The government may identify individuals using Tor, but it depends on the methods and resources available.
The government may identify individuals using Tor, but it depends on the methods and resources available.
It's similar to cryptocurrency—fully private and hard to track. Major drug operations on the Dark Web resulted in 150 arrests. The U.S. Attorney revealed a historic $3.36 billion seizure and conviction linked to Silk Road fraud.
I spent time in Dubai during Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield. From what I saw, the UAE government is very controlling and powerful. They have the means to act however they wish. Don't misunderstand, the country is stunning and full of interesting sights, but luck alone isn't enough to succeed there. The real issue isn't whether you use TOR, but why you're using it. Of course, you can be discreet in private, but taking actions that might lead to trouble is something I’d advise against. Stay safe and good luck.
The ISP will notice you're getting data from a single IP address—the exit node. The issue is there are many "3 letter agencies" owned exit nodes, which can be problematic. If you enable auto configuration, you're likely to connect with one of them. I've tried it and my name might already appear on several lists, but I mostly stick to onion sites for browsing imageboards. I don’t want to be associated with anything suspicious or illegal. I suspect I connected to a DPRK exit node once, just by chance. I hope Kim enjoys memes and ballerina advice (my two sides).
Surely, the level of their cybersecurity efforts makes all the difference. Even with basic resources, there are ways to spot what you're doing. Many nations have groups capable of this. Whether your ISP or government is concerned about TOR usage is something you'd need a tech law specialist to advise on. Most people aren't careful enough, unaware of the methods and/or too relaxed to truly evade tracking. Success requires a good dose of caution, memorization, and a solid, consistent strategy.
Gathering information from both sides and tracking your device's signature...