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The things I always wonder about TOR: Won't I look like someone else's computer? Is it possible for me to get in trouble for because someone else's traffic exit

by jorgem 14y ago

The things I always wonder about TOR: Won't I look like someone else's computer? Is it possible for me to get in trouble for because someone else's traffic exits from my home network?

Ralith 14y ago
> Won't I look like someone else's computer? The IP address seen by a server on the regular Internet that you contact through TOR is that of some exit node. > Is it possible for me to get in trouble for because someone else's traffic exits from my home network? Not unless you run an exit node yourself. The standard TOR client software does not launch an exit node by default.
fiatmoney 14y ago
Yes, if you're set up to allow traffic to exit from your computer. It is possible to set it up so you only serve as one of the "internal" layers.
ChrisClark 14y ago
Only if you choose to be a Tor exit node. And you have to set that up explicitly.
corin_ 14y ago
You can chose whether or not to be an exit node, so nobody else's traffic will exit through your connection if you don't want it to. If you do enable it, my presumption is that by demonstrating that you have tor running you can show that traffic from your connection is as likely to not be you as to be you - but I'm not sure if this is backed up by law, or has been tested in court.
- gizmo686 14y ago
  It has not been tested in court yet, however the theory is that safe harbor laws apply.
  - dmix 14y ago
    Safe harbor laws?
    - gizmo686 14y ago
      They are a part of the DMCA that protects internet service providers who transfer illegal data with an automatic protocol. I think the intended case was to protect ISP so they would not need to police their network.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
debacle 14y ago
Yes, this is something that is covered extensively on the TOR FAQs. They actually recommend you set up a business entity to limit your liability.
- jetti 14y ago
  Mind providing a link? I briefly looked at Tor's FAQ and couldn't find anything on that. Also, a business entity wouldn't help in the chance of criminal investigation, which means the money spent creating a business entity would be for naught.
  - debacle 14y ago
    https://blog.torproject.org/running-exit-node https://blog.torproject.org/running-exit-node
    - jetti 14y ago
      Thanks for the link. It is only in the circumstances of running an exit node. If you aren't running one, then you don't need to worry (as stated by several others already).
      - debacle 14y ago
        If you're not running an exit node, you don't have much to worry about.
malandrew 14y ago
Check out the "This is a Tor Exit Router" notice https://gitweb.torproject.org/tor.git?a=blob_plain;hb=HEAD;f=contrib/tor-exit-notice.html https://gitweb.torproject.org/tor.git?a=blob_plain;hb=HEAD;f...
praptak 14y ago
In addition to what other posters wrote: you can decide to run an exit node but restrict the sites that are available to Tor users. The most obvious use is to disallow your home country. For extra safety restrict it to far away countries that have no legal power where you live.

by jorgem 14y ago

The things I always wonder about TOR: Won't I look like someone else's computer? Is it possible for me to get in trouble for because someone else's traffic exits from my home network?

Ralith 14y ago

> Won't I look like someone else's computer? The IP address seen by a server on the regular Internet that you contact through TOR is that of some exit node. > Is it possible for me to get in trouble for because someone else's traffic exits from my home network? Not unless you run an exit node yourself. The standard TOR client software does not launch an exit node by default.

fiatmoney 14y ago

Yes, if you're set up to allow traffic to exit from your computer. It is possible to set it up so you only serve as one of the "internal" layers.

ChrisClark 14y ago

Only if you choose to be a Tor exit node. And you have to set that up explicitly.

corin_ 14y ago

You can chose whether or not to be an exit node, so nobody else's traffic will exit through your connection if you don't want it to. If you do enable it, my presumption is that by demonstrating that you have tor running you can show that traffic from your connection is as likely to not be you as to be you - but I'm not sure if this is backed up by law, or has been tested in court.

gizmo686 14y ago
It has not been tested in court yet, however the theory is that safe harbor laws apply.
- dmix 14y ago
  Safe harbor laws?
  - gizmo686 14y ago
    They are a part of the DMCA that protects internet service providers who transfer illegal data with an automatic protocol. I think the intended case was to protect ISP so they would not need to police their network.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

debacle 14y ago

Yes, this is something that is covered extensively on the TOR FAQs. They actually recommend you set up a business entity to limit your liability.

jetti 14y ago
Mind providing a link? I briefly looked at Tor's FAQ and couldn't find anything on that. Also, a business entity wouldn't help in the chance of criminal investigation, which means the money spent creating a business entity would be for naught.
- debacle 14y ago
  https://blog.torproject.org/running-exit-node https://blog.torproject.org/running-exit-node
  - jetti 14y ago
    Thanks for the link. It is only in the circumstances of running an exit node. If you aren't running one, then you don't need to worry (as stated by several others already).
    - debacle 14y ago
      If you're not running an exit node, you don't have much to worry about.

malandrew 14y ago

Check out the "This is a Tor Exit Router" notice https://gitweb.torproject.org/tor.git?a=blob_plain;hb=HEAD;f=contrib/tor-exit-notice.html https://gitweb.torproject.org/tor.git?a=blob_plain;hb=HEAD;f...

praptak 14y ago

In addition to what other posters wrote: you can decide to run an exit node but restrict the sites that are available to Tor users. The most obvious use is to disallow your home country. For extra safety restrict it to far away countries that have no legal power where you live.