Tor, or The Onion Router, is a browsing tool used to surf the web anonymously. It's used by journalists, activists and privacy advocates as a means of evading prying eyes. It's even been name-dropped on House of Cards.
So what makes the Tor browser any different than Chrome, Firefox or Safari? More importantly, should you be using Tor?
In a normal Internet connection, you're directly connected to the website you're trying to visit. This website can see who you are and that you're trying to access its server using your IP address. Tor, however, passes your data through a network of relay points using layers of encryption (hence the onion metaphor). Each node that your data passes through peels off another layer of encryption.
The last node your data passes through is known as the exit node, and it peels off the final layer of encryption and then delivers your data to the intended server. The point of origin, as well as the intermediary nodes, are completely unknown.
For more information on Tor, and the risks of onion routing, check out the video above.
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BONUS: What is encryption and how does it work?