September 2022 - anti-censorship-team

Mac app / Safari extension for Snowflake
by David Fifield 02 Oct '25

02 Oct '25

Browsing through some search results, I found: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/torproject-snowflake/id1597501940 (https://web.archive.org/web/20220222083316/https://apps.apple.com/us/app/to…) https://github.com/jayluxferro/snowflake It looks like a repackaging of the Snowflake JavaScript proxy code for Mac and Safari environments. Maybe we could get in touch with the developer and find a way to adopt it into the main repository?

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Microsoft announces shutting down domain fronting attempts in Azure
by Cecylia Bocovich 18 Nov '24

18 Nov '24

It looks like Azure is going to shutdown domain fronting: https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/03/26/securing-our-approach-to… There isn't a time frame listed in the article, and I haven't gotten any notifications through my Azure account yet. Cecylia

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Need to increase number of tor instances on snowflake-01 bridge, increased usage since yesterday
by David Fifield 30 Sep '22

30 Sep '22

There is increased usage of the snowflake-01 bridge since yesterday, likely related to protests/shutdowns in Iran. The 4 load-balanced tor instances, which recently were at about 60% CPU at the steady state, are currently near 100%. I am planning to increase the number of instances today. I am also seeing a lot of "no address in clientID-to-IP map (capacity 10240)" (dozens per second), so I will increase that parameter at the same time. After this, I don't think this bridge can easily sustain another doubling in traffic. It would be good to start sharing load with snowflake-02 sooner than later (https://bugs.torproject.org/tpo/anti-censorship/pluggable-transports/snowfl…) Here's a bridge-extra-info from a couple of days ago. (Remember this represents 1/4 of traffic.) Here `ir` is in about tenth place in users. https://metrics.torproject.org/collector/recent/bridge-descriptors/extra-in… ``` @type bridge-extra-info 1.3 extra-info flakey1 5481936581E23D2D178105D44DB6915AB06BFB7F published 2022-09-20 13:10:55 write-history 2022-09-20 03:48:24 (86400 s) 1530049041408,1515073429504,1571942788096,1624372588544,1540386311168 read-history 2022-09-20 03:48:24 (86400 s) 1508810912768,1497901086720,1553884182528,1606369537024,1525348965376 dirreq-stats-end 2022-09-20 05:10:35 (86400 s) dirreq-v3-ips ru=13792,us=1864,cn=1240,de=648,gb=384,??=368,by=368,in=280,fr=272,ir=272,ua=224,ca=168,nl=160,br=144,au=136,es=112,it=112,eg=96,sa=80,mx=72,se=72,ro=64,tr=64,ae=56,ch=56,pl=56,be=48,cz=48,jp=48,za=48,at=40,fi=40,id=40,kz=40,lv=40,il=32,kr=32,ph=32,ar=24,az=24,bd=24,cl=24,dk=24,dz=24,ee=24,hk=24,hu=24,ke=24,lt=24,ng=24,no=24,nz=24,pk=24,pt=24,sg=24,th=24,bg=16,co=16,ec=16,gr=16,ie=16,iq=16,ma=16,md=16,mu=16,my=16,si=16,tn=16,tw=16,uz=16,vn=16,af=8,al=8,am=8,ap=8,ba=8,bf=8,bh=8,bj=8,bn=8,bo=8,bs=8,bz=8,ci=8,cm=8,cr=8,cu=8,cv=8,cw=8,cy=8,do=8,eu=8,ge=8,gh=8,gn=8,gt=8,hn=8,hr=8,ht=8,is=8,jm=8,jo=8,kg=8,kh=8,kw=8,lb=8,lk=8,lu=8,ly=8,mg=8,mk=8,ml=8,mm=8,mt=8,mv=8,na=8,ne=8,np=8,om=8,pa=8,pe=8,pg=8,ps=8,py=8,qa=8,rs=8,rw=8,sc=8,sd=8,sk=8,sn=8,so=8,sv=8,sy=8,tg=8,tj=8,tm=8,tt=8,tz=8,ug=8,uy=8,ve=8,vi=8,ye=8,zm=8,zw=8 dirreq-v3-reqs ru=25256,??=4032,us=3040,cn=2408,de=1008,gb=616,by=608,fr=472,ua=472,ir=448,in=424,nl=304,ca=296,au=256,br=224,it=200,es=192,eg=136,se=128,mx=120,ro=120,sa=112,ae=88,ch=88,jp=88,pl=88,tr=88,cz=80,lv=80,ph=80,be=72,kr=72,za=72,at=64,fi=64,kz=64,id=56,no=56,ar=48,hk=48,il=40,lb=40,lt=40,pk=40,az=32,bd=32,cl=32,co=32,dk=32,hu=32,ke=32,nz=32,pt=32,sg=32,bg=24,dz=24,ec=24,ee=24,gr=24,mu=24,my=24,ng=24,si=24,so=24,th=24,tw=24,uz=24,am=16,ba=16,bz=16,cm=16,cr=16,hr=16,ie=16,iq=16,jo=16,lk=16,lu=16,ma=16,md=16,mm=16,rs=16,sk=16,tn=16,vn=16,af=8,al=8,ap=8,bf=8,bh=8,bj=8,bn=8,bo=8,bs=8,ci=8,cu=8,cv=8,cw=8,cy=8,do=8,eu=8,ge=8,gh=8,gn=8,gt=8,hn=8,ht=8,is=8,jm=8,kg=8,kh=8,kw=8,ly=8,mg=8,mk=8,ml=8,mt=8,mv=8,na=8,ne=8,np=8,om=8,pa=8,pe=8,pg=8,ps=8,py=8,qa=8,rw=8,sc=8,sd=8,sn=8,sv=8,sy=8,tg=8,tj=8,tm=8,tt=8,tz=8,ug=8,uy=8,ve=8,vi=8,ye=8,zm=8,zw=8 bridge-stats-end 2022-09-20 05:10:44 (86400 s) bridge-ips ru=18816,us=2984,cn=1720,de=1024,gb=640,by=576,??=496,in=488,fr=400,ir=400,ua=280,br=256,nl=256,ca=232,au=192,it=168,eg=160,es=152,sa=128,pl=112,tr=112,mx=104,se=104,ch=96,ro=96,ae=88,jp=80,at=72,be=72,cz=72,id=72,fi=64,kz=56,ph=56,za=56,kr=48,lv=48,az=40,dk=40,il=40,ng=40,no=40,pk=40,ar=32,cl=32,dz=32,gr=32,hk=32,hu=32,ke=32,lt=32,nz=32,pt=32,th=32,bd=24,bg=24,co=24,ee=24,ie=24,ma=24,mu=24,my=24,sg=24,tw=24,uz=24,vn=24,am=16,cr=16,ec=16,hr=16,iq=16,jo=16,kw=16,lk=16,lu=16,md=16,pe=16,py=16,rs=16,sd=16,si=16,sk=16,tm=16,tn=16,ug=16,ve=16,af=8,al=8,ap=8,ba=8,bf=8,bh=8,bj=8,bn=8,bo=8,bs=8,bw=8,ci=8,cm=8,cu=8,cv=8,cw=8,cy=8,do=8,et=8,eu=8,ge=8,gh=8,gn=8,gp=8,gt=8,hn=8,ht=8,is=8,jm=8,kg=8,kh=8,ky=8,lb=8,li=8,ly=8,mf=8,mg=8,mk=8,ml=8,mm=8,mq=8,mt=8,mv=8,na=8,ne=8,ni=8,np=8,om=8,pa=8,pg=8,ps=8,qa=8,re=8,rw=8,sc=8,sn=8,so=8,sv=8,sy=8,tg=8,tj=8,tt=8,tz=8,uy=8,vi=8,ye=8,zm=8,zw=8 ``` Here's another bridge-extra-info from about nine hours ago. Now `ir` is in second, third, or fourth place, depending on the metric. ``` @type bridge-extra-info 1.3 extra-info flakey1 5481936581E23D2D178105D44DB6915AB06BFB7F published 2022-09-22 13:18:22 write-history 2022-09-22 03:48:24 (86400 s) 1571942788096,1624372588544,1540386311168,1503769995264,1541499914240 read-history 2022-09-22 03:48:24 (86400 s) 1553884182528,1606369537024,1525348965376,1487172212736,1519574591488 dirreq-stats-end 2022-09-22 05:10:35 (86400 s) dirreq-v3-ips ru=13656,us=2120,ir=2056,cn=1384,de=616,by=432,gb=392,??=384,fr=288,in=264,ua=256,ca=168,nl=168,br=152,au=144,es=112,eg=104,it=104,sa=80,pl=72,se=72,tr=72,ae=64,ch=64,mx=64,ro=64,be=48,cz=48,fi=48,jp=48,za=48,at=40,id=40,kz=40,az=32,cl=32,dk=32,il=32,ke=32,kr=32,lt=32,lv=32,ma=32,ng=32,nz=32,pt=32,co=24,ee=24,gr=24,hk=24,hu=24,mu=24,no=24,ph=24,pk=24,tn=24,ar=16,bd=16,bg=16,do=16,dz=16,ge=16,hr=16,ie=16,iq=16,md=16,my=16,rs=16,sg=16,sk=16,th=16,tw=16,ug=16,uz=16,am=8,ap=8,ba=8,bf=8,bh=8,bj=8,bn=8,bo=8,bw=8,ci=8,cm=8,cr=8,cu=8,cv=8,cw=8,cy=8,ec=8,eu=8,ga=8,gh=8,gt=8,gy=8,hn=8,is=8,jm=8,jo=8,kg=8,kh=8,kw=8,ky=8,lb=8,lk=8,lu=8,ly=8,me=8,mk=8,ml=8,mm=8,mo=8,mv=8,mw=8,na=8,ne=8,ni=8,np=8,om=8,pe=8,pr=8,ps=8,py=8,qa=8,re=8,rw=8,sc=8,sd=8,si=8,sn=8,so=8,ss=8,sy=8,tg=8,tm=8,tt=8,tz=8,ve=8,vi=8,vn=8,ye=8,zm=8,zw=8 dirreq-v3-reqs ru=26032,??=4128,us=3408,ir=2792,cn=2784,de=960,by=664,gb=648,ua=592,fr=512,in=360,ca=280,au=272,nl=264,br=248,es=208,it=184,eg=176,mx=152,ae=144,pl=136,ch=128,tr=120,ro=112,se=112,jp=96,sa=96,fi=88,za=80,at=72,be=72,cz=72,il=64,kr=64,kz=64,az=56,dk=56,hu=56,id=56,lt=56,rs=56,hk=48,ke=48,lv=48,cl=40,co=40,ng=40,no=40,nz=40,ph=40,pk=40,pt=40,ee=32,ge=32,gr=32,ma=32,md=32,mu=32,sg=32,tn=32,am=24,ar=24,bd=24,bg=24,dz=24,ie=24,my=24,sk=24,th=24,tw=24,uz=24,cr=16,cy=16,do=16,ec=16,eu=16,hr=16,iq=16,lk=16,ly=16,mm=16,pe=16,si=16,ug=16,vn=16,ap=8,ba=8,bf=8,bh=8,bj=8,bn=8,bo=8,bw=8,ci=8,cm=8,cu=8,cv=8,cw=8,ga=8,gh=8,gt=8,gy=8,hn=8,is=8,jm=8,jo=8,kg=8,kh=8,kw=8,ky=8,lb=8,lu=8,me=8,mk=8,ml=8,mo=8,mv=8,mw=8,na=8,ne=8,ni=8,np=8,om=8,pr=8,ps=8,py=8,qa=8,re=8,rw=8,sc=8,sd=8,sn=8,so=8,ss=8,sy=8,tg=8,tm=8,tt=8,tz=8,ve=8,vi=8,ye=8,zm=8,zw=8 bridge-stats-end 2022-09-22 05:10:44 (86400 s) bridge-ips ru=18440,ir=5200,us=3624,cn=1880,de=984,gb=656,by=648,??=520,in=472,fr=416,ua=320,nl=264,br=240,ca=232,au=216,eg=176,it=160,es=152,sa=136,pl=128,se=120,tr=120,ae=104,ch=104,mx=104,ro=96,be=80,jp=80,cz=72,fi=72,id=72,mu=72,za=72,at=64,ng=64,kz=56,ma=56,tn=56,hk=48,il=48,pk=48,az=40,cl=40,co=40,dk=40,dz=40,ke=40,kr=40,lt=40,lv=40,no=40,nz=40,pt=40,ar=32,gr=32,ie=32,my=32,ph=32,sg=32,bd=24,bg=24,ee=24,hu=24,iq=24,rs=24,th=24,tw=24,vn=24,zm=24,cr=16,cy=16,do=16,ec=16,ge=16,gt=16,hr=16,kw=16,lk=16,md=16,mm=16,om=16,pe=16,sd=16,sk=16,tz=16,ug=16,uz=16,ve=16,af=8,al=8,am=8,ao=8,ap=8,ba=8,bf=8,bh=8,bj=8,bn=8,bo=8,bw=8,bz=8,ci=8,cm=8,cu=8,cv=8,cw=8,eu=8,ga=8,gh=8,gn=8,gu=8,gy=8,hn=8,is=8,jm=8,jo=8,kg=8,kh=8,ky=8,lb=8,lu=8,ly=8,me=8,mk=8,ml=8,mo=8,mt=8,mv=8,mw=8,na=8,ne=8,ni=8,np=8,pg=8,pr=8,ps=8,py=8,qa=8,re=8,rw=8,sc=8,si=8,sn=8,so=8,sr=8,ss=8,sv=8,sy=8,sz=8,tg=8,tj=8,tm=8,tt=8,uy=8,vi=8,ye=8,zw=8 ```

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Snowflake on OpenWrt
by Daniel Golle 26 Sep '22

26 Sep '22

Hi! I thought it might be good to call your attention to the option of running a Snowflake proxy on small embedded devices, such as home routers. The resulting Go executable takes only about 3.5 MB of flash memory and running it consumes roughly 32 MB of RAM -- resources usually disposable even on consumer-grade home routers. https://github.com/openwrt/packages/pull/19436 I've put each resulting executable into a package of its own, for now providing on init script only for the snowflake-proxy, it runs snowflake as an unpriviledged user/group snowflake:snowflake. In order to make the executables more distinguishable on the target systems I have renamed most of them adding a 'snowflake-' prefix. I'd be glad to hear more opinions and receive review from project developers. Cheers Daniel

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Question about snowflake security
by Luna Manaugh 24 Sep '22

24 Sep '22

Hi there, I don't have a background in programming. Would you care to explain to me in plain language and convincing evidence that it is entirely safe to volunteer for snowflake to help those in heavily censored countries access internet? How's that possible if they can anything with my IP? While I read this on your website, I'm not quite sure I understand what it means: "There is no need to worry about which websites people are accessing through your proxy. Their visible browsing IP address will match their Tor exit node, not yours". Best Luna Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

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TorCloak Pluggable Transport
by Francisco Silva 07 Sep '22

07 Sep '22

Good evening, My name is Francisco Silva and, together with Professor Nuno Santos and Professor Diogo Barradas, am part of a research team [1] within the Distributed Systems Group at INESC-ID Lisbon [2]/IST [3]. Our research focuses on _systems security and privacy._ We are currently developing a new Tor Pluggable Transport called TorCloak. TorCloak's basic mechanism is to conceale Tor traffic on the video streams of WebRTC-based video conferencing services. We are now coming to a stage on our project in which we are discussing solutions to disseminate our bridges. In the attached file we present a small draft of our proposed solution. This solution is geared towards leveraging the bridge distribution infrastructure already made available by the Tor project and make the process of establishing a bridge connection as simple as possible for the user. We would appreciate your feedback on this solution and, if possible, work with us through the limitations and technicalities of such implementation. Please let us know if you have any questions. You can reach us via email or Matrix. Looking forward to working with you. -- Best regards, Francisco Silva franciscoasilva(a)tecnico.ulisboa.pt @fsilva800:matrix.org web.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/franciscoasilva Links: ------ [1] https://syssec.gsd.inesc-id.pt/ [2] https://inesc-id.pt/ [3] https://tecnico.ulisboa.pt/en/

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