[tor-bugs] #19251 [Applications/Tor Browser]: TorBrowser might want to have an error page specific to when .onion links fail

[Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki]

#19251: TorBrowser might want to have an error page specific to when .onion links
fail
-------------------------------------------+-------------------------------
 Reporter:  cypherpunks                    |          Owner:  tbb-team
     Type:  enhancement                    |         Status:  new
 Priority:  Low                            |      Milestone:
Component:  Applications/Tor Browser       |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal                         |     Resolution:
 Keywords:  ux-team, TorBrowserTeam202001  |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:  #30025                         |         Points:
 Reviewer:                                 |        Sponsor:
                                           |  Sponsor27-must
-------------------------------------------+-------------------------------

Comment (by pili):

 Replying to [comment:12 mcs]:
 > Replying to [comment:6 antonela]:
 > > What do you think? Is the graph accurate? Could it work for each
 scenario? Is it too complicated to have custom error pages for each
 scenario? I see it feasible with just CSS, but is it doable on the browser
 side?
 >
 > On the implementation side, it should be possible to add a new internal
 error page (e.g., `about:onionerror`) and have code that changes its look
 using CSS and JS. Using that approach i should be straightforward to
 include the three-part graphic (`Browser` / `Tor Network` / `Host`)... but
 we need to resolve the issues raised in comment:8.
 >
 > Maybe the graphic does not add much value and we should instead focus on
 creating good textual descriptions with actionable advice.

 I think the three-part graphic is very useful to educate users about a)
 where the problem lies b) how onion services work.  Also, remember we have
 the user testing program to test these options out.

 > Implementation would be be easier if we could reuse Firefox's existing
 `about:neterror` page layout and elements. Maybe that is not feasible if
 we decided to keep the `Browser` / `Tor Network` / `Host` graphic though,
 because Mozilla only includes a graphic on the left side. Load this link
 to see an example:
 >
 `about:neterror?e=dnsNotFound&d=We%20can't%20connect%20to%20the%20server%20at%20foozat.com`

 We should try to keep it if we can. If it is going to take significantly
 longer to do than a simpler error page, we should evaluate doing a first,
 simple iteration with the aim of implementing this later on, once the S27
 project is over.

 > If we do keep the three-part graphic, do you think it would be an
 improvement to change the `Host` label to `Onion Site`?

 +1

--
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/19251#comment:14>
Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki <https://trac.torproject.org/>
The Tor Project: anonymity online