Silk Road forums
Discussion => Newbie discussion => Topic started by: ws on February 06, 2013, 07:43 pm
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Hi was just wondering if it is ok to have your tor window open but also have another normal window open like safari or firefox etc open at the same time so that normal browsing can be done without running slow like it is when browsing with tor, so you can just switch between the two?
What Im basically wondering is if I have normal window open when I switch to tor window will it is be anonymous?
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Yes, you can have as many browsers open at the same time BUT ONLY the TOR browser will be routed through the TOR network. All other browsers will be from your IP/ISP as usual.
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I personally would only use TOR by itself. I believe I read that it is possible for websites used in the Firefox/Chrome/Safari browsers to report back other internet data even if it isn't in those browsers. These browsers have vulnerabilities that can allow someone to access your computer with relative ease, so I see no reason why I would like to have a program open like TOR which I specifically am using to not release date. Please correct me if I am wrong but I believe you would in fact be significantly more vulnerable.
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Yes, you can have as many browsers open at the same time BUT ONLY the TOR browser will be routed through the TOR network. All other browsers will be from your IP/ISP as usual.
Great, thanks for your reply...
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I personally would only use TOR by itself. I believe I read that it is possible for websites used in the Firefox/Chrome/Safari browsers to report back other internet data even if it isn't in those browsers. These browsers have vulnerabilities that can allow someone to access your computer with relative ease, so I see no reason why I would like to have a program open like TOR which I specifically am using to not release date. Please correct me if I am wrong but I believe you would in fact be significantly more vulnerable.
Ahh ok, maybe I should just stick with Tor and only Tor then until I have finished what I am doing on there.
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its better not to open other browsers for security reasons
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If you are using the Tor Browser Bundle then only the Tor Browser will route traffic through Tor. Browsing the clearweb in a different browser is completely unrelated to it and can't affect it.
If you are worried about being hacked by a security exploit in your main browser then keep it up to date (including your plugins like Flash, Adobe Reader, Java and any add-ons). Most modern browsers automatically do this now. If your web browser does get hacked then you have bigger problems than Tor and not having the browser open won't necessarily mean you are safe once your computer has been compromised.
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I agree with safras.
The other thing I always do is to use an anonymous VPN connection before starting up TOR. That way there is no trace of you using using TOR from your home IP. I don't have the link to hand but there is a post on the Security forum that lists a site which can find your 'real' IP address even when using TOR. I tested it out and it successfully displayed the IP address of my TOR connection then eventually the IP of my VPN provider!! Luckily it couldn't get any further than that but it proves that with the right technology we are still not completely anonymous...
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I agree with safras.
The other thing I always do is to use an anonymous VPN connection before starting up TOR. That way there is no trace of you using using TOR from your home IP. I don't have the link to hand but there is a post on the Security forum that lists a site which can find your 'real' IP address even when using TOR. I tested it out and it successfully displayed the IP address of my TOR connection then eventually the IP of my VPN provider!! Luckily it couldn't get any further than that but it proves that with the right technology we are still not completely anonymous...
Thats pretty scarey, if a website can do it I'd imagine LE would be able to do it also?!
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Thats pretty scarey, if a website can do it I'd imagine LE would be able to do it also?!
Exactly! I recommend you spend some time over in the Security forum. Try searching for Proxy or Socks Proxy.
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Thats pretty scarey, if a website can do it I'd imagine LE would be able to do it also?!
Exactly! I recommend you spend some time over in the Security forum. Try searching for Proxy or Socks Proxy.
Great, thanks for the heads up, will have a scan on the security forum now!
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You're fine, just don't be on the same server/viewing the same site with both browsers.
https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/wiki/doc/TorifyHOWTO#Donotconnecttoanyserveranonymouslyandnon-anonymouslyatthesametime
Do not connect to any server anonymously and non-anonymously at the same time!
It's highly recommended that you do not connect to any remote server in this manner. That is, do not create a Tor link and a non-Tor link to the same remote server at the same time. In the event your internet connection breaks down (and it will eventually), all your connections will break at the same time and it won't be hard for an adversary to put the pieces together and determine what public IP belongs to what Tor IP, potentially identifying you directly.
And to comment on the other subject brought up...
https://tails.boum.org/forum/Why_do_you_post_contradictory_statements__63___VPN/
Case: You -> VPN -> Tor (like you described): Now your VPN is a static Entry Guard, which makes you more susceptible to end-to-end correlation attacks.
And AFAICT using VPNs will only make you less anonymous, definitely not more.
https://tails.boum.org/todo/vpn_support/
What we don't want
Some users have requested support for VPNs in Tails to "improve" Tor's anonymity. You know, more hops must be better, right?. That's just incorrect -- if anything VPNs make the situation worse
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The more people that are on here the bigger the challenge for LE, little things like this are good to know there should be an updated sticky in the security forum at some point with EVERYTHING on there.
Remember to respect your enemy at all times, when i see people gloating to LE it makes me uncomfortable.
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tawn
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I also use a VPN before logging onto TOR. I'm currently using GoSecure, but I'd love a recommendation for an open source one, as I don't necessarily trust proprietary code.
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used a hacked wlan to access the net with tails on an usb stick (read only).
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used a hacked wlan to access the net with tails on an usb stick (read only).
Whoa. I think that's way over my head. I could order tails from the Tor Project (is it easy to use, or do you have to be elite, like you?)
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no not really, tails has a very nice documentation to start ;)
https://tails.boum.org/getting_started/index.en.html
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no not really, tails has a very nice documentation to start ;)
https://tails.boum.org/getting_started/index.en.html
THX Sweetone
looks very nice +1 karma for you !
Peace