The Tor Browser 14.0 has been officially released, bringing with it a host of new features and updates aimed at enhancing user privacy and improving the browsing experience. This new release is built on the foundation of Firefox ESR 128, incorporating a year’s worth of updates and enhancements from the Firefox browser while also addressing over 200 issues identified during the annual ESR transition audit.
One of the standout features of the Tor Browser 14.0 release is the introduction of the “New circuit for this site” option for Android users. This new feature allows Android users to request a new circuit directly from the app’s menu, offering a more targeted approach without the need to reset their entire identity. This is a significant improvement over the previous workaround that involved refreshing all circuits through a persistent notification.
Additionally, the browser now features updated typography from Firefox, including heavier headings and adjusted line heights for improved accessibility. The usability and compatibility of fingerprinting protections have also been enhanced, allowing features like picture-in-picture and screenshots to be used without compromising user privacy.
Initially, it was announced that Tor Browser 13.5 would be the last major release supporting Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, as well as macOS versions 10.12 to 10.14. However, due to Mozilla extending support for Firefox ESR 115, these older platforms will continue to receive critical security updates until at least March 2025. Users on these older systems will remain on Tor Browser 13.5, while those on newer platforms will be updated to version 14.0.
The development team faced various technical challenges during this release cycle, including unifying the Android codebase into a mono repo, addressing reproducibility issues in Android APK generation, reducing APK size for x86 and x86_64 platforms, and improving user agent spoofing techniques. Despite these challenges, the release of Tor Browser 14.0 represents a significant advancement in user privacy and functionality across platforms.
However, as with any major release, there are known issues that users should be aware of. Android users who installed Tor Browser via Guardian Project’s F-Droid repo may face difficulties updating due to an unresolved issue with the repository. These users can either download the update directly from the Tor Browser website or use Google Play to update their browser.
On Windows, running Tor Browser in compatibility mode can cause the system to be mistakenly identified as Windows 7, preventing updates to version 14.0. Users need to ensure compatibility mode is turned off before proceeding with the update.
Overall, Tor Browser 14.0 represents a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to enhance user privacy and security while offering improved usability features. With new features for Android users and extended support for legacy systems, Tor Browser continues to provide robust protection against tracking and surveillance. Users are encouraged to update to the latest version to take advantage of these enhancements and improvements.