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Exit node

Definition

The third relay in a Tor circuit, which forwards decrypted traffic to the public internet destination. The destination server sees the exit node's IP address, not the user's. Exit node operators can read unencrypted traffic passing through them, which is why HTTPS is still required when using Tor.

Related terms

Blockchain analysis
The forensic examination of a cryptocurrency's public transaction ledger to trace the flow of funds between addresses, cluster addresses controlled by the...
I2P (Invisible Internet Project)
A peer-to-peer anonymity network that routes traffic through a distributed mesh of volunteer nodes using unidirectional tunnels. Unlike Tor, I2P is primarily...
Onion routing
A technique in which a message is encrypted in multiple layers, one per relay node, so that each relay decrypts only its...
Onion service (hidden service)
A server reachable through Tor using a .onion address derived from its public key. The server's real IP address is never exposed...
Traffic correlation attack
A deanonymisation technique that compares timing patterns and traffic volume at the entry point of a Tor circuit and at the destination,...

Explained in

  • Tor and Anonymity NetworksThe third relay in a Tor circuit, which forwards decrypted traffic to the public internet destination. The destination server sees the exit node's IP address,...

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