If you are using Tails, can your ISP see that you are using TOR?

I have heard that if you boot Windows and use a VPN, you can open TOR without your ISP being able to see what you are doing (all they can see is that you are connected to a VPN).

What about when I'm using Tails? Does my ISP have any idea what I'm doing? And is it more dangerous to connect to my router with an ethernet cable, instead of just using wi-fi?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!


Comments


[9 Points] multiplax:

For Tails: By default, your ISP knows you're running Tor. If you select bridge mode, then they probably don't, docs. It probably doesn't matter.

The cable doesn't matter.


[4 Points] sapiophile:

Tails doesn't really affect your actual traffic patterns in any discernible way.

If you want to conceal the fact that you're using Tor (which it's my belief that 90% of the people who want to do this actually have no reason to bother doing it), your best bet is to use a Tor Bridge that supports the latest protocols like obfs4 and scramblesuit. There's lots of good tutorials around on how to use them, it's not too difficult. Connecting through a VPN can also help, somewhat, but a dedicated adversary could almost certainly still determine that you were using Tor if that's all you're doing.

There's very little difference, in these regards, between connecting via an ethernet cable or via WiFi. Staying wired may be a little better if there's a chance of untrusted parties sharing the wireless connection - keep in mind that most wifi is fairly simple to crack.


[3 Points] throwawaythatshi:

Tails makes it clear that you are using Tor and probably Tails Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or your local network administrator can see that you're connecting to a Tor relay, and not a normal web server for example. Using Tor bridges in certain conditions can help you hide the fact that you are using Tor.

The destination server that you are contacting through Tor can know whether your communication comes from a Tor exit node by consulting the publicly available list of exit nodes that might contact it. For example using the Tor Bulk Exit List tool from the Tor Project.

So using Tails doesn't make you look like any random Internet user. The anonymity provided by Tor and Tails works by trying to make all of their users look the same so it's not possible to identify who is who amongst them.


[2 Points] Myodo:

yes, basically what tails does is torify all connections

someone correct me if i am wrong


[0 Points] max225:

I don't know if they can see tor but I'm pretty sure they can see a big stream of encrypted data and deduce from there what's going on.


[-5 Points] druggieslut:

No, tails completely hides everything you do from everyone, you just drop off the radar instantly