On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:54:43 -0400 misc <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 23:17:14 -0500 (CDT), Scott Bennett wrote: > >> Please read the tor documentation. If you think you've already done >> that, please go back and read it again. > >That brings back the pain of reading it the first time :) > >I must admit I gave up after first few pages. I found it was too technical
Oh, my goodness! And you've been *using* tor? That's like walking across Lake Shore Drive wearing earplugs and blindfolded. :-( I never even downloaded the first version I used until I had taken the time to read and understand most of the documentation at tor.eff.org well enough to convince myself that I could use it safely and even depend upon it to a satisfactory degree. >and overwhelming, even though I'm not a computer novice. > >> Once you understand the functions >> of the directory authorities and the directory mirrors, take a few minutes >> to browse through the files that tor maintains on your computer. Note >> especially the contents of the files named cached-routers and >> cached-routers.new, and also the status document files in the cached-status/ >> subdirectory. All should be clear to you after you do those basic things. >> Note that this is a user safety issue: one should *not* use tor >> without having gained first a minimal understanding of what tor is doing >> and what it is not doing. Without that understanding, a user is in grave >> danger of assuming his/her anonymmity is being maintained when, in fact, >> it may not be. > >Now that you pointed me to specific things to research, it's a bit easier >and it's a place to start. > >Is there some sort of "in-a-nutshell" documentation without excessive >technicalities that you can recommend? > Sounds like wanting a guide to PGP that doesn't involve the reader understanding the basics of public-key encryption. Sigh... I'd strongly recommend that you start with the tor overview document at https://tor.eff.org/overview paying special attention to the cartoon describing how circuits are built, which should begin to straighten you out on some of the other misconceptions you've indicated regarding tor. To learn about the process in greater detail, continue reading at http://tor.eff.org/svn/trunk/doc/spec/path-spec.txt To understand how tor clients (and servers) know what choices of servers are available, you need to read the directory protocol document(s) appropriate to the version of tor you run. For 0.1.2.1[67], read http://tor.eff.org/svn/trunk/doc/spec/dir-spec-v2.txt For 0.2.0.6-alpha, read the above and http://tor.eff.org/svn/trunk/doc/spec/dir-spec.txt And for earlier versions, *UPGRADE* to one of the above. To my knowledge, there is no _Tor_for_Dummies_ or _The_Complete _Idiot's_Guide_to_Tor_ . (Most of us are grateful for the documentation efforts that Roger Dingledine et al. have made already.) It's sophisticated, complex software to provide services that are quite complicated and tricky to achieve. Knowing how to use it safely comes from understanding it anyway, so you have a choice: a) you can continue to live dangerously and obliviously until you get yourself into serious trouble, or b) you can stop using tor, or c) you can bite the bullet and study. Best wishes with whichever path you choose. Scott Bennett, Comm. ASMELG, CFIAG ********************************************************************** * Internet: bennett at cs.niu.edu * *--------------------------------------------------------------------* * "A well regulated and disciplined militia, is at all times a good * * objection to the introduction of that bane of all free governments * * -- a standing army." * * -- Gov. John Hancock, New York Journal, 28 January 1790 * **********************************************************************