Question tor and bridges

[PaulosK]

I configured a bridge for tor (settings -> use a bridge -> request a bridge from tor), but https://check.torproject.org found out i was using tor. So, can my isp figure out I am using tor too, even when I use bridges? If yes, how can I make it look like I am not using tor (without a vpn)?

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

as long as you are not engaging in any illegal\pirate activity, there is no reason for your ISP to care.

by the way, Tom's does not support information regarding pirating or any other illegal activities.
so they may shut this down and issue warnings and\or bans if any info regarding such deeds comes up in the thread.
just a heads up.

 

[PaulosK]

as long as you are not engaging in any illegal\pirate activity, there is no reason for your ISP to care.

by the way, Tom's does not support information regarding pirating or any other illegal activities.
so they may shut this down and issue warnings and\or bans if any info regarding such deeds comes up in the thread.
just a heads up.

I don't want it for any illegal activities, I am just curious to see how and if it works. So, yeah educational purposes I guess?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

While they may not be able to decode the actual traffic due to encryption, your ISP most definitely knows to what address/s you are connected. That information has to exist in order route traffic. No way around that.

 

[PaulosK]

While they may not be able to decode the actual traffic due to encryption, your ISP most definitely knows to what address/s you are connected. That information has to exist in order route traffic. No way around that.

I know that, anyone can read your packets and figure out the ip's you are visiting and maybe even more if the site uses http. From my understanding, isps and sites can figure out you are using tor because the ip's of the proxies/relays you connect to are public knowledge. Also, I believe that bridges are basically relays with unlisted ip's, so the sites and isps don't know you are using tor. I don't know much about networking so if I am missing something please enlighten me.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

You're missing the fact that in order to route traffic between addresses those two addresses MUST be known to every node in the path, including your ISP. It doesn't matter that the addresses aren't listed in DNS. They don't have to be. Doesn't matter HTTP: or HTTPS:, the IP addresses are in the clear, as they must be in order for things to work as designed. And rest assured that all of the entry point IP addresses to these so called 'hidden' networks are known to the ISP's.

 

[PaulosK]

You're missing the fact that in order to route traffic between addresses those two addresses MUST be known to every node in the path, including your ISP. It doesn't matter that the addresses aren't listed in DNS. They don't have to be. Doesn't matter HTTP: or HTTPS:, the IP addresses are in the clear, as they must be in order for things to work as designed. And rest assured that all of the entry point IP addresses to these so called 'hidden' networks are known to the ISP's.

then why are bridges advertised as a way to hide from your isp you are using tor and as a way to access tor even in countries it is banned?