A note describing how to install and set up the tor browser on freebsd 11.2

created 20180727.1036

Note: Tricky business, this tor on freebsd, but when it’s all said and done, it really works fine.

get the package

sudo pkg install tor

allow system to assign random IP_ID’s to outgoing packets

sudo vi /etc/sysctl.conf
net.inet.ip.random_id=1

sudo sysctl net.inet.ip.random_id=1

edit the torrc config file

sudo vi /usr/local/etc/tor/torrc

uncomment lines 18, 38, and 42:

SOCKSPort 9050
Log notice file /var/log/tor/notices.log
Log notice syslog

start tor

sudo -u _tor tor

in another console:

sudo tail -f /var/log/tor/notices.log

open firefox, enable tor using tor switch or manually configure the proxy and browse to:

https://check.torproject.org

Add the tor service to rc.conf

sudo vi /etc/rc.conf
tor_enable="YES"

reboot

Notes

Firefox Quantum 61.0.1 Configuration

  • add the default new private browsing window button to the toolbar
  • Useful addons:
  • noscript (on/off switch for javascript)
  • tor switch (on/off switch for tor)
  • cookie (on/off switch for cookies)
  • Manual Configuration of Proxy Settings (about->preferences scroll down to proxy settings, skip if using tor switch):
  • Manual proxy configuration
    • clear HTTP Proxy and Port
    • clear SSL Proxy and Port
    • clear FTP Proxy and Port
    • set SOCKS Host 127.0.0.1 and Port 9050
    • set SOCKS v5
    • No Proxy for localhost, 120.0.0.1
    • Select Proxy DNS when using Socks v5 or not, for faster resolution, don’t.

To completely remove tor

sudo -s
pkg remove tor
pkg autoremove
pw userdel _tor
rm -fr /var/log/tor
rm -fr /usr/local/etc/tor

vi /etc/rc.conf
remove:
tor_enable="YES"

reboot

post added 2022-12-01 15:20:00 -0600