Tor encrypts and anonymizes your connection by passing it through 3 relays. Tor relays are servers operated by different people and organizations around the world.
[[!img tor.png link="no" class="svg" alt="A Tor connection goes through 3 relays with the last one establishing the actual connection to the final destination"]]
You cannot access the Internet from Tails until you are connected to Tor. For example, *Tor Browser* displays the error message `The proxy server is refusing connections` until you are connected to Tor.
<p>Because Tor routes your Internet traffic through 3 relays before reaching its destination, the connection is slower than when you are not using Tor.</p>
