[tor-talk] automatic Tor browser updates

[Ken Cline]

> On 13 Feb 2016, at 10:33 PM, Mirimir <mirimir at riseup.net> wrote:
> 
> I can't say that I trust the MAR update protocol as much as
> checking GPG signatures.

In practice, the OpenPGP format used by GPG is unsatisfactory for automatic software updates.  GPG does not provide a library for creating or reading this format, so you'd have to run the signature checking in a child process, along with gpg-agent, intrusive keyring management, and quirky behavior across operating systems.  More trouble than it is worth!

MAR is a refreshingly simple format which uses PKCS1 (RSA-2048 + SHA2 should be in use now) for signatures - the same cryptographic primitives you are likely to use with GPG, but without the OpenPGP format insanity.

> The scrupulous can disable automatic updating, and go old school.


Personally, I believe bugs in the Firefox side of TBB are far more likely to provide exploits than a signed MAR update process, but whatever floats your boat.
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