Make ProxyMobile more like Torbutton

This is a ticket to track the progress of porting Torbutton to the Fennec web browser.

added component::applications/torbutton owner::ingy parent::5709 priority::medium resolution::wontfix status::closed type::enhancement labels

Trac:
Cc: mikeperry to mikeperry, ingy, helix

Trac:
Cc: mikeperry, ingy, helix to mikeperry, ingy, erinn

According to the Fennec extension guide, we need to modify the extension's install.rdf file to include a Fennec specific target:

<em:targetApplication>
  <!-- Fennec -->
  <Description>
    <em:id>{a23983c0-fd0e-11dc-95ff-0800200c9a66}</em:id>
    <em:minVersion>0.8</em:minVersion>
    <em:maxVersion>1.0.*</em:maxVersion>
  </Description>
</em:targetApplication>

Mike applied the the install.rdf patch above and created an alpha Fennec Torbutton for testing: https://blog.torproject.org/files/torbutton-1.2.5-fennec.xpi

I enabled the debug console; I was able to successfully install Torbutton.

Currently, it's not possible to toggle the state of Torbutton in Fennec. Mike suggests that by manually configuring the proxy settings, it is possible to cause Torbutton to "kick in" and start protecting the user.

I was able to enable Torbutton by manually setting the following to match the normal Torbutton settings for the following: network.proxy.http network.proxy.http_port network.proxy.no_proxies_on network.proxy.socks network.proxy.socks_port network.proxy.socks_remote_dns network.proxy.ssl network.proxy.ssl_port network.proxy.type

With those network.proxy keys set, I was able to route through Tor to check.torproject.org!

It appears that those settings are wiped out if Fennec crashes. It is tedious to reset each of them. Additionally, Fennec has a bunch of errors in the debug console. Ingy has suggested that he will copy them out of the Fennec emulator.

Attempting to install Torbutton in the Fennec emulator totally fails. It may be a difference between the nightly build for Android and the current emulator build. Fail city, Population: US

This is a useful set of code snippets for Fennec.

Trac:
Status: new to assigned
Owner: N/A to ingy

Trac:
Component: Tor-Torbutton to Torbutton-Backend / Core

I've found a temporary hack solution for getting this running with the latest build of Fennec for Android.

Install torbutton (using the link above or this new build I've posted here: http://guardianproject.info/downloads/torbutton-1.3.0-alpha-dev-fennec-063010.xpi

With your device in landscape mode, point Fennec at: chrome://torbutton/content/preferences.xul

This will bring up the full TorButton preferences window.

Change the proxy setting to "Use custom proxy settings" and then hit the OK button at the bottom-right of the screen.

Switch to the "Security Settings" tab, and then the "Startup" tab. Set Tor to turn on by default at startup. Then hit the OK button again.

Now you should be able to https://check.torproject.org to verify.

You can enabled/disable TorButton using the Fennec extensions window.

Trac:
Parent: N/A to N/A

On further review, while this does work, there are still issues with the settings being persisted across browser sessions. Will do some more digging.

I am hoping to find a developer to work with me to take this on ASAP. If you have anyone in mind, please let me know.

Trac:
Username: dietrich
Cc: mikeperry, ingy, erinn to mikeperry, ingy, erinn, autonome@gmail.com
Actualpoints: N/A to N/A
Points: N/A to N/A

For the moment, we have at least basic proxy settings working, with a released add-on:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/mobile/addon/proxy-mobile/

https://github.com/guardianproject/proxymob

Far cry from TorButton, but better than nothing.

Trac:
Parent: N/A to #5709 (moved)

As I say in #5709 (moved), I think the best way to do this is to gradually transfer more and more important bits of Torbutton over to ProxyMobile. There's a lot of useless cruft in Torbutton from toggling that is no longer relevant to anything, and only serves to make this port more difficult than it has to be.

We should take only what we need and abandon the rest.

Trac:
Keywords: android orbot torbutton fennec deleted, N/A added
Summary: Port Torbutton to Fennec to Make ProxyMobile more like Torbutton

I've updated #5965 (closed) with a patch commenting stuff to port over to ProxyMobile along with priority levels. I'll be merging it to torbutton's master soon. Comments to make it more useful appreciated.

Trac:
Cc: mikeperry, ingy, erinn, autonome@gmail.com to mikeperry, ingy, erinn, autonome@gmail.com, mcs

We have actually moved on to beginning a full Gecko/TorBrowser effort now here: https://github.com/guardianproject/Orfox

We do still have Proxy Mobile available, along with a list of 10 other privacy-enhancing steps you can take with Firefox Mobile: https://guardianproject.info/apps/proxymob/

For the record, the "Bug 1506" P0, P1... levels in torbutton.js are described in #5965 (closed).

Okay thanks!

Mostly this ticket is resolved by our work on Orfox, of which the latest is news is posted here: https://lists.torproject.org/pipermail/tor-dev/2014-August/007400.html

Trac:
Resolution: N/A to wontfix
Status: assigned to closed

closed

mentioned in issue #1893 (moved)

mentioned in issue #2471 (moved)

mentioned in issue #2784 (moved)

mentioned in issue #5279 (closed)

mentioned in issue #5965 (closed)

mentioned in issue #6469 (closed)

mentioned in issue #6661 (closed)