On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 6:46 AM, Erilenz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > * on the Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 01:05:27PM -0800, Marc Erickson wrote: > >> I use Tor on my laptop to encrypt wireless packets when connecting to an >> unsecured wireless network. Is there a way to limit the number of hops the >> packets take through the servers so that I can better the speed? I only >> need one hop. I'm running Windows XP. > > By using Tor for that purpose, all you're doing is making it so people > running Exit Tor nodes can sniff your traffic, rather than people watching > the unsecured wireless network. > > I wouldn't automatically assume that reduces your chance of having your > traffic sniffed. It might even increase the chance of that occuring.
I think we can safely say that for most people using Tor makes it *more* likely that their unencrypted traffic will be sniffed. But TOR would usually change who is sniffing the traffic: Some guy in his basement, some foreign government, or some spammer/scammer harvesting email addresses and credit card numbers from your traffic may be preferable to the person's school, employer, or government all of which may have a more direct and specific interest in the person's activities.