Tor is a project originally by the US Navy developed to protect US intelligence. Given that background it would be a bit of a leap to trust security or privacy to technology produced by the government unless it is reasonable or rational to assume they will work against their own interests by releasing it.
For a long time time before NSA was exposed, it had been working closely with a lot of security related technologies, researchers, developers, companies, and was a key part of the software security industry including standards. For instance SeLinux is a NSA project pushed hard by a number of open source companies including trying to integrate it into the Linux kernel but stymied by Linux Torvalds. A lot of these technologies and companies often get a free pass.
For anyone with serious anonymity or privacy needs it would be pragmatic to think carefully before relying on technology that is linked to the US government or US companies which basically rules out a lot of computing. Using technology to fight an adversary with unlimited resources and access to talent, and has been an integral part of the security industry is foolhardy and seems difficult to win. We need to find alternatives.
If your Internet needs are privacy or anonymity related perhaps. That's why I said it rules out a lot of computing.
For those with a 'serious' as in life dependent need for privacy, for instance whistle blowers or persons of interest it can be argued the Internet today cannot deliver the level of anonymity they require.
For a long time time before NSA was exposed, it had been working closely with a lot of security related technologies, researchers, developers, companies, and was a key part of the software security industry including standards. For instance SeLinux is a NSA project pushed hard by a number of open source companies including trying to integrate it into the Linux kernel but stymied by Linux Torvalds. A lot of these technologies and companies often get a free pass.
For anyone with serious anonymity or privacy needs it would be pragmatic to think carefully before relying on technology that is linked to the US government or US companies which basically rules out a lot of computing. Using technology to fight an adversary with unlimited resources and access to talent, and has been an integral part of the security industry is foolhardy and seems difficult to win. We need to find alternatives.