tor functions on your machine as an http proxy (and other types of proxies, read on)
normally, when a program wants something from the internet or lan, it gets it directly from the ethernet interface (tech types: that is oversimplified, i know, but bear with me). however, many programs can let you route through another ip via an option called "proxy server" somewhere.
if the ip is localhost or 127.0.0.1, that "another ip" is still YOU. and if the port number is different and you have a program or service running on your machine listening to that port, that other program can intercept the communication.
your browser or whatever else lets you set a proxy will display the data from that program and not directly from the ethernet interface.
this is how tor works. it runs in the background listening on port 9050 by default. so you have to set for HTTP proxy server on firefox "localhost:9050" and have tor running. firefox then routes through tor, and then once tor gets the data it does it's onion routing thing and talks back to firefox.
it is important to understand that the program must be talking on the port tor is listening in order for it to go through tor. if a program does not let you set a proxy server it's not as simple as setting an option (there are portmapper programs and stuff that will redirect ports without a program knowing, if you need to do that.)
you may not want to use tor all the time, and going into that option and typing it all the time gets tiresome, so get switchproxy to do it with one click.
other proxy servers exist, like proxomitron, which filters ads and stuff.
Name:
Anonymous2006-06-15 13:17
uh oh, the party van is here
what do i do guys?
Name:
Anonymous2006-06-15 14:03
>>8 in case you worry about the legal issues concerning anonymous web usage I wouldn't sweat too much.
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Anonymous2006-06-15 16:25
I think it's more a case of visiting onion chan amirite?