TOR network control

TOR Network Control

The TOR Network Control option defines how your WordPress site handles visitors connecting through the TOR network. This setting is part of WP Geo Controller’s privacy and access management system, providing you with precise control over how anonymous traffic interacts with your content, login pages, and forms.

Visitors browsing via TOR often bypass standard geo-based filters and spam protection mechanisms because their real IP addresses are masked by TOR exit nodes. Depending on your website type, this can be useful, neutral, or potentially harmful. WP Geo Controller allows you to decide how to treat such connections safely and efficiently.

Available TOR Access Modes

  • TOR Access: Unrestricted – Allows access to all visitors, including those browsing via the TOR network. Use this mode if your site promotes open access or if privacy-focused users are part of your audience. WP Geo Controller still detects TOR traffic, so you can apply conditional rules or shortcodes if needed.
  • TOR Access: Denied – Blocks all incoming traffic from known TOR exit nodes. Visitors using the TOR network will be denied access and shown a customizable message. This mode is recommended for websites that rely on geolocation accuracy, form validation, or anti-spam protection, such as online stores or membership portals.
  • TOR Access: Exclusive – Grants access only to TOR visitors, blocking all standard (non-TOR) connections. This mode is designed for projects that specifically target privacy-conscious audiences, such as private WordPress sites, hidden services, or closed beta testing environments accessible only through TOR.

How It Works

When a visitor connects to your website, WP Geo Controller checks whether the request originates from a known TOR exit node. The plugin uses a verified list of TOR nodes and applies your selected access rule before rendering the page. This ensures that restricted visitors are stopped early, reducing server load and preventing unauthorized actions.

TOR detection is fully server-side and privacy-safe — the system does not collect or expose personal data. Only the visitor’s connection type (TOR or non-TOR) is stored temporarily for rule enforcement and shortcode handling. Cached results improve performance for repeat visits.

Shortcode Integration

You can combine TOR detection with WP Geo Controller shortcodes to control how content appears for TOR or non-TOR visitors. For example, you can hide forms, comments, or downloads from TOR users while showing them to regular visitors, or vice versa.

Display content only for TOR users:

[is_tor default="You are browsing from a normal network."]This content is visible only to TOR visitors.[/is_tor]

Display content only for non-TOR users:

[is_not_tor default="This content is hidden for TOR visitors."]You are browsing from a normal network.[/is_not_tor]

Both shortcodes support the cache parameter, which enables AJAX-based caching for improved performance.

  • Open Websites – Use Unrestricted mode for informational or public-facing websites where anonymity is acceptable.
  • Secure Websites – Use Denied mode for e-commerce, registration-based, or login-restricted websites to prevent abuse and spam.
  • Private Projects – Use Exclusive mode to allow access only through TOR for privacy-oriented projects or internal testing.

Configuration Steps

  1. Navigate to Dashboard → WP Geo Controller → Settings → TOR Network Control.
  2. Select one of the available access modes:
    • Unrestricted
    • Denied
    • Exclusive
  3. (Optional) Enable Cache to speed up detection and reduce repeated checks.
  4. (Optional) Define a custom access message that will be displayed to blocked visitors.
  5. Save your settings and test using the TOR Browser to confirm the expected behavior.

Best Practices

  • Combine TOR control with geolocation filters for maximum accuracy and spam reduction.
  • Test your chosen mode regularly, especially after plugin or firewall updates.
  • Be transparent with users — if access is restricted, provide a short explanation instead of a blank block page.
  • If your site handles sensitive data, always use the Denied mode together with CAPTCHA or anti-bot protection.
  • If you operate a TOR-accessible project, ensure your Exclusive mode is tested with both .onion and standard URLs.

Notes

  • Because TOR hides IP data, it may bypass standard geolocation filters or regional rules.
  • Access control rules are applied before content is loaded, ensuring better security and lower resource usage.
  • This feature is compatible with most caching and firewall plugins but may require exclusions in aggressive cache setups.

Summary

The TOR Network Control feature gives administrators the ability to manage anonymous traffic precisely — whether you want to allow, restrict, or exclusively serve TOR users. It integrates seamlessly with WP Geo Controller’s detection system and shortcodes, offering complete control over how your site interacts with privacy-focused connections.

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