Tech | February 07, 2012 | 11 comments

How governments have tried to block Tor [28C3]

source: http://www.redicecreations.com/article.php?id=18110

Dagum
Iran blocked Tor handshakes using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) in January 2011 and September 2011. Bluecoat tested out a Tor handshake filter in Syria in June 2011. China has been harvesting and blocking IP addresses for both public Tor relays and private Tor bridges for years.

Roger Dingledine and Jacob Appelbaum will talk about how exactly these governments are doing the blocking, both in terms of what signatures they filter in Tor (and how we’ve gotten around the blocking in each case), and what technologies they use to deploy the filters -- including the use of Western technology to operate the surveillance and censorship infrastructure in Tunisia (Smartfilter), Syria (Bluecoat), and other countries. We’ll cover what we’ve learned about the mindset of the censor operators (who in many cases don’t want to block Tor because they use it!), and how we can measure and track the wide-scale censorship in these countries. Last, we’ll explain Tor’s development plans to get ahead of the address harvesting and handshake DPI arms races....


Continued at;

http://www.redicecreations.com/article.php?id=18110
  1. groups:
    Community,   News and Politics,   Tech,   Privacy
  2. tags:
    War for the internet,  TOR
  3.     
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11 comments // How governments have tried to block Tor [28C3] // Video

  • MotherForTruth
    • +1
      MotherForTruth  

    • Great post. I have to get a bit more familiar with different programs to protect my privacy. And what about all of the local advertisements based on the ip, obviously all of the info is collected. I would love to hear more on this subject from all of you techies out there.

      Thank you for posting and sharing this very important info.

    • 4 months ago
  • TanzaniteDiamonds
  • rerushg
    • +1
      rerushg  
    • TanzaniteDiamonds:

      Most people run multiple browsers to handle those issues. If you install the Tor browser bundle (currently Aurora, a FireFox variant) it comes with max privacy already set and runs with Tor. Just open another browser for other stuff to run normally, outside of Tor. I have 4 browsers running all the time for varying levels of privacy and functionality.

    • 4 months ago
  • TanzaniteDiamonds
    • +1
      TanzaniteDiamonds  
    • rerushg:

      Thank you, rerushg. This is very helpful to all of us.

      Indeed, I am familiar with mulitiple browsers, and the only site I have found (so far) where this will not always work is Huffington Post, which makes me wonder if there's a possible hole in TOR? Although, it doesn't surprise me if HP does this, because their censorship is so outrageous (ridiculous).

    • 4 months ago
  • rerushg
    • +1
      rerushg  
    • TanzaniteDiamonds:

      You're quite welcome.
      Not sure what you mean "will not.... work.... HP". I just got HP successfully via Tor but it's not the same, of course. Pics and copy are there but Flash & java script powered stuff are missing as expected. No ads!
      Perhaps you're referring to their login process or something else that demands cookies? Might be a problem.

    • 4 months ago
  • TanzaniteDiamonds
    • 0
      TanzaniteDiamonds  
    • rerushg:

      Sorry I wasn't clearer. Yes, the *cookies* is a very good point.

      By "will not work", I meant to say it's inconsistent because sometimes log in and registration is no problem, whatsoever, with TOR. While, other times, the profile is zapped AT registration or log-in of a brand new profile with TOR.

      Other times, without using TOR the non-abusive profile is fine for 6-7 months only to be *suddenly* zapped and banned; that happened recently on an account that had been active for over 7 months, but was suddenly banned right after Christmas. Another incident was an account that lasted ONE day (Christmas Day 2011) with no abusive comments.

      It's a very interesting (intriguing) unique case, and they do not answer any inquiries regarding this situation. fwiw, it is also noteworthy to mention that I was never banned as TanzaniteDiamonds on HP when I closed the account on 1/17/11, but any profiles with my online *persona* since then (which is being recognized by *certain* HP individuals aka the "gang" from HP) is prompting the inconsistent bannings with or without TOR.

    • 4 months ago
  • rerushg
    • 0
      rerushg  
    • TanzaniteDiamonds:

      For most sites requiring login (including IRC) TOR will probably not work consistently, most likely becuase of constant changes in your exit node IP, the exit node is simply a bad actor to them, or it's attempting to connect from a locale that is not supported.
      Don't know what's going on with the other stuff you're doing in open transmission. I use HP a good bit but don't maintain an account. Maybe play with your browser privacy settings?

    • 4 months ago
  • TanzaniteDiamonds
    • 0
      TanzaniteDiamonds  
    • rerushg:

      Good to know. Great advice.

      I also want to emphasize that I think TOR is great, even though it's a bit *slower*, but it does work, so it can be a very helpful tool; a good thing for many online users.

      Thanks again.

    • 4 months ago
  • GRC54
    • +1
      GRC54  

    • Been using TOR for a couple years and it works fine. Use mine as a relay. this is the best way for info to get to those who need it the most. Freedom isn't free but information should flow like water no matter where you live.

    • 4 months ago
  • rerushg
    • +1
      rerushg  

    • Good post, Dagun. Thanks.
      So far Tor is working fine for me (exit node as well as relay.)

      Recommended by the EFF. Vital to many folks around the world needing to communicate from distressed locations. Just get the browser bundle from the Tor site and fire it up. Need help? Just ask.

    • 4 months ago
  • Truthitswhatsfordinner
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