[tor-bugs] #8500 [Orbot]: Warn the user about possible transparent proxying failure

[Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki]

#8500: Warn the user about possible transparent proxying failure
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 Reporter:  cri     |          Owner:  n8fr8
     Type:  defect  |         Status:  new  
 Priority:  major   |      Milestone:       
Component:  Orbot   |        Version:       
 Keywords:          |         Parent:       
   Points:          |   Actualpoints:       
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 The transparent proxying feature is very likely to fail for a number of
 reasons, the most common is lack of a firmware supporting the needed
 iptables magic, or bugs like #3595.

 Currently orbot doesn't warn the user when this occurs, leading to a false
 sense of security.

  * It only mentions "(Requires root)" in the settings menu: true, but not
 enough: a special firmware is required too. It should be mentioned
 (possibly with a link to https://www.torproject.org/docs/android.html.en )
  * At orbot startup, a system notification message is issued, saying that
 transparent proxying has been correctly enabled, even when this is not the
 case!

 Orbot should check more toroughly if transparent proxying is really
 working, and issue a BIG WARNING in the user interface if this is not the
 case (or if this can not be detected).

 Also the web page at https://www.torproject.org/docs/android.html.en could
 be improved, though it mentions the requirement for a suitable firmware,
 the warning could be made more evident (now you have to read the fine
 print to find out about this limitation).

 We could also suggest the user to always check if a particular app is
 behaving as expected, for example checking the current network connections
 using a netstat-like tool like Os monitor
 (see:
 http://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=os%20monitor&fdid=com.eolwral.osmonitor
 )

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/8500>
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