Is there a specific time my relay can be down before it loses weight and also restarts its 'uptime' count in Atlas? I need to update some stuff on the server and restart (about 3 minutes total) but don't want it to damage my relay's stats.

does IRC block tor users?

Not all IRC networks but some of them do, yes.

it took me a while to connect via tails/tor a few reboots

sylene: for OFTC, tor is allowed but sometimes some exit-nodes are (auto-)blocked because someone was a jerk
freenode still just blocks tor connection, I believe

I ran into 3 blocked exits to OFTC when I was trying to connect. And Freenode does provide an .onion point into the network but it's down right now.

what does one do in the darknet web world? I'm experimenting/learning

sylene: Browse websites, use services, have discussions on discussion boards and chat, do email, etc. Many of the types of things you can do on the regular web you can do on the darknet. You just have to find things.

lol cool, its just feels illegal even though I am not doing anything

A lot of people feel that way. It has a "weird spy/covert" vibe about it to some people. Get over that. There's nothing illegal in and of itself.

Consult your local laws about use of cryptography.

cacahuatl: how do you mean?

Some countries have funny laws about cryptography, you'd be better placed to know or find out if you are affected laws against the use of strong cryptography.

cool, I dont know anything about cryptography though

You don't have to. Tor uses strong crypto. If it's illegal in your area, using Tor might be illegal too.

ah

I tried more than 20 banned tor exit nodes until OFTC connected

There was abuse earlier, that's probably why.

I used NEWNYM signal to change circuits
I hope when tor will use shorter keys they will not ban the tor network so often ;-)

torQUES: What would that even change?

I don't know, but I don't trust encryption keys <256 bytes
a good encryption key must be long enough and true random - I don't trust any deterministic algorithms used for key generation

got some KVM-related question. Any hardware savvy around ?
what you guys think on the use of a KVM to switch between personal PC and anon/activism/sensitive-baed PC ...
toQUES ?

I don't know what KVM is

oh

is related to tor?

its a device that let you use one keyboard/mouse/monitor to control 2 or more system
yea indirectly
the question could be directly related to tor if I'd reformulate to: is using KVM with Tor Safe ?

Lodaga: depends on how likely you are to type and hit enter before realizing you're on the wrong system

thorazine: this is human mistake.. I'm talking about binary vulnerability
like onboard buffer data leak
flash memory unflushed

KVM generally has no memory or buffers

non-properly isolated channel causing data leak between 2 port
well many has..

just enough smarts to convince the PC you switch away from that the keyboard is still connected

I wish I could pick one that has none

unless you're talking about one of the many-headed networked kvms

non-ip kvm
take a look at this video: http://www.tripplite.com/main/video-player/videoID/baee131190bf4ed39d8870fb3031fd3e/videoType/video/popup/1
it briefely explain the 3 most common vuln in today's kvm

torQUES: "I don't trust any deterministic algorithms used for key generation" -> Yet you seemed proud to have implemented your own PRNG ...

but I wonder if NIAP-certified KVM are enough (being that NIAP is an NSA certification doesn reassure anyone..I'd say)

any simple, old fashioned (i.e. "dumb") kvm switch would be fine, of course, assuming you can handle the required, concomitant operational security. for all practical security purposes, the fact that you're using a kvm switch is irrelevant.

nicoo: my trusted PRNG is simple and classic: flip the coin for every bit using 5 uncorrelated hardware volatile variables - I said I don't trust the key generation using some sophisticated mathematic formulas

tacky: tacky, why do you say using a kvm is irrelevevant for security purposes ?

entropy is a counter-intuitively hard problem. the old adage about implementing one's own ciphers certainly applied to implementing one's own PRNGs as well.
Lodaga: because it's just a keyboard, mouse, monitor toggle. whether you move your hands and or body to another box or flip a switch is irrelevant. there is no qualitative difference.

I'd love to know some alternative.. the problem is pretty damn simple.. one want to use a single mouse/keyboard combo to control both his personal and anon-dedicated system (which is a simple Live Tails on USB stick, running on a seperate tower
tacky: I see .. but what about all the point mentioned in that video www.tripplite.com/main/video-player/videoID/baee131190bf4ed39d8870fb3031fd3e/videoType/video/popup/1

Lodaga: it would probably help if you tried to explain the point yourself. people hate watching videos when using irc

memory leak from channel to another, particularly... can this be avoided by using PS2 connector instead of usb ?
ok
well there are some known data leak vulnerability in using kvm switches..

I have an old 4 system kvm switch that i haven't used for well over a decade. the alternative I use is to run the anon system in a Linux KVM (not to continue to be conflated, of course - lol). regardless of method, the rub is in operational security, assuming sufficient technical skills.
Lodaga: yeah, thorazine is on point. no offense, but i'm not watching that. i have limited, expensive bandwidth.

Lodaga: a thing to keep in mind is that if your "unsafe" system has been exploited to the point where they are spying on your kvm to gain access to your "safe" system, you are already fu*ked

don't you fear data leaking between port (channel) switching ? causing instant identity crisis flaw
sorry non english-native here

Lodaga: Be more worried about all those pesky hardware backdoors (intel ME)

Lodaga: if someone has hacked one of your computers to the point of spying on your kvm then you are already in trouble

thorazine: not in that scenario

Lodaga: maybe in modern, "smart" crap (i hate that sh*t), but not in old, physical switches.

thorazine: lets pretend a raid for exmple

Lodaga: my point is that they don't raid you unless they've already got stuff on you

following seizure of both personal and anon-dedicated equipment
true..

and they don't hack your computer and install spyware unless they already have evidence and just want more
if you'

eh thorazine can't say that, russians are dedicated.

Lodaga: I don't fear. Fear is a reaction to lack of knowledge/understanding. ;)

if you're seriously worried about info leakage across computers via kvm you should reconsider even having the two computers in the same house

^ Not connected to the same network at least

and knowledge still can't be acquired efficiently ... lacking knowledge then is a constant

btw I read the feds papers about the silk road seizure - they bought 200 times stuff from the website to track the bitcoins and finally they seized computers in USA, Icelad and France and 30 millions USD about bitcoin cash in computers - they simply followed the money and busted Ross ;-)

thorazine: figure out that scenario where your anon-rig/setup is pretty damn "safe" ... the question is .. is adding up a kvm in between might causes Anon activity leak to my non-anon pc ? ....

Lodaga: This is like the guy is is scared of people using the 'way people type' to identify them. Yes this is an attack vector, but if you look at who you are being oppressed by and the tools (cost) they will use to attack you, you will realize hacking your crap windows box to exploit the kvm and spy on private time is only exploited by non free hardware, and why all that sh*t should be avoided.

maybe I should just not use kvm and forget about it... still I was curious to know your though on that matter

Lodaga: the only safe anon rig i have been able to come up with is a solar-powered wifi-enabled raspberry pi tossed onto the roof of a mom&pop coffee shop with open wifi
from which you can mostly safely serve a tor hidden service
provided you handled it with gloves

rbp has non free hardware to boot which for all you know could have a network stack exploit

I guess you're right..

lacking some knowledge is a consistent variable, at least, but doesn't make a known algorithm unworkable; the problem only arises with an unknown algorithm. anyway, i'm not subject to it. everyone's different.

all about who you are being oppressed by, local cops (maybe even hackers) be fu*ked for sure.

I bet the only reason I think a system is safe is when I lack to know of the other vulnn

Lodaga: Do you run a proprietary intel wifi card with ATM?

the d[r]ead pirate leacked his sh*t before he even went live. it was an operational failure at heart. everything else was ancillary.

ailleen: no wifi on the anonbox

Lodaga: if you want a safe anon system for personal use, buy a used netbook with cash, running only tails, and used only at public wifi hotspots

s/leacked/leaked/

and never use it at home

ailleen: I know you think (then using your own local network is worse)
thanks all .. good talk

(Action) would have more fearness of stylometry than a kvm switch, to be sure, if fearness had. ;)