- tor-dev - lists.torproject.org

More-static throttling parameters
by Roger Dingledine 17 Apr '13

17 Apr '13

Hi Rob, We spoke at the dev meeting about how throttling that's a function of number of clients introduces new anonymity vulnerabilities (for those following along at home, see the upcoming PETS paper "Balancing Performance with Anonymity in Tor"). It seems to me that we want to explore more static options. For example, we watch a rolling window of Y seconds and throttle you to 50KB/s for 2Y seconds if you send or receive more than X bytes in those Y seconds. Here are plausible values of X and Y: 12MB in 30 seconds ("400KB/s") 18MB in 60 seconds ("300KB/s") 27MB in 120 seconds ("225KB/s") 40.5MB in 240 seconds ("169KB/s") 60.75MB in 480 seconds ("126KB/s") 91.125MB in 960 seconds ("95KB/s") 136.6875MB in 1920 seconds ("71KB/s") The goal is that a client who wants to game the system could self-throttle to just under the limit, and then we don't trigger, but the user would have to self-throttle more and more over time as he continues to transfer many bytes. The smallest Y we consider is 12MB in 30 seconds, and from there when Y doubles we multiply X by 1.5. And then when X/Y reaches 50KB/s we don't throttle further. It's possible there are simple self-contained equations to describe the above curve; it's also possible there are better curves to explore. And I also confess that I didn't pick the above design with an eye towards easy implementation (somebody's going to have to get out their algorithms magic wand and rephrase it so it looks easier to implement). My goal was to pick parameters such that we don't impact normal users, but if we *do* trigger on a user then we sure are glad we did. And there are of course reduced returns here because the user can have multiple entry guards (and all the other cheating questions a la the LIRA design). --Roger

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Remote anonymous browsing
by mahesh 17 Apr '13

17 Apr '13

Hi, I am a third year undergraduate student of Information Technology at PICT, Pune, India. I'm dying to contribute to tor community as I use it a lot. There's an opportunity for me in GSOC-2013. I read tor's idea page and came to know that would have to contribute to existing project. But, I would like to propose a new project. I came across this problem statement from a friend of mine who is journalist. He says, most of the times he don't have his laptop with him so he cant access tor from a CyberCafe as they won't let him download the bundle. So, I propose that there should be a web server to handle tor requests over http. I did my study and think its feasible but let me know everyone else's thought on it. Mahesh

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txtorcon [GSoC 2013]
by Anshul Singhle 16 Apr '13

16 Apr '13

Hi, I'm a fourth year undergraduate student of Computer Science at IIT Kharagpur,India. I'm interested in applying for Gsoc this year for Tor. Specifically i'm interested in the project on txtorcon/stem integration. I have worked on twisted before developing ssh and git daemons using it. I'm a newbie at tor development though. Could someone point me to what is required for a good application for this project? Do I need to submit a patch to Tor? I have no experience working with stem. Could someone give me pointers on where to start? PS - You can view my twisted code at - https://github.com/lonehacker/Drupal.org-Git-Daemons . My contributions are under the id [anarix] Thanks, Anshul Singhle

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Interested in getting involved with pyDoctor
by Miłosz Gaczkowski 16 Apr '13

16 Apr '13

Hi, I'd like to get involved in the development of pyDoctor (https://www.torproject.org/getinvolved/volunteer.html.en#metrics-pyDoctor) I'm not too bothered about whether it'd be through GSoC or not (i.e. I obviously wouldn't mind GSoC, but I'm no less interested in simply volunteering). A few words about me: I'm a reasonably competent 2nd year CS student at the University of Southampton. Not a programming prodigy, but a reasonably quick learner with some enthusiasm for learning how to suck less. My motivation for doing pyDoctor is having an opportunity to learn something while producing useful code and hopefully becoming a part of the Tor community. I feel that this project is adequate for my abilities (both in the sense that I won't screw up and that I'll learn a lot while doing it). If you would like to take me in, I'd be very happy to get started asap. Any pointers on the who/what/where/when would be very much appreciated. Cheers, Miłosz Gaczkowski

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Searchable Tor descriptor and Metrics data archive - GSoC 2013
by Praveen Kumar 16 Apr '13

16 Apr '13

Hi, I am Praveen Kumar from India. I want to work on the project "Searchable Tor descriptor and Metrics data archive". I have participated in the past instances of GSoC with Melange and e-cidadania, and have an extensive experience in development with Python. For the search application, I propose using Django with MongoDB as a NoSQL database backend for our search application. We have 100GB+ of data which eventually grows everyday and so using a NoSQL backend will ensure us that our application scales well with the increase in data as well as user traffic. The application will have various interfaces such as: 1) Data Updator: This end will connect and retrieve data from the metrics website periodically via rsync. It will also be responsible for pre-processing the data to a suitable format as our search application needs. 2) Storage End: A relay descriptor can be searched by nickname, fingerprint, IP Addr and various other attributes that define a relay descriptor. So we can preprocess the whole data, extract the attributes that define a descriptor and then save it in an appropriate model MongoDB provides. Since queries are very fast in a NoSQL datastore, our searches will be very fast. 3) Search Front End: This will be exposed to the user where a user provides its search query to us. 4) Search query processor: This end will process the query of a user and determine its type for eg. whether the query is an IP Address or a nickname etc. It will then connect with our Storage End and return the appropriate data to the Search Front End. Above is a very high level view of my approach to this project. We can also use Django Haystack as a search application framework(I did some research for existing search frameworks). I can implement this app in an object oriented way in Python. Python being such a beautiful and easy to understand language, it will be easy for others to understand and make changes to the application in least amount of time. I would like to know if I am thinking in the right direction and would like to know what Karsten has to say about this. - Cheers Praveen

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Re: [tor-dev] Tor trademark (was Embedding tor in an application and using tor) without opening a port
by wac 16 Apr '13

16 Apr '13

Hi Roger: On Mon, Apr 15, 2013 01:04 EDT Roger Dingledine wrote: >> I changed from libTor to libtor as Tor is a registered trademark but >>lowercase tor is not. > >I'm afraid that's not how trademark works. The trademark is infringed by >any name that might confuse users into thinking that it is, represents, >or is endorsed by the Tor Project. The confusion argument is not based in any facts for instance like statistics. I can also think a zillion words that have tor as part of their names. Fine is there a name I could use to reference Tor network and nothing else but that network without using the name Tor or any other "trademark"? >> I already paid for the domain and to make sure people knows is a library >>to use the Tor network. > >I would be happy to paypal (or whatever) you some money to register a >different domain -- e.g. libonion.org -- before you get too established >in your brand. Well is not a wrench thrown like before. Thanks I appreciate it. In any case is not a brand just a name. I would however redirect in such case libtor.org explaining this change to such new domain as some people already knows it. A change has benefits as gives me more freedom to operate. At least removes the commercial exploitation lock. > >(Many generic Tor-related projects use the community-oriented word >'onion', which we have intentionally left out of all our trademarks.) > IMHO onion is far from specific and is confusing. It could be anything. I mean what would someone who have no idea of what is Tor or onion *routing* would think it is? >> This is also non-profit and I clarified at the website what is Tor and >>that carries no guarantee from the Tor Project about quality, suitability >>or anything else. > >Thanks -- that is a good first step. > >> The guidelines also say that being non-profit I could >>even use a modified Tor logo. > >Actually, that's not what the guidelines say. They say "Please don't >modify the design or colors of the logo." Can you point to the sentence(s) >that confused you, so we can clean them up? I double checked, yes. This one "If you're making non-commercial use of Tor software, you may also use the Tor onion logo" The confusion source seems to be the first clarification inside the parenthesis as the meaning changes when you remove it. "If you're making non-commercial use of Tor software, you may also use the Tor onion logo. Please don't modify the design or colors of the logo. You can use items that look like the Tor onion logo to illustrate a point, so long as they're not used as logos in ways that would confuse people." What I interpret here now is that I can use it if I am non-commercial as long as I don't modify design or colors. "Confuse people" is subject to open interpretation too. >> This is in any case not a trademark, is just a name so people knows >>what they are getting that comes out almost naturally. A library to >>connect to the Tor network. > >You're making modifications to Tor, Correct >and then telling people what they're >getting is Tor. Where? No, never claimed that. >I'd say that's a clear opportunity for confusion. There is absolutely no intention of causing confusion. >> I do not pretend to sell anything. But I >>made it lowercase however in order to reduce any possible tension. > >I understand, and that's why it would be best to resolve the confusion >early before users start to associate your software with this name. Ok looking forward to remove the "source of confusion". I still don't think it is. >In fact, I'd love to have an officially associated project, called >something like libtor, that is a library version of the Tor software, >endorsed and maintained by Tor (including maintained by you as a Tor >project core member). But the way to get there is to become a part >of the Tor community and establish a history of doing development and What would be the exact measurement parameter/s to make this move? And what would this mean? I would not like to be changing names back and forth so I would like to keep it. Changing it is problematic to users and the project itself as would take established users away. Basically what I am looking is to satisfy my own needs and maybe get help from the community. So I would like it to be used. I would like to innovate at some point in the future too. I have some ideas in several aspects. >maintenance of libonion the right way, What is the precise meaning of "right way" here? Sorry is not clear to me. >rather than to start out with a confusing name So far no visitors have showed any sign of confusion. They all know is a modification of Tor. >and hope everything works out from there. I will find roadblocks for sure. Well I've being getting some already. I am not the kind who steps back easily in front of them. Things will work. I've being developing/fixing bugs in software for years: http://www.reactos.com/wiki/ChangeLog-0.2.1 http://aircash.sourceforge.net/zerodaypatches.html I know nobody knows me here but assuming that anybody new around is going to provide something broken or low quality doesn't seems to me a good approach. Fine I do not pretend to be trusted right away or change ppl way of doing things. This is something I want to use myself. I am not looking to blow my own feet. Fine I could do it unintentionally as everybody can make mistakes. That's why I am looking to open it and looking to get it used because of the peer review. > >> Is >>not that I have to obey any law from the USA as they don't apply to me. > >I'm afraid that part isn't true either in this case -- you got your >domain from a US-based TLD, and through an ICANN-accredited registrar, >so both US trademark law and the UDRP apply. Do a web search for 'icann >udrp' for the gritty details. I have not waved any fist. Yes I used a USA owned TLD in order to follow the netiquette. As a matters of fact is the most non-profit way I could do it. I am not looking for any trouble, but this kind of things... well. I feel tension. In any case all that could happen here is ICANN cancelling the domain at some point maybe which doesn't stops me from using the name per se. In front of litigation a judge from the USA would fail in favor of anything US based no matter what. Ok as I said earlier I am not looking to cause any confusion or any tension. I am not looking to use that precise name or infringe any trademark. And still think is fair use. In any case I would really like to use a precise and descriptive name for the library if you feel uncomfortable with that one. Regards Waldo

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Re: [tor-dev] Embedding tor in an application and using tor without opening a port
by wac 15 Apr '13

15 Apr '13

Hi Nick: I changed from libTor to libtor as Tor is a registered trademark but lowercase tor is not. I already paid for the domain and to make sure people knows is a library to use the Tor network. To name that sort like Silvertunnel is actually a deformation caused by fear of this policy that causes confusion among users that IMHO is causing problems at the Tor community. I am not a lawyer but even if it were I consider is pretty much fair use same way as Winrar, Winzip or Winamp are trademarks that use part of a brand from Microsoft Corp. to let know persons the software targets the Windows platform. This is also non-profit and I clarified at the website what is Tor and that carries no guarantee from the Tor Project about quality, suitability or anything else. The guidelines also say that being non-profit I could even use a modified Tor logo. I won't, but obviously I have absolutely no intentions of damaging any trademark or confuse anyone. This is in any case not a trademark, is just a name so people knows what they are getting that comes out almost naturally. A library to connect to the Tor network. I do not pretend to sell anything. But I made it lowercase however in order to reduce any possible tension. Is not that I have to obey any law from the USA as they don't apply to me. I perceive some ppl doesn't likes the idea. Some others do. Well ok is a diverse world, I do not pretend everyone to see it same way I do. Regards Waldo ------------------------------ On Sat, Apr 13, 2013 16:05 EDT Nick Mathewson wrote: >> On Apr 13, 2013 1:42 PM, "wac" <waldoalvarez00(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> > >> > >> > Seems you want to put your hands at it so that makes two of us. You >don't need to do what I already did. I am preparing the environment to move >towards team mode. Check the website http://libtor.org. > >This name is likely to be a problem with our trademark policy. Please read >the policy, and consider a rename. > >-- >Nick

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Re: [tor-dev] Embedding tor in an application and using tor without opening a port
by Nick Mathewson 13 Apr '13

13 Apr '13

> On Apr 13, 2013 1:42 PM, "wac" <waldoalvarez00(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > >> > > Seems you want to put your hands at it so that makes two of us. You don't need to do what I already did. I am preparing the environment to move towards team mode. Check the website http://libtor.org. This name is likely to be a problem with our trademark policy. Please read the policy, and consider a rename. -- Nick

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Re: [tor-dev] Embedding tor in an application and using tor without opening a port
by wac 13 Apr '13

13 Apr '13

Hi Navis: Good to hear you built it. I have a working library with a defined API but is not re-entrant. It can connect with a server over Tor circuits and transmit/receive data but nothing is re-entrant at all. So the same Tor thread must be used for all of that ATM. I can fetch webpages like that however and can also do some limited chit-chat over IRC. I attempted to add some locking to some of the data structures but that is insufficient. For instance lists and buffers. Hash tables are complex. They are defined with some macros in order to make them generic overcoming some limitations of C language but they are less than maintainable IMHO. So I was thinking to replace them with another one already built with a similar license but re-entrant. Found a very good one. I have a couple of ideas to make it usable before that happens however. Seems you want to put your hands at it so that makes two of us. You don't need to do what I already did. I am preparing the environment to move towards team mode. Check the website http://libtor.org. In any case remember all of this to make it solid is not just about coding. Regards Waldo ------------------------------ On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 21:29 EDT Navin Francis wrote: >I managed to build it with MSVC after tinkering with the code a little. Did >you guys make any progress in making tor a library? It seems like I can >directly call functions like handle_getinfo_helper in control.c to control >tor. > >//application_main.cpp >//Application that starts tor in a new thread in the same process >#include <future> >#include <iostream> >#include "libtor.h" >using namespace std; >int main(int argc, char *argv[]){ >auto tor_return=async(launch::async,start_tor_main,argc, argv); >while (tor_return.wait_for(chrono::seconds(2))!=future_status::ready){ >char *ans; >const char *errmsg; >handle_getinfo_helper(NULL, "config/names", &ans, &errmsg); >cout<"application is running! ["<ans<"]"<endl; >} >return tor_return.get(); >} > >//libtor.h >//Duplicates the definitions in Tor. If there is a way around this, do >tell! :) >extern "C"{ >int start_tor_main(int argc, char *argv[]);//Tor's main() is renamed to >start_tor_main >int >handle_getinfo_helper(void *control_conn, >const char *question, char **answer, >const char **err_out); >} > >It seems like handle_getinfo_helper is called asynchronously by tor >whenever a GETINFO is recieved on the control port so I don't need >locking/synchronization. Can someone confirm this? > > >On Sun, Apr 7, 2013 at 4:40 AM, Gisle Vanem <gvanem(a)broadpark.no> wrote: >> >> I didn't read the original messege on this, but you have problem building >> Tor and it's libs using MSVC? If so, >> you could try my "GNU make" based system for MingW + >> MSVC here: >> http://home.broadpark.no/~**gvanem/misc/#tor<http://home.broadpark.no/~gvanem/misc/#tor> >> http://home.broadpark.no/~**gvanem/misc/tor-windows.zip<http://home.broadpark.no/~gvanem/misc/tor-windows.zip> >> >> I just tested it with today's Tor Git-repo. And it works for me. >> >> --gv >>

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Re: [tor-dev] [tor-relays] BitTorrent complaint
by grarpamp 12 Apr '13

12 Apr '13

Swiped from the 'BitTorrent complaint' thread over on relays... > If an exit relay then drops that > connection silently, Tor (and the user) cannot know it needs to select a > different exit. The connections simply fail. > ... > What you do with that iptables rule (or similar rules) is block a bunch > of URLs. There may be room to take and work this capability further... Instead of populating the directory with the actual exit policies, offload this into a client poll of a set of live exits the client wishes to queuing up for rotation into for common ports, or even ports it's recently seen in use. Plus a general random poll to ensure N number of exits are held that will be able to service the full matrix of 65536 ports M-times redundantly, sortof like tor_exitlist.py function. Then like Tor transparent proxy to the host's packet filter, there can be a way the exit can read, API, or be fed the host's current rules to then be polled for it by the client. Plus an expected ruleset lite/timeout value. Users of custom policies would need to use separate rule tables, interfaces, or be smart about about any sensitive rule data if they care. Directories would still carry all exits. But only predefined policies efficiently marked by an 8 bit label. 0) non-exit 1) fully open 2) pollme 3) reduced 4) std set A 5) std set B, etc. Client releases hold the policy label map, including revoked and reserved label definitions. Or the map can be held in realtime dht or alikes.

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