Thinking about running an exit node. Bad idea?

I've recently become interested in running a Tor exit node and was curious what you guys think about it. It would be great to make a contribution to the Tor network, but I'm concerned about the additional attention it might draw. Is it a bad idea to run an exit node if you also purchase from the DNMs / have controlled substances in the same location as the exit node? If so, would it be a better idea to run an entry node, bridge, or relay node? Or should I just scrap this idea?


Comments


[19 Points] tosirux:

Is it a bad idea to run an exit node if you also purchase from the DNMs / have controlled substances in the same location as the exit node?

Yes.

Or should I just scrap this idea?

Yes.


[10 Points] mollymydarling:

That is a terrible idea and you know why, but I have an alternative. You can donate to non-profits like these:

http://noisetor.net/

https://www.torservers.net/donate.html

Talk to them. I'm sure you can turn a certain $$ per month into a new exit node/server.


[9 Points] my_thrw_acc:

I wouldn't do it, for reasons you already know about. Let that job in the hands of organizations more able to legally defend themselves than you, it's better for your safety, and as someone suggested you could consider donating to these organizations instead.

For the anecdote, I once ran a TOR exit node, but only for a few days, and for the sole purpose of sniffing the passing traffic. I had no malicious intents, I was just curious to see a sample of what clearnet websites TOR users were accessing.

The results were: nothing illegal-looking, mostly uninteresting things. Many Arabic discussion forums, I thought "oh shit is it a terrorism-related thing?", but after Google-translating them it looked like "normal" discussion forums, maybe used by citizens of repressive Muslim countries. Also, a LOT of gay porn, probably also accessed by people from countries where such things are blocked.

I made that little experiment a long time ago, not sure when exactly but it was before SR1 and the rise of DNMs, I remember that Bitcoin was still obscure while Digital Gold Currencies were still common at the time. I wonder what sample I would get doing it today.


[3 Points] bobbiggs69:

I would absolutely scrap the idea. I run a high speed relay myself, and I can say from experience that you can help the network maybe not just as much, but pretty damned close to as much from running a relay. Without all the added attention. My relay is constantly using max bandwidth, so they definitely need more.

Read all the tor documentation on exits. Unless you have access to legal funds, you'd be crazy to run one. That's for anyone, DNM or no DNM. For one, you'd be hard pressed to find a datacenter that would allow you to run an exit. You might be okay until you get your first warrant served, but sooner or later your account would get dropped. From what I can tell, most exits are either placed in universities or in someone's garage. I think there are a couple in datacenters that are managed by internet privacy types that completely understand what tor is trying to do. For any kind of commercial datacenter, it isn't worth the headache to let you do it. They would rather have you running Agora on their racks than an exit node. You may have your own server and they're completely hands-off with their rackspace, but they will be the first ones contacted by the FBI since they registered own the IP. They will also be listed as the abuse contact on a whois.

For example, I have a leased server on a rack from OVH. They are completely hands-off, I own my own IP's and domain. However, when you lookup the whois they're still listed as the abuse contact.

OrgAbuseHandle : ABUSE****-ARIN

OrgAbuseName : Abuse

OrgAbusePhone : +1-855-684-5463

OrgAbuseEmail : email

OrgTechHandle : NOC*****-ARIN

OrgTechName : NOC

OrgTechPhone : +1-855-684-5463

OrgTechEmail : email


[1 Points] None:

Look bro, it's awesome you want to help out tor, but their ARE some people who watch child porn, post terrorist shit, and hate on people. And that is a really good way for people to think you are the one that is a terrorist, or watching kiddie porn. Not good man it'll draw a lot of unwanted attention and probably eventually will result in a door being kicked in.


[1 Points] kingmortensen:

You really want to have a good networking background. Also, a strong knowledge of Linux wouldn't hurt. Most Tor objects if you will, are run on Linux.

If you read through this page, and even 1 sentence looks foreign, I would do like others said, and just donate to the Tor Project:

https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/wiki/doc/OperationalSecurity

Donate:

https://www.torproject.org/donate/donate.html.en


[1 Points] high_as_flight93:

No bro great idea, run it off your home router, pigs will never suspect anyone would be that stupid!


[1 Points] None:

IF you want to contribute CPU power to tor, but don't want to incur the additional risks, you could become a guard or entry node.


[1 Points] None:

Here's what's going to happen. People use for to do shady ass shit. Evading bans on websites, chat servers, all the way up to child pork (on clearnet)......

Your IP will be blacklisted all sorts of places. Even the USPS site blocks most tor exits.

The cops could show up to question you. Yeah, running an exit node is legal, but what illegal shit do you do that they could accidentally find??

You might get your ISP pissed off and cancel you too..

Run the node if your shit is clean and you can use a different IP for personal use.


[1 Points] None:

If you run an exit node and buy drugs online...You're gonna have a bad tone


[1 Points] None:

get an exit node in a foreign country dude, thanx for contributing to our safety, there's nothing illegal about running an exit node in America, no idea about other countries, ask your ISP first


[1 Points] brightBlinker:

How fast is your connection?

If it's not super duper fast, you'd probably be doing us all more of a disservice than a favor to be honest.

Also, do you really want to be responsible for the risk of running a node for people on an anonymous network tied to your name? Not really worth it.

But again, unless you've got an amazing connection, you'd be hurting more than helping.

Kudos for wanting to try though.


[1 Points] TripAddict:

I used to manage a couple very large exit nodes. I always ran them on offshore VPS and always use fake into and of course paid in bitcoin....always.

If you still want to run a node of some sort, get a VPS that is offshore. Nothing connected to your name.