Secure business messengers you can use over Tor Browser

Tor Browser is a privacy-focused web browser that routes your Internet traffic through the Tor network to help you browse anonymously, bypass censorship, and protect your identity online. It hides your IP address, encrypts your traffic, and blocks browser trackers. It's a great way to bypass surveillance and hide your Internet footprint. However, is it possible to communicate with the same level of security? Just a few business messengers allow connections and communication via Tor network. Even fewer are equipped with collaboration tools. Here is a short overview of secure business messengers you can use over Tor Browser.
Virola
Virola business messenger is a powerful self-hosted communication and collaboration tool that supports all the features you need to stay productive. At the same time, you can host Virola on your server and even connect through Tor browser to avoid data leaks and communicate securely. However, certain steps should be followed to use Virola business messenger over Tor network:
Guidelines for the machine, where Virola Server is installed
- You need to install Tor Proxy service for Linux or Tor Browser for Windows on the machine where the Virola server is installed. In this guideline, we will continue the description for Windows OS.
- Follow
.\Tor Browser\Browser\TorBrowser\Data\Tor
directory -
Find there
torrc
file, open it for editing in Notepad and add the following lines to it:HiddenServiceDir <DIRECTORY WHERE TOR WAS INSTALLED>\Onion HiddenServicePort 7777 127.0.0.1:7777 SocksPort 9050
You should replace<DIRECTORY WHERE TOR WAS INSTALLED>
with the path to the directory where you unpacked Tor Browser - Start Tor Browser
-
Follow
<DIRECTORY WHERE TOR WAS INSTALLED>\Onion
directory - Open
hostname
file -
The
*.onion domain
from this file is the hostname that will be used to log into Virola client - In Tor Browser click 'Connect' button
-
Start Virola server and listen on
host 127.0.0.1
andport 7777
Guidelines for the machine, where Virola Client is installed
-
Follow
.\Tor Browser\Browser\TorBrowser\Data\Tor
directory on the machine, where the Virola Client is installed -
Find
torrc
file, open it for editing in Notepad, and add the following line to it:SocksPort 9050
- Start Tor Browser and connect to the Tor network
- Launch Virola Client
-
On the Login form, click 'Advanced Options'
and 'Proxy Settings'
- Activate 'Use SOCKS proxy server' option
- Enter 127.0.0.1 as Proxy Host
- Enter 9050 as Proxy Port and save updates
-
Enter your *.onion domain in the
'Server Host' field and 7777 in the
'Server Port' field on the Virola Client login form.
- Save updates
After configuring the *.onion domain and defining SOCKS proxy server, your Virola Client will successfully connect over the Tor network, and you will be able to communicate securely with other users.
Briar
Briar Messenger provides peer-to-peer connection over the Tor Browser. By default, if the Internet connection is available, Briar uses Tor network. Without an Internet connection, Bluetooth and WI-FI can be used instead. Birar works without a central server. Messages are synced directly between users' devices. It is available only for Android and does not support basic communication features.
Anonymous Messenger
Anonymous Messenger is a fully peer-to-peer, open-source Android app that uses .onion hidden services to exchange messages entirely through Tor, without any central servers. Anonymous Messenger does not require user registration and supports text, voice messages, large file transfers (100 GB+), disappearing messages, encrypted local storage, and screen security.
Ricochet Refresh
Ricochet Refresh is a secure, open-source messaging app that works entirely over the Tor network using .onion hidden services. It provides anonymous, metadata-free communication without any central server. Ricochet is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It does not require installation; you just need to download the package, unpack it, and start using. Though Ricochet Refresh is totally secure for communication, it does not provide the necessary collaboration features, such as group chats, sending offline messages, voice calls, and file sharing.
Almost all messengers working with Tor are free, open source, and use peer-to-peer connections with limited collaboration tools. Virola is a self-hosted business messenger and supports connection through Tor Browser as an optional service with the help of additional configuration. However, for journalists, activists, and just people who want to avoid surveillance and communicate securely, Virola will be an excellent tool that not only provides a protected communication environment but also supports all the features you need for effective collaboration.