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🚨 We're still in need of more #snowflake extensions to help keep Iranians connected during this critical time.
If you're able, please consider running a Tor Snowflake proxy. This simple and safe action can make a significant difference in ensuring Iranians stay online. #KeepItOn
To get started, visit: https://snowflake.torproject.org
I’m willing to do this but frankly tor intimidates me big time. I don’t know anything about it other than……. Yep that’s it.
I read through the mastodon post, and the project page, and cumulatively I didn’t get any answers that, like, make me feel better.
I assume this is a dark web node sort of thing? Is it safe for me to run the browser extension (idk shit about docker and don’t really want to learn rn), like I’m not putting a target on myself or anything? If yes to question 1, but no to question 2, what does put a target?
Not a node, but a proxy. Entry node’s IPs in Tor are publicly known, so they are easy to censor. With Snowflake you create a proxy (bridge) between a censored user and an entry node, and since your IP is not listed as a node, you help the user bypass the censorship.
In theory, nope. But if the user is doing something bad, a prosecutor could argue you helped them to do so. I don’t know about any case like this involving Snowflake, and I am not a lawyer. You could be a target if you were to host material, which is not the case with Snowflake.
In case it helps, I’ve been running the extension with no trouble that I’m aware of for a few years.
Well I spent the time between when I posted and when you replied looking into various things related to tor, legality, and snowflake more specifically, as well as a bit after your reply since you gave me a couple extra things to look into… (like if there’s a risk of running alongside self-host software like Plex and jellyfin, I didn’t find anything about it so I sort of assume it’s fine…?)…
I didn’t see anything overly bad other than if you yourself use tor, maybe, so took the plunge and… have had a whole two connections already, so yay, I’m a snowflake!
ike if there’s a risk of running alongside self-host software like Plex and jellyfin
I don’t see why there should be any problem, as they use different ports. Plus I’ve had no troubles running a Jellyfin and Navidrome instances, plus some other self-hosted services alongisde Snowflake.
I’m really glad to have helped you :). Tor is very mystified, but an awesome tool, and very neat from a technical point of view. In case you haven’t seen them, I recommend these 2 amazing videos from Computerphile: How TOR works and TOR Hidden Services
I watched several videos in addition to those and feel both better and not, I do understand the simplified analogies in the linked stuff, and they are helpful, as were some of the related content.
I kinda sorta understand the technical stuff, sort of. I’m not in a tech field or anything…
I’m going to keep it there regardless of the negative hype because you never know when I’ll need others to do the same. Im not doing anything wrong so it’s whatever.
I’m willing to do this but frankly tor intimidates me big time. I don’t know anything about it other than……. Yep that’s it.
I read through the mastodon post, and the project page, and cumulatively I didn’t get any answers that, like, make me feel better.
I assume this is a dark web node sort of thing? Is it safe for me to run the browser extension (idk shit about docker and don’t really want to learn rn), like I’m not putting a target on myself or anything? If yes to question 1, but no to question 2, what does put a target?
It is a proxy that connects people into Tor. It is designed to be hard to block since many people run snowflakes
Number of snowflakes > number of users
Not a node, but a proxy. Entry node’s IPs in Tor are publicly known, so they are easy to censor. With Snowflake you create a proxy (bridge) between a censored user and an entry node, and since your IP is not listed as a node, you help the user bypass the censorship.
In theory, nope. But if the user is doing something bad, a prosecutor could argue you helped them to do so. I don’t know about any case like this involving Snowflake, and I am not a lawyer. You could be a target if you were to host material, which is not the case with Snowflake.
In case it helps, I’ve been running the extension with no trouble that I’m aware of for a few years.
Just don’t run a snowflake in countries with heavily liability
Thanks for this!
Well I spent the time between when I posted and when you replied looking into various things related to tor, legality, and snowflake more specifically, as well as a bit after your reply since you gave me a couple extra things to look into… (like if there’s a risk of running alongside self-host software like Plex and jellyfin, I didn’t find anything about it so I sort of assume it’s fine…?)…
I didn’t see anything overly bad other than if you yourself use tor, maybe, so took the plunge and… have had a whole two connections already, so yay, I’m a snowflake!
I feel slightly better about myself, like when I started using BOINC crowdsource computing for research in the early noughties. :)
I don’t see why there should be any problem, as they use different ports. Plus I’ve had no troubles running a Jellyfin and Navidrome instances, plus some other self-hosted services alongisde Snowflake.
I’m really glad to have helped you :). Tor is very mystified, but an awesome tool, and very neat from a technical point of view. In case you haven’t seen them, I recommend these 2 amazing videos from Computerphile: How TOR works and TOR Hidden Services
Welp.
I watched several videos in addition to those and feel both better and not, I do understand the simplified analogies in the linked stuff, and they are helpful, as were some of the related content.
I kinda sorta understand the technical stuff, sort of. I’m not in a tech field or anything…
I’m going to keep it there regardless of the negative hype because you never know when I’ll need others to do the same. Im not doing anything wrong so it’s whatever.
I’m up to 10 :)
Thank you for your explanation and info. Will be setting this up later tonight.