tor Browser in compatibility mode on Windows 10 and 11, it may appear as if you are using Windows 7 instead. You will then need to ensure that compatibility mode is disabled before updating to 14.0.

If you’re using an older version of Windows or Mac OS, there’s good news: the new version comes with expanded support for older platforms (Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 or macOS 10.12, 10.13, and 10.14). This means that you will temporarily receive critical security updates until at least March 2025.

That said, I highly recommend that you update your operating system as soon as possible to improve the overall security of your device.