DISCLAIMER: A bridge is not the entire picture for online anonymity. Additional considerations (ex: metadata) should be made in behavior, application choice, and identity revelations.
See the "Privacy" Category in the Main Blog Posts page, to learn more.
Leave a comment if you have any questions at all.
If you would like to Support future work like this, options can be found at the bottom of this page/post, or, check the "Extras" page to explore custom privacy/security creations offered in return for your Support. Thank you for being a Supporter.
ANONYMOUS WITH TOR SNOWFLAKE BRIDGES
TOR NETWORK
Tor network is what is known as an "onion network". The first node sees the node in front of itself, but not the exit node. A volunteer run, decentralized network of proxy servers, each having just enough data to reach the next node to connect to. This safety in layers concept makes up the "onion" in "onion network."
Tor helps protect Human Rights and Free Speech of millions around the world. In this internet age of fast moving information, Tor is essential to the survival of a Free Press. Without Tor, journalists would seldom find sources willing to share information. Other options are much too slow (mail, carriers of past). Activists would be left without voice.
(We will see a dark age of sorts if we ever reach a place without the possibility of privacy and anonymity. A commonality in periods of past history with few rights. It's worth standing up for. Privacy being the only right with the ability to protect all other rights.)
BRIDGES
The purpose of a bridge is to act as an unlisted entry guard. Allowing users to connect into Tor network from inside places of the world where censorship and blocking of Tor is prevalent (ensuring censorship/surveillance of its lower classes, whilst upper class remain forever able to buy unlimited privacy/anonymity options [such as botnets]).
Bridges act as unlisted entry nodes/guards. To activate a connection adding a bridge, we first must open Tor Settings from inside the browser. See The Bridges Section In My Screenshot below:
After selecting the Snowflake bridge, we close out Tor Browser, and reload it. This time it connects through our protective bridge.
NOTE: Bridges add an extra layer of privacy by connecting to the middle/exit nodes from a place outside the standard known Tor Network.
It is a good idea to save bridges for those who really need them, to preserve in times of high volume.
Snowflakes are even more special. You can help all Tor using friends by becoming a regular Snowflake Bridge: simply point and click install the Snowflake WebRTC browser extension (it's really easy!)
SNOWFLAKES WITH BENEFITS
Not only is it mindlessly easy to setup the Snowflake Bridge extension (just press install!), running one could potentially make one more 'anonymous' when actually using Tor for other things.
Added Benefit: Those running Snowflakes are, in many ways, further from the known Tor Network than more publicly traded bridges. By running a Snowflake bridge browser extension, you help other users to transfer data into the next piece in the network. You could even increase your own anonymity inside the Tor Network by doing so.
Compare for example if one were to only open Tor Browser (connect) at 12pm and exit Tor browser (disconnect) at 4pm. This scenario creates exact time periods of entry and exiting the network, and much less packet data and start/stop connections. By running a Bridge you add additional 'noise' to the total.
BECOME A SPECIAL SNOWFLAKE!
You too can become a special snowflake bridge!
This is super easy and we are going to do it together today.
See the video below to learn more and watch me install the Snowflake Bridge extension to Firefox (Chrome has one as well):
CLEARING UP A MISCONCEPTION: I know what you are saying (I was asked in the comments section) "but won't browser addons/extensions make me more unique?"
ANSWER: When we talk about unique fingerprinting due to browser addons, generally this speaks to the idea of unique data/loading fingerprints created by a browser addon, within its communication upon a website.
I'll use the example of script blocking. If you block script A and not B, this means your browser only loads script B, and not script A (type). This stands out as unique, as most users are not using script blocking in the same manner/pattern as your script blocker (if other visitors have one at all).
This creates a unique fingerprint, based on the "load" vs "not loaded" pieces a user requests on a given website.
Snowflake Extension is not a script blocker. It works outside your direct connection to websites on Firefox to relay Tor connections invisibly to the websites you yourself are visiting.
This was a great question. Thanks for it.
SEE YOUR IMPACT ON THE TOR USER WORLD
Not only are you doing your part to help users (and maybe even protect yourself), you have the opportunity to see how many Tor users you have helped along the way, and are currently helping:
FIRST HOUR (3 HELPED!):
COUPLE HOURS LATER (7 HELPED! AND ONE STILL CONNECTED!):
MY EXPERIENCE
It feels good to know you are doing something to help others (with no noticeable negative impact on your own browsing).
And to see the progress is great. You might even save someone.
I find I now leave my browser open in times I'm not using it. And you can do it too.
Join me. :D
(comments/questions welcome below)
If everyone shared this with others on Social Media/Telegram, we could make a great dent in privacy infringement together. It's a great way to Support content like this. One thing I know is collective action (or inaction) matters. The world will be a reflection of that which we stay silent on.
Many hours each week go to into servers setup/maintenance/admin, researching/experimenting, scripts, video recording/editing/rendering/posting. And I am very happy to share (when ready).
If you share this content, I'm grateful.
Other Support options are below. Comments/Questions welcome.
(Thank you for reading)
OUTSIDE/RELATED LINKS (UNAFFILIATED BUT SUPPORTED)
TOR PROJECT
(as of the date of this writing "Friends of Tor" are matching donations to Tor Project)
Thanks for reading and following/watching.
Thoughts, comments and any questions welcome below.
π Thank you for Sharing this (Telegram/Social media + everywhere).
Don't forget to follow at the links below.
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