Install Tor Browser on AlmaLinux 8 | Free and Secure Browser

In this guide, we will explore How To Install Tor Browser on AlmaLinux 8. Tor, an abbreviation for "The Onion Router," is a free and open-source browser designed to provide anonymous internet browsing. It automatically clears your browsing history after each session and encrypts all your internet traffic.

Tor also allows access to the dark web – the hidden and unindexed websites on the internet. Its ability to bypass censorship and access the World Wide Web freely makes it a target for blocking in some countries.

Many users employ the Tor browser to view geographically restricted content, circumvent censorship, and visit websites inaccessible through standard search engines. This area of the internet is known as "the dark web," which hosts unregulated websites, pirated content, and sometimes, illegal activities.

Beyond accessing the dark web, Tor serves as a crucial tool for journalists and political activists to bypass censorship. Tor’s anonymity protects them from surveillance, enabling them to publish articles and disseminate news about significant events without fear of reprisal.

Now, let’s follow the steps provided to Install Tor Browser on AlmaLinux 8.

1 Easy Step To Install Tor Browser on AlmaLinux 8

Before you begin to Install Tor Browser on AlmaLinux 8, you need to log in to your server as a non-root user with sudo privileges. To do this, you can follow our guide the Initial Server Setup with AlmaLinux 8.

Download and Set up Tor Browser on AlmaLinux 8

In this section, we will download the latest Tor package and install it on our server.

First, update your local package index using the following command:

sudo dnf update -y

Next, visit the Tor Browser downloads page, check for the latest version, and download it using the following command:

sudo wget https://www.torproject.org/dist/torbrowser/11.5.2/tor-browser-linux64-11.5.2_en-US.tar.xz

Once the download is complete, extract the file with the following command:

sudo tar -xvJf tor-browser-linux64-11.5.2_en-US.tar.xz

Then, navigate to the extracted Tor directory:

sudo cd tor-browser_en-US

To launch the Tor Browser and set up the configuration installation to Install Tor Browser on AlmaLinux 8, use the following command:

sudo ./start-tor-browser.desktop

Note: This command will start the Tor Browser. However, you won’t find it in your application menu. To add the Tor Browser icon, append --register-app to the command, like so:

./start-tor-browser.desktop --register-app

Important Note: While the Tor browser bundle is recommended, you can use Firefox with Tor. To do this, open firefox settings >> Preferences >> advanced >> network >> settings and select manual proxy configuration.

Upon successful command execution, you will have installed the Tor browser on your server. You can now launch the application from your desktop environment.

Alternative Installation Methods

While the above method of downloading the tarball from the Tor Project website is effective, there are alternative approaches to Install Tor Browser on AlmaLinux 8. Here are two such methods:

1. Using Flatpak:

Flatpak is a universal package manager that works across different Linux distributions. It provides a sandboxed environment for applications, enhancing security.

• Installation:

  First, you’ll need to install Flatpak if you haven’t already. Open your terminal and run:

  sudo dnf install flatpak

  Next, add the Flathub repository, which hosts a wide range of applications, including Tor Browser:

  flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

• Installing Tor Browser:

  Now, you can install Tor Browser using Flatpak:

  flatpak install flathub org.torproject.torbrowser

• Running Tor Browser:

  After installation, you can run Tor Browser with the following command:

  flatpak run org.torproject.torbrowser

  Flatpak also handles updates automatically, ensuring you have the latest version of Tor Browser.

2. Using Snap:

Snap is another universal package manager, similar to Flatpak, developed by Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu). It also provides sandboxing and automatic updates.

• Installation:

  AlmaLinux 8 doesn’t come with Snap pre-installed. You can install it with the following commands:

  sudo dnf install snapd
  sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket
  sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

• Installing Tor Browser:

  Now, you can install Tor Browser using Snap:

  sudo snap install tor-browser

• Running Tor Browser:

  After installation, you can run Tor Browser with the following command:

  snap run tor-browser

  Snap automatically updates applications, ensuring you have the latest security patches and features for Tor Browser.

Conclusion

At this stage, you have learned how to Install Tor Browser on AlmaLinux 8 using the traditional method. We also explored alternative methods using Flatpak and Snap. These methods offer convenience and automatic updates, making it easier to keep your Tor Browser secure and up-to-date. Whether you choose the manual method or a package manager, you can now browse the internet with enhanced privacy on your AlmaLinux 8 system. Also, it is mentioned that to use the Tor browser bundle. If you use Firefox, you need to configure manual proxy configuration.

Hope you enjoy it. Also, you may like to read the following articles:

• Top 5 Free Web Browsers for Linux
• Caddy Web Server on Ubuntu 24.04
• Install Chromium Browser on AlmaLinux 9
• Web Browsing on AlmaLinux Terminal

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