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List:       tor-talk
Subject:    Re: getting more exit nodes
From:       Sebastian Hahn <hahn.seb () web ! de>
Date:       2008-04-20 12:47:34
Message-ID: D5A8092A-2BFC-4812-9335-6EF358F0676A () web ! de
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Hi,

On Apr 20, 2008, at 1:32 PM, Alexander Bernauer wrote:
> [snip]
> The basic idea is to develop a browser plugin which while active turns
> the computer into both an Tor client and a Tor exit node. The target
> group is a Windows XP or Vista user with almost no technical skills  
> but
> fear of pop-ups asking strange things. We are experienced in providing
> and promoting security software to them [2] and we beliefe that this
> solution will be accepted and widely used.

I don't think a browser plugin is a good choice for an application  
that can act as a Tor exit node. Please note how long it takes for a  
Tor node to be used by clients, and how often Users close their  
browsers. I think this will produce a huge amount of overhead when  
such nodes are sending their descriptors and others will try to use  
them a few hours later, when they have been shut down again.

There is another reason why I think a browser plugin is ill suited: In  
my opinion, users want browser plugins for a specific purpose, for  
example play a movie or block Flash. They don't want a plugin that  
does arbitrary things they don't quite understand.

If you find a good solution for how to make use of Tor relays behind  
restrictive firewalls, that'd be most awesome, but I think such an  
approach should be included in the Tor software.

Note that currently, any relay must be able to connect to any other  
relay.

Sebastian
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