Learn how-to use Tor in Ubuntu 11.10

Using the Tor Browser Bundle in Ubuntu 11.10

Steve Smith, host of your TQA Weekly, demonstates how to use the Tor Browser Bundle and explains what you need to do and avoid to gain the maximum benefit of the program.

Episode #2-17 released on January 22, 2012

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If your tired of being tracked online, I've got the solution for you!

Tor, part of the Tor Project, a program offered to everyone to maintain their privacy online, is a package that allows you to remain anonymous online. If you wish to learn how to install the Tor Ubuntu/Debian packages in your copy of Ubuntu 11.10, or earlier, please review my last two episodes as I demonstrate important skills and command sets you may require for this, and other further packages. Please do not use the Tor browser bundles available in the Ubuntu Market Place, as they may be out of date.

Before I demonstrate how to use their Tor Browser Bundle, I have to explain a few important details. The Tor Project specifically requests that you follow these suggestions in order to get the maximum benefit from Tor, and its other applications. This is paraphrased from the Tor Project, official link at https://www.torproject.org/download/download-easy.html.en.

  1. Use the Tor Browser, when possible, because Tor only protects applications that are configured correctly. The include applications within the Tor Browser Bundle have already been prepared for usage, and all configurations are already done.
  2. Do not use or activate browser plugins as they communicate with the internet, and may be convinced to give up or reveal your real IP address. This means disable all Flash, Quicktime, Real player, etc... plugins, and don't install any of these in the Tor Browser, as this will render the browser unable to protect your anonymity online. This means browser in Private modes with plugins turned off completely.
  3. Use the secured versions of web-sites whenever available, this is easily identified by the HTTPS in the address bar of any browser.
  4. Don't open files like PDFs or Docs, and any other files that require internet access to acquire internet resources. I'll show you in the demonstration how to disconnect the internet in Ubuntu. The Tor Project makes it extremely clear that opening downloaded files is not a safe thing to do while connected.
  5. Use bridges and/or find company to join in the usage of Tor. Let's examine some of the reasoning. Tor can't protect you from people trying to find out if your using Tor, and this may allow people to attempt to hijack the communications. The more people use Tor, the more connections are made, the less likely you are to be targeted amongst the many users.
  6. Refrain from the use of applications like torrent downloads, video and audio based messengers, or any kind of multimedia application using UDP connectivity as these may be used to determine your actual IP address. Tor is specifically unable to protect Torrent traffic, and it is not even considered safe. If you wish to download torrents with the use of your IP address, consider using a paid VPN service, preferably one in a country outside your own.

In order to acquire your own copy of the Tor Browser Bundle, you need to head over to: https://www.torproject.org/download/download-easy.html.en

To use the Ubuntu version of the Tor Browser Bundle you need to open the package downloaded.

  1. Hold Ctrl+Alt+T
  2. type cd Desktop, then click enter
  3. type ls, then click enter
  4. copy the Tor Browser folder name by selecting, then right clicking, selecting copy
  5. type cd, right click, select paste, then click enter
  6. type ls, then click enter
  7. you will see the file name start-tor-browser, type ./start-tor-browser, then click enter

Vidalia will start automatically, connect to the Tor network, then launch Aurora, the browser used by the Tor Browser Bundle, which is already pre-configured for private navigation.

For more information, go to http://www.torproject.org.

Host : Steve Smith | Music : Jonny Lee Hart | Editor : Steve Smith | Producer : Zed Axis Productions

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