October 28, 2025
Onions, tabs, and FBI vans!
Tor Browser 15.0
Tor 15 lands: privacy panic, tab wars, and a spicy link drop
TLDR: Tor Browser 15 adds vertical tabs, tab groups, and Android screen lock, built on Firefox ESR 140. The community is split between privacy fears of being “flagged,” devs wanting newer features, and a controversial link to uncensored hidden sites—making this release a lightning rod for the privacy vs perception debate.
Tor Browser 15.0 just dropped, and while the devs tout shiny perks like vertical tabs, color-coded tab groups, and Android screen lock, the comments are where the fire is. One nervous user admits using Tor “just sends up a beacon” for investigators, sparking a full-on debate: is Tor a shield for everyday privacy or a magnet for suspicion? Cue the classic joke replies about the “FBI Van” Wi‑Fi and reminders that Tor ≠ torrenting. Meanwhile, a power user grumbles that Tor picked Firefox ESR 140 (a long-term support build) instead of newer Firefox with fancy page animations—imagine a tab party but no confetti. The feature geeks want “View Transitions” yesterday; the privacy purists clap back: stability and audits matter. And then the thread goes nuclear when someone drops an uncensored index of hidden sites, triggering a wave of “do not click at work” warnings and a debate over whether showcasing the worst corners of the web helps or hurts Tor’s reputation. Amid the chaos, supporters rally behind Tor’s donation match to FREE THE INTERNET and link the safer stuff—downloads and audits—while the rest argue tabs vs trust. Peak internet energy.
Key Points
- •Tor Browser 15.0 is released and available for download, based on Firefox ESR 140.
- •Tor Project completed its annual ESR transition audit, reviewing ~200 Bugzilla issues, with final reports published on GitLab.
- •Desktop features include vertical tabs, bookmarks in the sidebar, tab groups, and a refreshed address bar with a unified search button.
- •Tor Browser tabs remain private and clear on close, preserving session privacy by default.
- •Android adds an optional screen lock for tabs, requiring biometric or pass code unlock when returning to the app; donations are matched through Dec 31, 2025.