Networking question: Can Tor be doubled up?

[ScrubNinja]

Hi I don't use PCs and I don't have a home internet connection. I have an Android phone (with a data plan) & an android tablet.

I use Tor on both with the Orbot app set to Torify all apps. The phone has an app which creates a wpa2 wifi hotspot and allows me to connect the tablet to the net.

So would I be getting more anonymity using the Tor'd tablet with a Tor'd hotspot like that?

 

[SeaMaiden]

Wasn't there a recent problem with Tor..?

 

[ScrubNinja]

There could well have been. I've not been paying much attention. If you mean simply installing tor won't guarantee complete anonymity, then I am aware of that, thanks mate.

 

[Zen Master]

I think seamaiden is referencing something posted by an Anonymous hacker through tor that had a pic bragging about being "pwnd" with his chicks tits in it. dumbass forgot to wipe the exif data and 'they' traced it back to him.


thats all I've heard about in regards to tor security recently at least.....

 

[ScrubNinja]

Lol kinda funny. But wouldn't that indicate the EXIF data was the problem? Sounds similar to how I read a story a week ago where they were claiming tor led to some crim's downfall, yet anyone with a clue could see it was because they accepted PayPal payments. Tor wasn't even discussed, apart from the obligatory "its a tool hackers use to do bad stuff!".

Personally I'm waiting til I see something on a reliable tech site before I pay any attention. Not saying that there hasn't been of course, just I am unawares. Cheers.

 

[SeaMaiden]

Well, my husband is a network engineer, but I've never heard him discussing this kind of doubling up that you're asking about. My gut is that it should work, but you're working with a smart phone, not a computer and that adds another dimension, it seems, due to the phone number that can be associated with the activity.

 

[ScrubNinja]

Hi! Yeah I've been looking into it and I don't think it was covering any tracks beyond what it does already, but I could always be wrong.

There's actually a setting for tethering which I'd somehow overlooked.

There are still a bunch of things to be aware of, like you say. I'd advise anyone to check what info their browser sends out to every link they click. Browser profiling/fingerprinting could easily link your activity/identification.

ip-check.info/?lang=en

and

https://panopticlick.eff.org/

Some browsers like Firefox & Opera let you enter about:config in the address bar and access a multitude of extra settings which you will need to sort out if you're serious. Disable javascript, referrers, caches, and on and on.

You wont find it on the market, but I get the best results in the above tests with Opera Mobile Labs, after 2 weeks of tinkering. Faaar better results than the Orweb browser. It also allows extensions. Do NOT use any of the Turbo settings in Opera or maybe other browsers - it sends all your net traffic through opera's servers so it can be optimized, defeating the purpose of Tor.

Something else I should mention for anyone interested - do not use the "tor everything" setting without a reason. All your (identifying) sync/account data etc is going to be sent through tor servers, potentially bad ones, and potentially unencrypted, and potentially linking your private activities with your regular ones.

Good luck out there.