Tor Project Asks For First Time Donations

The Tor Project, the organization that maintains the Tor network and Tor Browser, asks Internet users for the first time running for donations. The website had been a button present to donate, but now it is actively sought donors wishing to contribute to the development of the Tor network.

A large part of the revenue of the Tor Project comes from the US government. To avoid too much of this funding only depend now decided a crowdfunding campaign launch. Since no restrictions on crowdfunding can sit the money thus brought to projects which are spent according to the Tor Project are most important and can react quickly to changing circumstances.

Through the Tor network, Internet users can hide their IP address and visit censored websites. It is used daily by 2.5 million people, including in totalitarian regimes. The Tor Project is self-described as an American non-profit organization that focuses on research, development and education of online anonymity and privacy. Although many people daily surf the Internet via Tor Browser and the Tor network, the donation button on the website has been used in previous years no 8,000 times.

Extra Secure Tor Browser For Linux Launched

The creators of Tor Browser, the software for browsing through the Tor network, have released a security-enhanced version of Linux. It is the first time that the Tor Project offers a "hardened" version of Tor Browser. This browser includes a customized version of Firefox and Tor software.

The extra secure Tor Browser is based on the Tor Browser Alpha series. These are test versions of the browser that appear in the final versions. In addition, extra protection is added which should offer protection against memory exploits. For this are both the Tor software, and Firefox version Address Sanitizer compiled. This should give users a safer Tor Browser, especially if JavaScript is partially or completely disabled. It also helps to find problems earlier and to remedy them in the alpha and stable versions.

The additional security does have several disadvantages. Thus, this version is slower, consumes more memory and is slightly larger than the normal version. In addition, the added security of Address Sanitizer not perfect. An attacker who successfully back halls which it is practiced can still via JavaScript certain types of attack vulnerabilities. To date, the high-security Tor Browser only for Linux available, but is being given to versions for Mac OS X and Windows.

Tor Browser lets Internet users hide their IP address and visit censored websites. Every day, over two million people from all over the world using the Tor network, such as activists, people in totalitarian regimes and Internet users who value their privacy. The software is also used by criminals. Two years ago, users of legacy Tor Browser still the target of an attack allegedly by the FBI conducted. The attack users of the real IP address could be traced. To avoid Tor Browser Users with outdated versions meanwhile continue surfing is an automatic updater added to the browser.

Tor Launches Chat Program Secure Chat

The creators of the Tor network have launched software that allows users of many different chat programs or channels through one simple encrypted chat program. Tor Messenger as the chat program is called, sends messages over the Tor network.

It thereby supports different transport networks like Jabber (XMPP), IRC, Google Talk, Facebook Chat, Twitter, Yahoo, and other networks. In addition, Off-the-Record (OTR) Messaging by default. This makes the messages are encrypted and users can check that the person with whom they chat actually the person he or she claims to be. Furthermore OTR also adds perfect forward secrecy, and "deniability" so that it can be denied that the user has sent an IM message.

Tor Messenger or uses existing networks so that users with existing contacts and without much adaptation can continue chatting. This approach means that metadata can be stored by the server of the chat network. However, the route to the server is hidden, as it runs over the Tor network. The version launched today is a test version and is available for Linux, Mac and Windows.

Tor Browser Enhances Privacy And YouTube Support

For Internet users who want to protect their anonymity and privacy on the web is a completely new version of Tor Browser appeared. It is the first version of Tor Browser 5.0 . Besides several vulnerabilities that are fixed This version contains several measures to protect user privacy.

For example, there are added protective measures to prevent identification on the basis of key strokes. The NoScript whitelist is reset. NoScript is a Firefox extension that prevents the execution of scripts on websites. NoScript uses a whitelist of domains where scripting is allowed. The reason for the reset is that NoScript previous updates certain areas were added to the whitelist. To avoid repetition NoScript will not be able to update the whitelist. Further supporting the playback of HTML5 video on YouTube improved.

Zero day

Tor Browser is based on Firefox. Recently, a zero-day flaw was used in the PDF reader Firefox to attack users. According to the Tor Project, the developer of Tor Browser, the problem was not present in version 4.5 of Tor Browser. Users of the trial version of Tor Browser 5.0 were vulnerable. However, the attack could not be carried out if the security slider Tor Browser stood tall. The browser has recently acquired a slider that allows users to specify the security level. Updating to the new versions of Tor Browser via the browser or Torproject.org . Globally, 2.5 million people use the Tor network.

Tor Protects Users From Identification Through Fonts

Each day, some 2.5 million people use the Tor network to protect their privacy and identity on the Internet. The easiest way to browse through the Tor network Tor Browser. This software consists of a modified Firefox version and software that connects to the Tor network.

Tor users get the advice , for example, not logging into websites or other identifying information on websites leave behind.Additionally Tor Browser warns the user maximizes his browser window. The maximum resolution of a display can namely be used for tracking. Another way to track Internet users is on the basis of the fonts used. Something that investigators earlier this year have shown ( pdf ).

In a new test version of Tor Browser 5 was therefore decided to use the same fonts for all supported platforms. According to the developers of Tor, it is a "experimental protection". These new privacy measures will also be included in the final version of Tor Browser 5, which is scheduled for next week.

Critical Vulnerabilities In Tor And Tails Corrected

There are new versions of Tor Browser and Tails appeared, two programs for people who want to protect their privacy and anonymity on the Internet, where critical vulnerabilities are fixed. Users also have strongly advised to upgrade, since users of Tor Browser still using an old version surfed in the past been the target of attacks, their actual IP address was traced .

Via Tor Browser, users can easily hide their IP address. The browser consists of a modified version Firefox and software to connect to the network-Tor. This week a new version of Firefox, allowing the developers of Tor Browser also had to release a new version. Tor Browser 4.5.3 also includes a new version of OpenSSL and NoScript Torbutton, as well as a fix for a bug that allowed the browser crash and a patch to improve the usability of Tor Browser on websites. Updating via Torproject.org if the update function of the browser.

Tails

Users of Tails get urgent advice to Tails 1.4.1 upgrade. Tails is a complete operating system from a DVD or USB stick to use and is totally focused on privacy. It is based on Debian and contains various tools to access the Internet anonymously, including Tor Browser. In the past, for which the new versions of Tor Browser and Tails were not coordinated.

Therefore Tails users could sometimes several weeks stuck with an outdated Tor Browser. Now Tails development team has been waiting for the new Tor Browser, which added to the operating system. In addition, several Debian-related vulnerabilities are resolved. Updating via the Tails website .

Tor-Flyer For Police And Citizens On The Internet Anonymously

Every day, hundreds of thousands of people using the Tor network to protect their online identity and privacy. Yet there is still much confusion about how the Tor network and the importance of online anonymity. Therefore, the Tor Project has several informative flyers ( pdf ) made ​​for police and citizens explaining the operation of the Tor network and the importance of anonymous internet.

Through the Tor network users can hide their IP address such as "hidden" visit websites that are only accessible through the Tor network. In recent months, several of these sites by the authorities off the air. The most Tor users are ordinary citizens who want to keep control over their privacy, so the Tor Project has announced in the flyer for police and investigative services.

The network is also used by journalists, activists and people in countries with totalitarian regimes or internet censorship. It is also handy for police and undercover operations. So use investigative services also the Tor network for their research."Because of the identity and location of hiding researchers Tor can be a valuable tool for successful online undercover operations," so let the flyer.

There is created a flyer for citizens showing the importance of anonymous Internet and online freedom is explained. According to the Tor Project is anonymity under fire as never before, allowing the ability to share free information on the Internet is undermined. "Countries monitors on each other and their citizens, block websites, watching the contents of traffic and reduce important world news." Organizations that deal with internet freedom can also order the flyers.

Tor Is Promoting Use Of Hidden Websites

The Tor network not only provides users the ability to hide their IP address, even turning and visiting hidden sites and services is possible. And it is this feature of Tor developers who now want to bring wider attention.

Through the hidden sites and services, on the Tor network if hidden services identified, people can share information anonymously and safely. So bloggers, activists, journalists and organizations under other totalitarian regimes use it.Newspapers like the Washington Post and Human Rights organizations like Amnesty International use them again to receive leaked information. "The potential of hidden services is huge and much still needs to be explored there," said Tor developers.They want to make the technology therefore accessible to a larger audience.

The Tor developers look for hidden services namely an important role when it comes to the future of secure communication.To realize this, the uses of hidden services will have to be increased, there must be mobile support for mobile applications and will eventually also the number of people that have to grow hidden services used. At this time, approximately 4% of the Tor-traffic originating from hidden services. To determine where the emphasis will be launched a crowd funding campaign on.

While looking for the Tor Project ideas for hidden services to crowd funded. Meanwhile, there are three ideas conceived, including an information for administrators of hidden services and hidden services where anonymity is paramount but speed.In this case, the hidden service will not care about their own anonymity, but that visitors anonymously and securely connect through the Tor network. It involves, for example initiatives of Facebook and Reddit to also be active in the Tor network.Other ideas via this page to reach out to.

Almost 97% Of Tor Traffic Goes To 'Normal' Websites

Almost 97% of the traffic that will generate Tor users to 'normal' websites over the internet anyone can visit, according to research from the Tor Project. Tor is a software that allows users not only to hide their IP address, but also makes it possible to visit Tor sites that are only accessible through the Tor network.These are the so-called "hidden services".

The Tor Project wanted to know how many of the Tor traffic goes to these hidden services. For this was the collaboration of several volunteers to share data from their Tor server. This enabled the Tor Project a small proportion (2% - 5%) of activities in hidden view services. Establish on the basis of current calculations, the researchers found that each day 30,000 hidden services are active. These websites generate every day 400 to 600Mbit per second of traffic, which amounts to about 5 terabytes of data per day.

Furthermore, it appears that is the Tor traffic from Tor users to these hidden services 3.4% of the total Tor traffic. This means that 96.6% of the Tor traffic to "normal" websites is that anyone can access through a browser. Tor came last year regularly negative in the news because Tor would mainly be used for visiting criminal Tor sites. Now it appears that the most traffic to websites is that outside Gate to visit.

The researchers suggest that it is still to preliminary results in that regard are established on the basis of a limited data set, and with a grain would have to be taken. The study was conducted over a period of several months, but the researchers plan to expand further in the future. They want to know how many people visit daily Tor sites and how often people try to visit a hidden service that no longer exists.

"Unfortunately, some of these questions with the current reporting infrastructure are not easy to answer, mostly because the collection in this way can reveal hidden information about specific services, as well as the results of the current system include excess  dates." The researchers are also looking at aggregation protocols for statistics that they can use in place of the current system, so they still safe to collect all kinds of statistics.

Organization Wants Gate And DuckDuckGo On Library Computers

Libraries are ideal places to promote privacy and anonymity and would therefore privacy tools like Tor Browser, DuckDuckGo, Tails and HTTPS Everywhere must be installed on library computers. This is suggested by the Library Freedom Project , a US organization that focuses on American libraries, but also helps libraries in other countries with this issue.

The Library Freedom Project also helps libraries with giving privacy-oriented computer classes. During the technical part, the aforementioned tools discussed. The library staff will explain how they Tor relays can be set and the standard library website over HTTPS can run. "Librarians are a professional group that have always been important privacy, but the development of mass surveillance has overtaken their technical capabilities," says Alison Macrina, founder of the Library Freedom Project.

According Macrina she learned librarians thanks to the tools of the Tor community to spread the use of anti-surveillance tools to the public. After being trained librarians begin their own lessons. "These lessons make a real difference in the lives of ordinary people who seek practical ways to get their digital privacy," said Macrina. She notes that the feedback from the ordinary Internet users the Tor Project may in turn help to increase the usability of Tor Browser and other tools.

Tails Will Remove Adblock Plus From Privacy OS

The privacy-oriented operating system Tails will remove the ad blocker Adblock Plus from the supplied Tor Browser. According to a message on the mailing list for Tails developers. Tails uses the Tor Browser to access the Internet through the Tor network. By default, while also installed Adblock Plus, which allows users to block ads.

However, the default Tor Browser containing the Tor Project is offered through the website no Adblock Plus, because this could be used as an argument to block Tor users on websites. Another reason for Adblock Plus to remove that Tails users who surf with Tor Browser will respond to other Tor Browser users seem, what the "finger print" of the Tails-users from going.

Users of Tor Browser can be fingerprinted using their operating systems and other tricks. At present Tails is used every day by 10,000 people, while Tor has about 2 million daily users. "Removing Adblock Tails to make more Tor Browser on Windows will improve things seem something in a particular area and other parts not again", states one of the developers. Meanwhile, remove Adblock Plus as a feature set for a future release.

Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System) is a complete operating system that can be used from a DVD or USB stick. It is based on Debian and contains various tools to access the Internet anonymously. For example, standard programs like Pidgin chat program, a virtual keyboard, the password manager and KeePassX GnuPG installed, completed with the necessary plug-ins and various encryption tools.