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Tor + Portable Firefox

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birdmanx35
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Tor + Portable Firefox

Is there a clear and simple guide for adding my old Portable Firefox profile with all my extensions and bookmarks to my new Tor?

If not, can someone post one here?

Sorry for the trouble, but I have been googling this for the last hour, and already screwed up several installations of Tor.

It's much appreciated.

John T. Haller
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You mean TorPark?

I contributed code and helped incorporate Tor start/stop into a unified launcher based on the Portable Firefox launcher, but TorPark isn't currently published by or supported by PortableApps.com. TorPark makes a number of changes within the profile including the addition of extensions and configuration changes which don't allow you to drop a standard Firefox profile into it. If you need support for TorPark, you're best checking at the TorPark website.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

techguyone
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Hmmm and I was just going to ...

ask how to work Torpark with my pff, I guess it's incorperated into ff in some way, I thought it might have been a standalone app, then you launched pff and it anomynised? your pff session.
I really wanted to keep pff (cause I like it) but then the anomynised features of Tor sound good too.

John T. Haller
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Different Uses

TorPark isn't really for normal browsing. Since you have to disable Java, Flash and JavaScript for things to work right, you can't really use it for things like shopping online or for many Web 2.0 sites. Tor is really intended for use when you REALLY need privacy (say with an oppressive government that might kill you if you look up the wrong thing online... or make a post calling attention to the fact that they might do that).

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Ryan McCue
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Ssh...

You should have posted that with TorPark.
As for oppressive governments, YOU RULE! (please don't hurt me. It was John and Steve and... and Mark!)
*hides in hole*
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"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."

Ashes for Tears
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Fair weather friend!

Fair weather friend! Blum

Ashes

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Ryan McCue
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LOL

I love my hole. Biggrin
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Steve Lamerton
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ME???

You think it was me? I blame it all on Rooster from the PortaSoft forums Wink

Yours

Steve Lamerton

Ryan McCue
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Oh.

Well, too late. The FBI/CIA/KGB/M15/M16 agents are already on their way. *evil laugh*
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say2sky
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"TorPark isn't really for

"TorPark isn't really for normal browsing. Since you have to disable Java, Flash and JavaScript for things to work right, you can't really use it for things like shopping online or for many Web 2.0 sites."

That's the problem. is the Vidalia better compatible with Web2.0 sites?

John T. Haller
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It isn't Tor

It isn't Tor that's the problem. It's the whole anonymous thing. Flash, Java and Javascript can give you away when you're going through an anonymous proxy. Doesn't matter which one you're using. So, you either surf anonymously and deal with it... or surf normally and get to use all the fun extra bits. Personally, I don't care to use an anonymizer... but then, I don't worry much about the stuff I do online since I use my real identity for most things and don't really have any enemies... well, except maybe the Chinese government for my role in helping develop TorPark.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

say2sky
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Thanks for your helpful info.

1. So you mean Vidalia is the same ie. no Java, no Javascript.
2. Torpark seems have problem with
a. it is slow to surf or start up.
b. it is not convenient to upgrade when Firefox release a new version. and it also not provide its own official new version in time which include the latest applications inside it.
c. it is not convenient to toggle between using or not using Tor.
3. I am waiting for the portable version of Vidalia. According to Vidalia official info, the next version should be portable. I feel an independent Tor and an independent Portable Firefox will provide the biggest flexible surfing experience.

techguyone
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Sounds good

Maybe even a plug in for Firefox would be good, allowing you to "switch on or off" your anomynity.

say2sky
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Torbutton

I indeed use Firefox extension Torbutton for "switch on or off". But Tor is installed on my PC not in usb drive. ie Tor is still not portable and for above defects, I am not willing to use Torpark in usb drive.
T

Ashes for Tears
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'Defects...?'

Heh, well. No one is forcing you, right? The reasons for this 'defect' have been explained above. And, please do keep in mind, John actually does have a life, so no snarky-ness or 'dis-satisfied customer' syndrome, 'kay?

On another note, the delay in TorPark is due to the 'routing' through the annoymous Tor network; the whole reason you're using the program. Not very much you can really do about that at the moment.

As for updating, you can always make a backup (the PortableApps.com mantra Wink ) and try the 'Help>Check for Updates...' option. And, because you practiced the mantra (;) )
if everything goes south, all will not be lost.

On a final note, I'm pretty sure you could make the Tor extension work on your usb. I'll have to find the article later, but play around. Experiment. It certainly won't kill you.

Ashes

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say2sky
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indeed defects!!

Comparing Torpark approach with independent Portable Firefox + independent Tor, as what I said in earlier post, the defects of Torpark are

2. Torpark seems have problem with
a. it is slow to surf or start up.
b. it is not convenient to upgrade when Firefox release a new version. and it also not provide its own official new version in time which include the latest applications inside it.
c. it is not convenient to toggle between using or not using Tor.

So I think as a user I should find a better way to reach the same goal and feedback what I have experienced with the applications provided by PortableApps.com.

I know John have make his best effort to provide better portable apps to users. But I feel we should separate user's discussion to applications' defects with that of their developer.

I greatly appreciate John's efforts to give us these applications and will continue provide my feedback about what I experience with them.

Ashes for Tears
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Go ahead...

Feedback is encouraged here. I was addressing the last part of your previous post: You made it sound like your unwillingness to use TorPark is an ultimatum. We are looking for constructive criticism.

And any instance of Firefox you use on a usb will assuredly be slightly to more than slightly slower than a local install, TorPark more so, because of it's network. If you will notice, this also happens to a local instal, albiet to a lesser degree. The user can help a bit by getting a high performance drive.
Exactly how hard is it to hit an update button? Once you hit 1.5, FF pretty much updates itself ( much to some users' consternation).

Neccessity is the mother of invention. Like I said, some experimentation and/or tweaking will not kill you. You may even find a solution more suited to your personal needs, instead of the general public. And if you do, you caould post and help others.

Also did you really not see this line here in John's first post?

If you need support for TorPark, you're best checking at the TorPark website.

Ashes

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Ryan McCue
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Oh

BTW TorPark isn't actually John's product. He just supplied the Portable Firefox part.
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John T. Haller
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Yes and No

I actually did some custom coding for TorPark above and beyond the standard Portable Firefox stuff.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Ryan McCue
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Yes, but

it's still not technically yours is it?
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say2sky
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All my feedback based on my use and experimentation!

You seem mistake my expression of my own choice between two approachs
to anonymous surfing as ultimatum. Here's what I said:
===================================================
"I indeed use Firefox extension Torbutton for "switch on or off". But Tor is installed on my PC not in usb drive. ie Tor is still not portable and for above defects, I am not willing to use Torpark in usb drive."
===================================================

My approachs are
1. install Tor and Privoxy in PC and put Portable Firefox on USB drive
2. install Torpark on USB drive

According to my understanding, These two way can reach same goal and shouldn't have big difference in response speed. But in fact they are have. Yesterday I test lastest version of Torpark which use Firefox 1.5.0.4, No web site I can reach when Tor enabled on WinXP sp2, retrieving your IP address.. show on the status bar but not IP. Then I run Torpark by using WINE on Ubuntu, I can surf the internet but speed is much slower and each time response time also have big difference and at several times It seem freezed and I have to restart the Torpark.

With the first approach, I can surf internet in accepting response time and performance is very stable.

I think both way should use the same Tor crypted network, so here the main influence to slow response is not from Tor but from elsewhere.

About experimentation and/or tweaking with Torpark, here is info from Torpark manual:

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES MODIFY THE SETTING OF TORPARK!
...any modifications you make are probably just going to make Torpark insecure, slow it down, or break it altogether.

http://torpark.nfshost.com/manual.html

So it is clear that "some experimentation and/or tweaking will not kill me" but it indeed will kill Torpark itself.

That's why I said Torpark have defects and it still there with the latest version.

Ashes for Tears
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Well...

To each his own, then.
Ashes

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