Tor is an anonymizing tool that protects users' privacy and anonymity online. It works by bouncing communications around a distributed network of volunteer-run relays around the world, making it difficult to trace the origin or destination of a user's traffic. Originally developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to protect government communications, Tor is now used freely by people seeking to browse the web anonymously, as well as journalists, activists, and others seeking to circumvent censorship or avoid surveillance.