[tor-bugs] #23226 [Applications/GetTor]: GetTor help message could be more helpful

Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki blackhole at torproject.org
Wed Mar 11 22:00:21 UTC 2020


#23226: GetTor help message could be more helpful
--------------------------------------------+------------------------------
 Reporter:  catalyst                        |          Owner:  cohosh
     Type:  defect                          |         Status:
                                            |  needs_revision
 Priority:  Medium                          |      Milestone:
Component:  Applications/GetTor             |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal                          |     Resolution:
 Keywords:  anti-censorship-roadmap-2020Q1  |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:  #9036                           |         Points:  1
 Reviewer:  phw                             |        Sponsor:
--------------------------------------------+------------------------------
Changes (by phw):

 * status:  needs_review => needs_revision


Comment:

 Again, here's how I would change the email:

 {{{
 This is an automated email response from GetTor.

 You requested Tor Browser for linux.

 Step 1: Download Tor Browser

   First, try downloading Tor Browser from either GitLab or GitHub:

   GitLab: https://gitlab.com/thetorproject/torbrowser-linux/raw/master
 /tor-browser-linux64-9.0.4_en-US.tar.xz
   Signature file: https://gitlab.com/thetorproject/torbrowser-
 linux/raw/master/tor-browser-linux64-9.0.4_en-US.tar.xz.asc

   GitHub: https://github.com/torproject/torbrowser-
 releases/releases/download/torbrowser-release/tor-browser-linux64-9.0
 .4_en-US.tar.xz
   Signature file: https://github.com/torproject/torbrowser-
 releases/releases/download/torbrowser-release/tor-browser-linux64-9.0
 .4_en-US.tar.xz.asc

   If you cannot download Tor Browser from GitLab or GitHub,
   try downloading the file tor-browser-linux64-9.0.4_en-US.tar.xz
   from the following archives:

   Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/@gettor

   Google Drive folder:
 https://drive.google.com/open?id=13CADQTsCwrGsIID09YQbNz2DfRMUoxUU

 Step 2: Verify the signature (Optional)

   Verifying the signature ensures that a certain package was generated by
 its
   developers, and has not been tampered with.  This email provides links
 to signature
   files that have the same name as the Tor Browser file, but end with
 ".asc" instead.

   < Include os-specific instructions here >

 Step 3: Get Bridges (Optional)

   If you believe that Tor is blocked where you are, you can use bridges to
 connect
   to Tor.  Bridges are hidden Tor relays that can circumvent censorship.

   Tor Browser includes a list of built-in bridges, which you should  try
 first.
   You can activate built-in bridges inside of Tor Browser's settings,
 under the
   "Tor" menu.  If built-in bridges don't work, try requesting different
 bridges,
   which you can also do in the "Tor" menu inside Tor Browser's settings.
 }}}

 I changed the following:

 * Mentioned that it's an automated email response.

 * Indented text, to create a clearer visual distinction between our steps.

 * Made step three optional (it is, isn't it?).

 * Removed the email signature.

 * Tried to make sentences shorter and more clear.

 * Encourage users to try moat instead of email.

 * Rephrased step 3.

--
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/23226#comment:17>
Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki <https://trac.torproject.org/>
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