What is the free Tor Browser Bundle app functionality that is closest to the real thing?

[Ragnusen Ultred]

What is the free Tor Browser Bundle app functionality that is closest to
the real thing that you know of, on both Android and on iOS?

For Android, it "seems" that the closest there is to the real Tor Browser
Bundle is the Orbot app:
* https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.torproject.android

Which is touted by the real Tor site:
* https://www.torproject.org/docs/android.html
Where you can install Orbot from Google Play, F-Droid, or Guardian.

But then there's also Orfox for Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.guardianproject.orfox

Which is described here:
https://dev.guardianproject.info/projects/orfox-private-browser/wiki/Orfox_vs_Tor_Browser_FAQ/

Things seem much worse for iOS, where neither of those sanctioned apps
appear to exist, so, it's far more risky on iOS since the real thing isn't
available on iOS.

And yet, "fake" tor browser bundles apparently exist (perhaps only on iOS?)
* Fake Tor Browser App for iOS Full of Adware, Spyware
** https://securitywatch.pcmag.com/apple-ios-iphone-ipad-ipod/321803-fake-tor-browser-app-for-ios-full-of-adware-spyware
* Malicious Tor Browser Persists in iOS App Store for Months Despite Protests
** https://www.macrumors.com/2014/03/20/malicious-tor-browser-ios-app-store/
* Tor Project claims 'fake' Tor Browser sat in iOS App Store for months
** https://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/03/21/tor_group_claims_fake_browser_has_sat_in_app_store_for_months/
etc.

This article about iOS and tor from 2015 implied iOS will get the real app
https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/tor-app-ios-orfox-tor-browser-ios-9-apple/

They were working, at the time, on something called iCepa:
https://github.com/icepa

But the closest I can find that seems like it could be as real as you'll
ever get on iOS is perhaps the Onion Browser by Mike Tigas
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/01/tor-onion-browser-ios-vpn/

The Onion Browser isn't the real thing but it may be the best that iOS has
https://onionbrowser.com/

What is the free Tor Browser Bundle app functionality that is closest to
the real thing that you know of, on both Android and on iOS?

--
As always, if you're not technical, please learn from this thread, but
please don't clutter the thread with non-technical off-topic diatribes.

[Krzysztof Staniorowski]

I would recommend this one.

https://itunes.apple.com/pl/app/onion-browser/id519296448?mt=8

--
Sent from my iPad via NewsTap :-)

[Ragnusen Ultred]

Am Fri, 27 Apr 2018 06:59:16 GMT, schrieb Krzysztof Staniorowski:

> I would recommend this one.
> https://itunes.apple.com/pl/app/onion-browser/id519296448?mt=8

Thanks for that suggestion for the best onion browser on iOS.

That does seem to be the one onion browser that has a recommendation from
the Guardian Project, since they know their stuff and since a counterfeit
might not do the job properly.

There do seem to be a few on iOS that I don't know if they work or not
(especially since we know Apple lets the fake Tor browsers remain).

VPN + TOR Browser Private Web by Bending Spoons Apps IVS
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vpn-tor-browser-private-web/id961073150?mt=8

Tornado Browser TOR by Pavel Korolev
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tornado-browser-tor/id1128115924?mt=8

Onion TOR Browser + VPN by Art Fusion
https://itunes.apple.com/ua/app/onion-tor-browser-vpn/id1227411543?l=uk&mt=8

Tob by JustKodding.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tob/id1063151782?mt=8

Red Onion - Tor-powered web browser by Omar Mody
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/red-onion-tor-powered-web-browser-for-anonymous-browsing/id829739720?mt=8

and lots others

So the question is which is the closest to the real thing?

[Joe Beanfish]

On Fri, 27 Apr 2018 05:36:51 +0000, Ragnusen Ultred wrote:

> What is the free Tor Browser Bundle app functionality that is closest to
> the real thing that you know of, on both Android and on iOS?
>
> For Android, it "seems" that the closest there is to the real Tor Browser
> Bundle is the Orbot app:
> * https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.torproject.android
>
> Which is touted by the real Tor site:
> * https://www.torproject.org/docs/android.html
> Where you can install Orbot from Google Play, F-Droid, or Guardian.
>
> But then there's also Orfox for Android:
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.guardianproject.orfox
>
> Which is described here:
> https://dev.guardianproject.info/projects/orfox-private-browser/wiki/Orfox_vs_Tor_Browser_FAQ/
>

I don't know about iOS, but for android you need orbot and orfox together.
Orbot establishes the tor circuit. Orfox is the browser that uses it.

[Ragnusen Ultred]

Am Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:24:25 -0000 (UTC), schrieb Joe Beanfish:

> I don't know about iOS, but for android you need orbot and orfox together.
> Orbot establishes the tor circuit. Orfox is the browser that uses it.

Thank you for clarifying the tactical difference between Orbot & Orfox.
Orbot https://guardianproject.info/apps/orbot/
Orfox https://guardianproject.info/apps/orfox/

For Android, there also seems to be a related Orweb and an Orwall?
Orweb https://f-droid.org/packages/info.guardianproject.browser/
Orwall https://f-droid.org/packages/org.ethack.orwall/

On iOS, there are *many* browsers with "tor" in the name but given we know
there are blatant imposters that didn't even use Tor (they used an FTP
site, apparently) and given I've tested some and they never establish a tor
circuit, I think this is the only one that we can likely trust given that
it's got some commendations by the Guardian Project, I think.
Onion https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/onion-browser/id519296448?mt=8

Do folks concur on those as the best recommended Tor browsers for mobile?

[Lewis]

In message <8TzEC.13750$AX1....@fx25.am4> Krzysztof Staniorowski <nos...@ksx4system.net> wrote:

> Ragnusen Ultred <rrag...@ultred.com> wrote:

> I would recommend this one.

Please do not respond to the troll.

--
I WILL NOT CALL MY TEACHER "HOT CAKES" Bart chalkboard Ep. 7G10

[Lewis]

Please do not respond to the troll.

--

'They think they want good government and justice for all, Vimes, yet
what is it they really crave, deep in their hearts? Only that things go
on as normal and tomorrow is pretty much like today.' --Feet of Clay

[Ragnusen Ultred]

Am Fri, 27 Apr 2018 17:51:33 -0000 (UTC), schrieb Lewis:

> Please do not respond to the troll.

Not one of these half-dozen trolls can possibly add on-topic technical value.
1. Lewis
2. Jolly Roger
3. BK@OnRamp
3. Hemidactylus
5. nospam
6. dorayme

For proof, see their incessant drivel & watch how they respond to verified fact.

[Ragnusen Ultred]

Am Fri, 27 Apr 2018 17:50:51 -0000 (UTC), schrieb Lewis:

> I WILL NOT CALL MY TEACHER "HOT CAKES" Bart chalkboard Ep. 7G10

Not one of the roughly half-dozen trolls can possibly ever add on-topic
technical value, simply because they can't comprehend technical topics.
Lewis
Jolly Roger
BK@OnRamp
Hemidactylus
dorayme
nospam
etc.

They are all simply not technically competent.

For proof, notice that Lewis is incapable of adding technical value,
and yet, *Lewis incessantly posts this non-technical drivel*.

[Ragnusen Ultred]

Am Fri, 27 Apr 2018 18:45:54 +0200, schrieb FredW:

> Fred W. (nld)

Blatant Lewis sock!

Not one of the roughly half-dozen Apple trolls is technically competent.

Hence, these Apple trolls can only post their non-technical drivel...
1. Lewis (aka FredW)

2. Jolly Roger
3. BK@OnRamp
3. Hemidactylus
5. nospam
6. dorayme

For factual proof, just see what they post.

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 27.04.18 um 19:51 schrieb Lewis:

> In message <pbv8a9$a1u$1...@dont-email.me> Joe Beanfish <joebe...@nospam.duh> wrote:
>> On Fri, 27 Apr 2018 05:36:51 +0000, Ragnusen Ultred wrote:
>
>> I don't know about iOS, but for android you need orbot and orfox together.
>> Orbot establishes the tor circuit. Orfox is the browser that uses it.
>
>
> Please do not respond to the troll.
>

The only troll I can see here is you.

[Ragnusen Ultred]

Am Fri, 27 Apr 2018 05:36:51 -0000 (UTC), schrieb Ragnusen Ultred:

> What is the free Tor Browser Bundle app functionality that is closest to
> the real thing that you know of, on both Android and on iOS?

SOLVED!

Thanks for everyone pitching in to add technical value to solve it.

(The best threads are theoretically three useful posts long where the first
asks the question, the second provides the answer and the third summarizes
the test results for everyone else to benefit from.)

To give an update on the best Tor-based browsers for both iOS and Android,
I tested for the past few days all the mentioned solutions, but only the
two solutions seem to work well - so this should save others a lot of time
and effort.

The biggest problem with the solutions that didn't work well were that they
very often (surprisingly often) didn't establish a "circuit" from the
directory server.

That lack of establishment of a circuit is odd, because on Windows & Linux
(tested when both were on Wi-Fi), the official Tor Browser Bundle always
(rather quickly) established a circuit on the exact same tested network,
even at the exact same time frame.

It's odd but the Android (moto g) establishment of a circuit is slower than
Windows when run at the same time, and the iOS (ipad 2017) establishment of
a circuit is dog slow when run at the same time, but that noticeable lag
could be due to the machine hardware differences and not to the browser
itself (since the wifi network is exactly the same).

If you've kept up with this thread, by now you know who those two best
Tor-based browsers are, but to keep the summary intact, here they are:

Android:

Orbot https://guardianproject.info/apps/orbot/
Orfox https://guardianproject.info/apps/orfox/

iOS:
Onion https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/onion-browser/id519296448?mt=8

Personally, I can't recommend *any* of the others - they were that bad.
--
I hope this helps. Thanks for keeping it technical (most of you).

[Joe Beanfish]

But, Joerg, he said don't respond to the troll but you did right there ^ ;)
lolol

[Jolly Roger]

Ragnusen Ultred <rrag...@ultred.com> wrote:
> Am Fri, 27 Apr 2018 05:36:51 -0000 (UTC), schrieb Ragnusen Ultred:
>
>> What is the free Tor Browser Bundle app functionality that is closest to
>> the real thing that you know of, on both Android and on iOS?
>
> SOLVED!
>

> iOS:
> Onion https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/onion-browser/id519296448?mt=8

“Hehhhhh, DOY, it only took me three fucking *days* to figure out what a
search for “tor browser” in the App Store told me to begin with. I’m, like,
smart, very smart. I have all the smarts. More than any other iOS user!”

Sure you do.

--
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR

[Ragnusen Ultred]

In article <news:fl51gg...@mid.individual.net>, Jolly Roger wrote:

> ´Hehhhhh, DOY, it only took me three fucking *days* to figure out what a
> search for ´tor browser¡ in the App Store told me to begin with. Iÿm, like,
> smart, very smart. I have all the smarts. More than any other iOS user!¡

I love when you post, since you, Jolly Roger, are an average iOS user.

Based on what Jolly Roger writes, it's clear to all but to himself how low
on the Dunning-Kruger scale of self assessment he is (bearing in mind that
everyone is on the DK scale since it's a scale of self assessment of
skills).

Essentially:
- The less one knows, the higher they comparatively self assess.
- The more they know, the lower they comparatively self assess.

That Jolly Roger self assesses so high, and yet, that Jolly Roger proves in
every post that he can't possibly provide any technical value to any thread
is famously classic for the lowest quadrant of the DK scale.

That's why I love when Jolly Roger posts!
His posts are from the deepest possible thoughts of the average iOS user.

[Jolly Roger]

On 2018-05-06, Ragnusen Ultred <ragn...@ultred.com> wrote:
> In article <news:fl51gg...@mid.individual.net>, Jolly Roger wrote:
>
>> ´Hehhhhh, DOY, it only took me three fucking *days* to figure out what a
>> search for ´tor browser¡ in the App Store told me to begin with. Iÿm, like,
>> smart, very smart. I have all the smarts. More than any other iOS user!¡
>
> I love when you post, since you, Jolly Roger, are an average iOS user.

While you bumble around confused looking for what is right in front of
you, the average iOS user has already downloaded the browser from the
App Store and walked out the door, old fart.

[Ragnusen Ultred]

In article <news:fl8kgu...@mid.individual.net>, Jolly Roger wrote:

> While you bumble around confused looking for what is right in front of
> you, the average iOS user has already downloaded the browser from the
> App Store and walked out the door, old fart.

Again, I love when you post, because you actually believe what you wrote.

Your posts, Jolly Roger, literally imbued with ignorance & vitriol, are a
precious primary resource insight into the mind of the average iOS user.

Thank you.

[Jolly Roger]

On 2018-05-06, Ragnusen Ultred <ragn...@ultred.com> wrote:

> In article <news:fl8kgu...@mid.individual.net>, Jolly Roger wrote:
>
>> While you bumble around confused looking for what is right in front of
>> you, the average iOS user has already downloaded the browser from the
>> App Store and walked out the door, old fart.
>
> Again, I love when you post, because you actually believe what you wrote.

yes, I believe that the average iOS user doesn't spend three fucking
days searching for a tor browser everywhere *but* the App Store; instead
they simply search the store and get the app. While you futz around,
they are already out the door, old fart.

> Thank you.

Anytime, dip shit.

[Ragnusen Ultred]

In article <news:fl8nn8...@mid.individual.net>, Jolly Roger wrote:

> yes, I believe that the average iOS user doesn't spend three fucking
> days searching for a tor browser everywhere *but* the App Store; instead
> they simply search the store and get the app. While you futz around,
> they are already out the door, old fart.
>
>> Thank you.
>
> Anytime, dip shit.

I'm going to attempt to write to you, Jolly Roger, as one sentient adult to
you, an average iOS user, but I'm not sure you can comprehend adult logical
thought processes.

You, Jolly Roger, as an average iOS user, always harp on how much elapsed
time it takes from one post of a question, to the post of the solution of
the question, which is, I reaffirm, a meaningless statistic.

This meaningless elapsed time between posts seems to be a *great* issue
with you, Jolly Roger, an average iOS user, for reasons only known to you.

In the classic Dunning-Kruger sense, you, Jolly Roger, an average iOS user,
seem to think that you're a genius because you can search for any app with
the word "tor" in them.

Your very claims prove, beyond much doubt, that you, Jolly Roger, an
average iOS user, are in the bottom quadrant of Dunning-Kruger
self-assessment of skills behavior.

I realize that you, Jolly Roger, an average iOS user, are probably
incapable of even comprehending the adult logic I just outlined above, but
perhaps, just maybe, there are others here, who possibly are not average
iOS users who can comprehend adult sentient logic that eludes you.

[Jolly Roger]

On 2018-05-07, Ragnusen Ultred <ragn...@ultred.com> wrote:
> In article <news:fl8nn8...@mid.individual.net>, Jolly Roger wrote:
>
>> yes, I believe that the average iOS user doesn't spend three fucking
>> days searching for a tor browser everywhere *but* the App Store; instead
>> they simply search the store and get the app. While you futz around,
>> they are already out the door, old fart.
>>
>>> Thank you.
>>
>> Anytime, dip shit.
>

> [irrelevant garbage]

That you can't say anything at all about your mysterious inability to
find a tor browser on the App Store for three literal *days* - something
average iOS uses did it in mere *minutes* - says everything we need to
know about your true motives. You're a sad old fart with nothing better
to do with your life than belittle complete strangers in the Apple news
groups. In the rods of your Dear Cheeto Leader, "Sad, very sad."