Tor Browser 12 is the new version of the Tor project browser, one based on Firefox and the Tor network and focused on offering the highest possible level of privacy. Of course, there is no privacy without discomfort and the developers have been working on it for a long time, as is the case with this new version.
Both to simplify connection options and to improve browsing speed, Tor Browser has implemented new features in its latest versions that they are still working on, although as they say, that’s another story. Tor Browser does not go into the substance of the matter so much as its form.
Thus, the main change of everything that Tor Browser 12 brings with it is the update of its base to Firefox 102 ESR, the extended support version of the Mozilla browser on which it is based. This update also brings all the new features accumulated by Firefox since its previous ESR version. And they are quite a few, given that Firefox 91 was released in August 2021.
For more information, see the Firefox 102 ESR release notes.
All in all, Tor Browser 12 brings more changes that should be known about, such as automated language support so that the browser assumes the system’s default language that until now was avoided, because it was understood that using a specific language other than English could give clues as to where the user came from.
Hereinafter the browser will be displayed in the system language without the need to manually download additional packages. If you upgrade from Tor Browser 11.5, however, the browser will retain the language it was already using. If you want to change it, go to the preferences and do it as usual.
Another notable novelty of this version is the native support for Apple Silicon, the new architecture of the MacBook with which the Cupertino giant has become partly independent from Intel. Well, Tor Browser should now work optimally on Apple M1 and Apple M2 devices.
Last week we reported on another popular open source application that is newly supporting Apple’s new generation hardware: the GIMP image editor.
More new features in Tor Browser 12 include the introduction of HTTPS-Only by default on Android, a system in which .onion sites will be prioritized and other changes that you will find detailed in the announcement. linked above. Also, its download is already available for all compatible platforms. Here you have the official download page.
Of course, if you’re not ready to suffer the disadvantages that a model as strict as Tor Browser proposes, next week the new version of Firefox will come out. In a few days we will tell you.
