Onion Browser 2.0: Enhanced Privacy for iOS Users

📅 Historical Content Notice: This article was originally published in January 2018. While the core concepts remain relevant, some technical details may be outdated. Onion Browser has received numerous updates since version 2.0, and Tor v2 hidden services mentioned in this article have been deprecated in favor of Tor v3. For the latest information, please visit the official Onion Browser repository.

On January 22, 2018, the latest iteration of the Onion Browser 2.0.0 for iPhone was released, with version 2.0.1 subsequently appearing on GitHub.

This release marks a significant milestone for iOS users seeking enhanced privacy and anonymity. The Onion Browser, first introduced in 2012 on the Apple App Store, was initially priced at $0.99. However, as announced in a Tor Blog post titled “Tor at the Heart: Onion Browser (and more iOS Tor)” on December 5, 2016, it transitioned to a free model¹².

The app’s developer, Mike Tigas, also highlighted the release of Onion Browser 2.0 on Twitter³.

The GitHub repository for the Onion Browser, mtigas/OnionBrowser, offers insights into the ongoing development process. Notably, the current version uses Tor v2 (0.3.1.9), but there is anticipation for an eventual transition to Tor v3.

Onion Browser 2.0 brings several advancements to the iOS platform, including updated protocols and improved performance. The app’s transition to a free model aligns with the Tor Project’s mission to promote open-source, privacy-focused tools.

For those interested in trying the Onion Browser 2.0, it can be downloaded from the Apple App Store here.