How to Install oniux: Kernel-level Tor isolation for any Kali Linux app that's what we are going to see in this post. Recently i came across the latest article on launch of Oniux by Tor team (a similar feature like proxychains, but this at Kernel level), where they brought in the true feature everyone wants for longtime from a very reputed group, so decided to share it for our readers.
Introduction: Why Oniux?
Imagine this: You're deep into cybersecurity research, setting up a secure, leak-proof Tor environment on Kali Linux. You’ve tried torsocks, maybe even proxychains, but something still feels off. What if an application accidentally leaks traffic outside Tor? That’s where Oniux steps in—an advanced tool designed for kernel-level Tor isolation, ensuring absolute anonymity for your applications. if you were searching for fool proof way to anonymize Kali Linux traffic this might be game changer!
What This Guide Covers
This isn’t just another installation tutorial. This is your beginner guide to Oniux on Kali Linux, covering:
✅ Step-by-step installation to install oniux on Kali linux (manual & automated)
✅ Configuration & troubleshooting
✅ Advanced usage & security best practices
✅ How Oniux compares to other anonymity tools
By the end of this guide, you’ll have Oniux running flawlessly, securing your traffic like a pro. Let’s dive in! 🔥
1. Understanding Oniux: What Makes It Special?
Before we jump into installation, let’s break down why Oniux might be a game-changer for Tor isolation.
🔍 What is Oniux?
Oniux is a Linux tool for kernel-level Tor isolation. Instead of modifying application network functions like torsocks, Oniux isolates traffic at the system level using Linux namespaces and onionmasq integration. This prevents accidental leaks and unauthorized traffic bypassing Tor routing.
🛡️ Why Use Oniux on Kali Linux?
Kali Linux is the go-to OS for cybersecurity professionals, ethical hackers, and OSINT researchers. Traditional anonymity tools like torsocks can sometimes fail under certain application scenarios, making kernel-level network isolation a better solution.
⚡ Key Features of Oniux
✅ Kernel-level network isolation – Prevents Tor traffic leaks
✅ Linux namespaces for Tor anonymity – Ensures application-specific routing
✅ Oniux vs. Torsocks security comparison – Eliminates static binary Tor routing bypass
✅ Arti Tor implementation & onionmasq integration – Strengthens Tor’s anonymity layer
✅ Secure Kali Linux applications through Tor – Works with Wireshark, Nmap GUI, Firefox, etc.
But, wait what is this Kernel, Namespace in Kali linux?
Let me explain if you are a non techy person..
What is a Kernel?
Think of your computer like a car. 🏎️ The kernel is like the engine—the part that makes everything run behind the scenes!
When you press the gas pedal, the engine makes sure the car moves forward. Similarly, when you click something on your computer, the kernel makes sure the processor executes the action properly.
What Does the Kernel Do?
✅ Manages resources – It controls how much CPU, memory, and storage apps can use ✅ Handles communication – It lets software talk to hardware (like keyboard, mouse, screen, etc.) ✅ Provides security – It ensures only authorized processes access system resources
Why is the Kernel Important?
Without the kernel, your computer would be a car without an engine—it wouldn’t work! 💀
Kali Linux, just like every other operating system, has a kernel that handles everything in the background, ensuring stability, speed, and security. Oniux relies on this kernel to create secure namespaces for Tor isolation. 🚀
What is a Namespace?
Imagine you live in a big apartment building with multiple families. Every family has their own kitchen, bathroom, and living space—they don’t share these with other families.
Now, imagine if every family in the building had a shared kitchen instead—things could get messy! One family’s cooking might interfere with another’s, causing confusion. But when each family has their own kitchen, they control their space, making life easier and more organized.
A namespace in Linux works just like that! 🏠 It creates a private space for an application, isolating it from everything else on the system.
Why is Namespace Important?
If you run a Tor-based application without namespaces, it might accidentally leak traffic outside Tor. That’s like sharing a kitchen—your ingredients might mix up with someone else’s! 😅
But Oniux uses namespaces to separate your application, ensuring ALL traffic stays within Tor, without accidental leaks! 🚀
So, namespaces are basically private, controlled environments for apps to run securely, just like each family having their own kitchen in an apartment building.
What is Arti in Tor : The Next-Gen Tor Engine
Arti is a Rust-based implementation of Tor—meaning it’s a modern, faster, and more secure way of running Tor compared to the classic C-based version.
Think of Arti as Tor 2.0—it’s built from the ground up with security, modularity, and efficiency in mind.
🔥 Why is Arti Important? ✅ Better Security – Rust eliminates common bugs like memory leaks that affect older Tor versions ✅ More Efficient – Uses fewer system resources, making Tor faster ✅ Improved Modularity – Easier for developers to create custom Tor-based applications
Tor’s traditional implementation is written in C, which, while powerful, has memory safety issues. Rust solves this with built-in security mechanisms, making Arti a safer alternative for next-gen anonymity tools like Oniux.
🔍 Onionmasq : Preventing Tor Traffic Leaks
Onionmasq is a component designed to mask all network traffic, ensuring only Tor-routed traffic is allowed.
Think of it like a strict firewall that blocks all non-Tor connections. 🛡️
🔥 What Does Onionmasq Do? ✅ Prevents accidental traffic leaks (if an app misconfigures its Tor settings) ✅ Forces all connections through Tor ✅ Creates secure routing rules at the kernel level
Oniux uses Onionmasq to ensure that no traffic ever escapes Tor unintentionally, giving stronger anonymity than older tools like torsocks!
🔍 What is Torsocks? (And Why Oniux is More Secure)
Torsocks is a tool that redirects individual application traffic through Tor without modifying the app itself. It works by modifying system calls so programs that normally don’t support proxies can use Tor’s SOCKS5 proxy.
🔥 How Does Torsocks Work?
✅ You launch an app through Torsocks, like: torsocks firefox
✅ Torsocks redirects all Firefox traffic through Tor ✅ The app thinks it’s using the regular internet, but it's actually Tor-routed
⚠️ Why is Oniux Better?
🚀 Torsocks works at the application level, meaning if an app bypasses system calls (like a static binary), it can still leak traffic outside Tor. 🚀 Oniux works at the kernel level, meaning ALL traffic is isolated and forced through Tor, preventing leaks entirely!
Can i use Oniux for OSINT? or if you have question on Any Oniux tutorial for ethical hackers? can i use OpSec with Oniux ? all i can say is Ofcourse, yes! though this guide is for beginner's if you know about a term called OSINT i think i dont need to explain that topics😁
Alright, let's now go to the actual installation.. For that we need to prepare your kali linux.
Note: There are two methods to install oniux on Kali linux, one official from tor developers and another one that we normally use using github/gitlab. I will cover both, but let's prepare our system first.
2. Preparing Your Kali Linux System
Before installing Oniux, let’s ensure your Kali Linux setup is ready.
🛠️Oniux system requirements for Kali Linux
While no extraordinary hardware is required to install Oniux on Kali Linux, you'll need the following to ensure a smooth installation, especially when compiling from source:
🔹 Kali Linux (latest version recommended)
🔹 Root or sudo privileges
🔹 Internet connection (for package downloads)
📌 Updating Kali Linux
First, update your system to avoid dependency issues:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
This ensures you have the latest security patches and package versions.
3. Downloading Oniux: Where to Get It?
If you want to use offline, Oniux is available on both tor website, as well as in GitHub,
You can🔗 Clone the Oniux Repository
Run the following command to download Oniux in your terminal:
This command will download Oniux to your current directory. If you want to use the local clone for installation (e.g., for offline scenarios or building from source after cloning), you'll navigate into the directory and then use Cargo:
4. Installing Oniux on Kali Linux
Now that we’ve downloaded Oniux, let’s get it installed and running on Kali Linux.
🛠️ Step 1: Installing Dependencies
Before installing Oniux, we need to ensure all required dependencies are installed. Run the following command:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y tor iproute2 git
This installs Tor, network utilities, and Git, which are essential for Oniux to function properly.
4.a Installing Oniux in Kali linux Using Cargo (Official Method)
If you prefer installing Oniux directly via Cargo, follow these steps:
Come on! I'm a beginner i dont understand what is this Rust and Cargo.! If your answer is this, then let me explain that too..
🔶 What is Rust? (Simple Explanation)
Imagine building a super strong, super secure fortress that protects your system from attacks. Rust is a programming language designed to create such fortresses! 🏰
It’s built for: ✅ Security – Prevents common errors that cause system crashes ✅ Speed – Runs faster than traditional programming languages ✅ Efficiency – Uses minimal system resources
Developers love Rust because it’s one of the safest languages for building security tools like Oniux!
🔷 What is Cargo? (Simple Explanation)
Now, think of Cargo as the delivery truck that brings Rust-powered tools to your system. 🚚
Cargo is Rust’s package manager—it helps install, update, and manage Rust-based applications easily. Instead of manually setting up files, Cargo lets you install Oniux with a single command.
cargo install --git https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/core/oniux oniux@0.4.0
Important:
While writing this article oniux@0.5.0 was latest when you install it might be different, so change oniux@0.4.0 when you install new version, else follow the other other method (downloading/cloning offline) we seen till now (git clone https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/core/oniux.git or simply run cargo install --git https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/core/oniux )..
But, for the above method to work, we need to install Rust. So, let's see them too
🔧 Step 1: Install Rust Toolchain
Since Oniux is built using Rust, we first need to install Rust’s package manager, Cargo.
Run the following command to install Rust:
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
✅ curl – A tool that downloads files from the internet
✅ --proto '=https' – Ensures only HTTPS connections are used for security
✅ --tlsv1.2 – Forces TLS version 1.2, making sure a secure connection is used
✅ -sSf – These flags ensure the download is silent (-s), fails cleanly if there's an issue (-Sf), and avoids unnecessary output
✅ https://sh.rustup.rs – This is the official Rust installer URL
✅ | sh – The pipe (|) sends the downloaded script to the sh (Shell), which executes it
When you ran the above command, it will ask for multiple options,
1) Proceed with standard installation
2) Customize installation
3) Cancel installation.
Just hit Enter key.
What Happens When You Run It?
1️⃣ It downloads the Rust installer script
2️⃣ The script checks your system and sets up Rust
3️⃣ It installs Rust and Cargo, making them available for use
4️⃣ After installation, you can restart your terminal and run:
- rustc --version
- cargo --version
This confirms Rust and Cargo are installed successfully!
Now, run the command cargo install --git https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/core/oniux
5. Configuring Oniux for Optimal Performance (Not recommended for beginners)
Now that Oniux is installed, let’s configure it for maximum security and efficiency.
🔧 Adjusting Oniux Settings
Modify the Oniux configuration file to customize settings:
nano /etc/oniux/config.toml
6. How to Enable Oniux on Boot for Kali linux
To ensure Oniux starts automatically when Kali Linux boots up, run:
sudo systemctl enable oniux
sudo systemctl start oniux
7. Advanced Oniux Usage & Configuration
Once Oniux is installed, we can take it a step further by customizing its settings for different use cases. Let’s explore how to fine-tune Oniux for maximum security and performance.
🔧 Configuring Oniux for Different Applications
Oniux allows you to route specific applications through Tor, ensuring that only certain programs use the anonymous network while others operate normally. If you have question on whether oniux supports running GUI apps through Oniux? Answer is yes!
🛠️ How to Run an App Through Oniux
For example, to launch Firefox securely through Oniux in Kali linux , run:
oniux firefox
This ensures Firefox’s entire network traffic is routed through Tor without leaks.
Want to run multiple apps securely? Just list them:
oniux firefox thunderbird wireshark
Now, all three apps will run with Tor isolation! 🔥
Or you can try
$ oniux curl -6 https://www.logeshwaran.org
$ oniux curl -6 https://www.lwc.network🔍 Checking for Traffic Leaks
Even with Oniux set up, it’s essential to verify that no data is escaping outside Tor.
Step 1: Checking Your IP Address
Open a browser inside Oniux and visit: https://check.torproject.org/
If everything is working, you’ll see: ✅ "Congratulations. This browser is configured to use Tor."
Step 2: Testing DNS Leaks
Go to: https://dnsleaktest.com/
Run the "Extended Test"—it should show Tor exit nodes instead of your real IP!
8. Troubleshooting Common Oniux Issues
Even with proper setup, you might run into errors or connection issues. Here’s how to fix them!
🚨 Oniux Won’t Start in Kali linux? Try This:
This will show detailed logs of what’s preventing Oniux from launching.
How to verify Oniux processes are running? simply run,
ps aux | grep oniux
🛑 Tor Connection Failing?
Try restarting the Tor service:
sudo systemctl restart tor
Then verify if Tor is running:
If it’s inactive, reinstall Tor in Kali linux:
sudo apt install --reinstall tor
How to Use Oniux for Anonymous Nmap Scans in Kali Linux?
Since Nmap is a powerful network scanning tool, combining it with Oniux ensures that your reconnaissance remains undetectable and anonymous (atleast we believe).
🔧 Step-by-Step Guide: Running Nmap through Oniux
✅ Step 1: Ensure Oniux is Running Before executing any scan, start Oniux to enforce kernel-level Tor isolation:
oniux start
If everything is correctly routed, it should say: ✅ "Congratulations. This browser is configured to use Tor."
✅ Step 2: Run Nmap through Oniux To force Nmap traffic through Tor, use:
oniux run nmap -sT -Pn --proxy socks5h://127.0.0.1:9050 logeshwaran.org (replace logeshwaran.org with your target)
📌 Explanation of Flags:
🔹 -sT → Uses TCP connect scan (since raw packet scans won't work over Tor)
🔹 -Pn → Disables host discovery (avoids ping checks that might bypass Tor)
🔹 --proxy socks5h://127.0.0.1:9050 → Ensures traffic is routed through Tor's SOCKS5 proxy
✅ Step 3: Verify Your Nmap Scan is Going Through Tor Run a simple scan first:
oniux run nmap -sT -Pn --proxy socks5h://127.0.0.1:9050 example.com
Now, check the results—if the IP seen by the scanned host is a Tor exit node, you’ve successfully anonymized your Nmap scan! 🔥
⚠️ Important Considerations
🚀 Tor exit nodes may block Nmap scans, since some sites flag suspicious traffic from Tor nodes.
🚀 Raw packet scans (-sS, -sU) won’t work over Tor, as Tor only supports TCP-based connections.
🚀 Scanning too aggressively may get you flagged by Tor, so always scan slowly and ethically!
9. Security Best Practices for Oniux Users
Now that Oniux is up and running, let’s ensure maximum security and privacy. Even with Tor isolation, there are still some critical steps you should take to stay truly anonymous.
🔐 Essential Security Tips
1️⃣ Avoid Browser Fingerprinting
Even if your IP is hidden, websites can track you using browser fingerprints (unique data like fonts, screen resolution, and system settings). To minimize this risk:
✅ Use Tor Browser instead of regular browsers
✅ Disable JavaScript & WebRTC (which can leak real IP).
Again, im a beginner,
🔍 What is WebRTC?
WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a technology that lets web browsers and apps communicate directly without needing a server in between.
Think of it like a walkie-talkie between two devices! 🎙️ Instead of sending data through a third-party server, WebRTC allows instant audio, video, and data sharing between users in real time.
🌍 Where is WebRTC Used?
✅ Video Calls – Apps like Google Meet, Zoom, and Skype use WebRTC for smooth communication ✅ Voice Chats – Discord and WhatsApp calls rely on WebRTC ✅ File Transfers – Some apps use WebRTC for peer-to-peer file sharing
⚠️ Why is WebRTC a Privacy Risk?
💀 WebRTC can leak your real IP address even if you're using a VPN or Tor! Since WebRTC allows direct communication, some websites can bypass VPNs and expose your actual location. 😱
2. Avoid Logging Into Personal Accounts
Even if you use Oniux, logging into personal accounts (like Gmail, Facebook) can reveal your identity. Keep your anonymous browsing separate!
Why Oniux is Superior to Torsocks for Anonymity
🚀 Torsocks can be bypassed by applications that don’t follow SOCKS5 rules (example: apps with hardcoded network functions).
1️⃣ Security Approach: Kernel vs. Application Level
| Feature | Oniux (Kernel-Level) | Torsocks (Application-Level) |
|---|---|---|
| Isolation Level | Kernel-Level (Linux Namespaces) – Prevents leaks across all apps | Application-Level (SOCKS5 Proxy) – Limited to individual apps |
| Traffic Enforcement | System-wide enforcement – Ensures ALL traffic stays within Tor | App-specific enforcement – If an app bypasses SOCKS, it leaks |
| Leak Prevention | Onionmasq integration – Blocks all non-Tor traffic | Depends on app compliance – Some apps might bypass SOCKS |
| Static Binary Protection | ✅ Prevents bypasses from apps using static binaries | ❌ Vulnerable – Apps using static binaries can leak |
| Raw Syscall Protection | ✅ Blocks direct system calls that bypass Tor | ❌ No protection – Some apps can use syscalls to send non-Tor traffic |
🚀 2️⃣ ProxyChains vs. Oniux vs. Torsocks Comparison
| Feature | ProxyChains | Oniux | Torsocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| How It Works | Redirects app traffic through multiple proxies | Uses Linux namespaces & Arti Tor for kernel-level isolation | Uses SOCKS5 proxy redirection for Tor enforcement |
| Isolation Level | No isolation – Apps can still leak traffic outside proxy | Full Kernel Isolation – All traffic stays in Tor | App-Level Only – Each app must manually use Torsocks |
| Proxy Type Supported | SOCKS4, SOCKS5, HTTP proxies | Tor only (strict kernel enforcement) | Tor SOCKS5 only |
| Risk of Traffic Bypass? | ❌ High – Apps can still bypass ProxyChains | ✅ None – Kernel enforcement stops all leaks | ❌ Medium – Some apps (static binaries) can bypass SOCKS |
🚀 Oniux enforces Tor routing at the kernel level, meaning no app can leak traffic, even if it's poorly configured.
🚀 With Oniux, even system-level traffic is isolated, while Torsocks leaves system background processes untouched, risking leaks.
That's end of this post..
In a world where online privacy is constantly under threat, i belive Oniux offers a next-generation solution for true Tor isolation at the kernel level. By following this guide, you’ve not only installed Oniux but also configured it for maximum security, ensuring your applications never leak traffic outside Tor.
But remember—privacy isn’t just about the tools; it’s about how you use them.!
