[tor-relays] Middle relay IP blocking

[torserver]

Roger,

I had the same problem with 3 financial websites blocking my IP address while running a middle relay. Exactly 5 days after stopping the relay these sites can be reached again. They probably use the same mechanism, visible in the TPRB Firefox plug-in.

I run my home relay on a low energy consuming Raspberry Pi. Why is there no perfectly detailed instruction to install a relay on the Raspberry? With its built-in VNC it can be managed by SSH and remote desktop perfectly. Then there is no need for data congestion on a few cheap providers. One Watt power consumption only costs 3 Euros a year.

Snowflake almost uses no data with a few occasional users. I 'd like to use my 100 Megabits more efficient.

Regards, me.

> Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2023 02:32:03 -0400
> From: Roger Dingledine <arma at torproject.org>
> To: tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
> Subject: Re: [tor-relays] Middle relay IP blocking
> Message-ID: <ZNHhY1rj8rQAId0y at nogrod.csail.mit.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> 
> On Mon, Aug 07, 2023 at 11:28:32PM +0300, s7r wrote:
> > While all the above is true, a thing to remember is to make sure we don't
> > end up all renting too many VPS'es or dedicated servers in the same places /
> > same AS numbers - we need network diversity, it is a very important factor,
> > more AS numbers, more providers, more physical locations, etc. So, running
> > at home is super good and recommended from this perspective, provides us
> > with the diversity we need, however not being to login to online banking to
> > pay an electricity bill because of a middle relay is also way too annoying..
> > however who can afford the hassle should definitely run a middle relay or
> > bridge at home
> 
> Yes, exactly this. If you are interested in running a non-exit relay at
> home, and you can tolerate the hassles from occasionally finding that
> some service doesn't want to hear from you, then you are definitely
> helping the diversity of the Tor network.
> 
> Having the Tor traffic concentrated at a few cheapo providers like Hetzner
> and OVH is not only scary in the sense that too much traffic goes through
> too few cables, but it's also scary because it increases the appeal for
> somebody to attack those few companies, either by breaking into their
> infrastructure to watch traffic or through more traditional insider
> threats like getting an employee there to help them monitor traffic.
> 
> The internet already has uncomfortably many bottlenecks -- too few
> undersea cables, too few Content Distribution Networks (CDNs), too few
> app stores, etc.
> 
> > (even Exit relay, I do run an Exit relay at my office place
> > and I had one police visit in like 8 years or so).
> 
> Follow this advice only with great caution. :) Many people happily
> run their exit relay from their home, but it only takes one fresh new
> cybercrime detective (trying to make a name for himself by kicking down
> a door at 7am, and with no idea what Tor is) to ruin your day.
> 
> --Roger
> 
> 
> 
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> End of tor-relays Digest, Vol 151, Issue 9
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