Why is orbot so unstable?

PiNizz-Va-J-J

I have to clear cookies and deleate app data a few times a day to make it work.
Furthermore, i have to do this more than one time sometimes.
Furthermore i have to disconnect and reconnect every single time to make it run, to get the key icon appear on the upper right on display

GrapheneOS

PiNizz-Va-J-J It's known to be a poorly written and maintained app. Tor is working on their own VPN app. Did you try exploit protection compatibility mode for it?

PiNizz-Va-J-J

GrapheneOS i did not try ti take down security messures by grapheneos. Feels wrong. Would you say it's dangerous to try? I rather deal with a buggy app then give away security in my opinion.

But isn't orbot officially by the people who make tor? Isn't guardian project by Tor?

Xtreix

PiNizz-Va-J-J No, Orbot isn't an official Tor Project and the Guardian Project (which is a developer collective) isn't officially part of the Tor Project, it's possible that some of them are Tor contributors.

Tor Project is working on their own VPN : https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/applications/vpn

Stewart

I didn't know Orbot wasn't part of the Tor project, I guess the same goes for OONI Probe, which isn't part of the Tor project?
I can't wait for the Tor VPN to see the light of day, does anyone have any idea when it will be ready for deployment?

Xtreix

Stewart I can't wait for the Tor VPN to see the light of day, does anyone have any idea when it will be ready for deployment?

You can download the .apk here : https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/applications/vpn/-/packages/726

Note that it's experimental, expect bugs and don't use it for anything sensitive.

Currently, it works with all security restrictions enabled, I haven't yet had a crash that would indicate a memory vulnerability with MTE enabled, so that's a good sign, Orbot was constantly crashing as soon as it started up from experience.

fid02

Xtreix Currently, it works with all security restrictions enabled, I haven't yet had a crash that would indicate a memory vulnerability with MTE enabled, so that's a good sign,

The developers of Tor VPN fixed a memory corruption bug that was reported by a GrapheneOS user. Or at least, it's not present anymore. Might've been a bug in onionmasq. A Tor VPN developer commented on the report and made clear early on that it needed to be fixed. It took a few months, but on the other hand Tor VPN is not intended for production yet. It shows the user a clear warning about being experimental when you first launch the app.

In contrast to Orbot, which has been aware of memory corruption bugs for even longer but show no sign of engaging with the reports about them.

Xtreix

fid02 It's clear to me that Tor VPN (The name could change completely in the future) is a much more serious project than Orbot, which should be avoided. Tor VPN is indeed an experimental project that isn't ready for production, but it's great to see that it's moving in the right direction.

RubenTortillaDip

Xtreix Orbot should be avoided?
Does anyone else have the same opinion?

And why?
And what do you recommend for a device wide tor routing experience instead?

Stewart

RubenTortillaDip Perhaps Proton VPN, which allows certain servers to pass through Tor

Xtreix

RubenTortillaDip

https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/17090-what-is-grapheneos-team-stance-on-orbot/5
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/19391-why-is-orbot-so-unstable/7

If you'd like to learn more about the Orbot replacement, which is an official Tor project :
https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/applications/vpn

RubenTortillaDip

Stewart in such a case, is the data routed
Phone-vpn-tor-internet
Or
Phone-tor-vpn-internet
?

Stewart

RubenTortillaDip I don't know, I haven't read the doc, I just know that Proton offers this kind of thing, as a replacement for Orbot it might not be bad while waiting for an official release of Tor VPN.