[tbb-bugs] #29790 [Applications/Tor Browser]: Add build option to store profile in HOME directory

[Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki]

#29790: Add build option to store profile in HOME directory
--------------------------------------+-----------------------------------
 Reporter:  boklm                     |          Owner:  tbb-team
     Type:  task                      |         Status:  needs_information
 Priority:  Medium                    |      Milestone:
Component:  Applications/Tor Browser  |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal                    |     Resolution:
 Keywords:  tbb-security              |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                            |         Points:
 Reviewer:                            |        Sponsor:
--------------------------------------+-----------------------------------
Changes (by mcs):

 * status:  new => needs_information


Comment:

 A more complete solution involves fixing #20599. That said, Kathy and I
 have a few comments on the proposed patch:
 * Should a dot name be used instead of `TorBrowser-Data`, e.g.,
 `.torbrowser-data`? Hiding by default seems nicer; on the other hand,
 hiding the directory would make it less obvious where the Tor-related user
 data is stored.
 * When `TOR_BROWSER_DATA_OUTSIDE_APP_DIR` is defined (currently only on
 macOS), the directory structure of the data area is a little different.
 For example, the `Browser` directory that contains the profile is directly
 under `TorBrowser-Data/Browser/` while with the proposed simple patch
 there will be an extra `Data` directory, i.e., `~/TorBrowser-
 Data/Data/Browser/`. This is not a big deal, but when we fix #20599 we
 will probably omit that extra directory.
 * Has meek been tested with this patch? I am asking because `meek-client-
 torbrowser` has knowledge of where browser profiles are located, and there
 is macOS-specific code to support the `TOR_BROWSER_DATA_OUTSIDE_APP_DIR`
 scenario.
 * There must be more to the solution that this patch. For example, how do
 browser profile files (including extensions such as Torbutton) as well as
 the other files that are under ./Browser/TorBrowser/Data/ get copied into
 ~/TorBrowser-Data? How are updates handled?

--
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/29790#comment:2>
Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki <https://trac.torproject.org/>
The Tor Project: anonymity online