Tor Add-on

[Kwakers01]

Thanks for writing this.

I know that for security Tor should not have add-ons, but....

I use the Tor browser when I need to be in a specific country as such e.g. change torcc exitnode.

This add-on is great for showing me where I am when I start the tor browser. The only problem I have is Tor does not let me save config changes.

I wish to have the following settings:
IPv4 address change notification" - OFF
IPv6 address change notification" - OFF
Country indicator - Auto
Show country flags - ON

I have had a good look through Tor's directory structure and Firefox's but I can't see an easy solution.

Do you know if there is a way this can be done? Or would it be possible to set the defaults to the above somehow.

I did have a look at the code files, but reading the build.sh I saw "Firefox is currently not supported. It uses a different manifest.json file. Use an older version of the extension for Firefox." so I thought it would be easier to ask the person who wrote the add-on.

Your help would be much appreciated.

Thanks
p.s. I am running Linux Mint.

[AykutCevik]

Hello @Kwakers01, I totally get your point, the use-case is pretty common under Tor users.
As you already figured out, you can build the extension your own. The current release branch only supports Chrome as I had to change the manifest version.
You can checkout an older commit and build it with your custom options, try this state: 2d54270

[Kwakers01]

Hi @AykutCevik ,

You will be glad to know that I have had 4 hours of intensive learning mode this morning.
I am not the best of programmers (never looked at js), but have had a go.
After downloading 2.1.0 zip files I have changed the following:

/js/utils/options.js
lp.set(KEY_SETTINGS_NOTIFICATION, true); - changed to false
lp.set(KEY_SETTINGS_NOTIFICATION_IPv6, true) - changed to false

Then ran the build script for firefox.
./build.sh package firefox

In the Tor Browser I found you had to switch off the checking for signatures:

about:config
xpinstall.signatures.required - change to false

This allows you to
about:addons
click on the cog (setup)
install add-on from file
choose ./build/firefox.zip

Unfortunately you have to keep
xpinstall.signatures.required - changed to false

otherwise tor deletes the add-on.

PROBLEM: When you close Tor and re-open it. It deletes the add-on.

[Kwakers01]

I spent a while looking at the about:config trying to see if I could enable the storing of the settings some how. I'm sure there is something somewhere., but I can't figure a setting out.

Thinking "LocalStorageProvider" I started to look at this and seeing if it was cookies, but could not add an exception.

However, I didn't even think of this one until I read something about setting an exception.

FIXED: with a workaround which will work for me.

Change the Browser Settings:-

In the Tor Browser

Privacy & Security -> History
UNTICK - Always use private browsing mode

Tor will restart

Privacy & Security -> Cookies and Site Data
TICK - Delete cookies and site data when Tor Browser is closed

Privacy & Security -> History
TICK - Clear history when Tor Browser closes
Click on Setting
TICK - All the boxes

I'm not sure where the add-on stores the data as I am clearing everything when I restart and it still stores the saved settings, so it it something to do with "private browsing mode" or the way the add-on is installed by tor. There may be a setting in about:config, but I know I would not be able to find it.

Thanks for you help.

[AykutCevik]

@Kwakers01 thanks for sharing your solution. What came into my mind is that you actually can disable the notifications for Tor Browser in your OS system settings. Did you try this? I wouldn't personally suggest to add a level of persistency to Tor Browser.

[Kwakers01]

@AykutCevik I've just moved to Linux Mint Cinnamon as my old laptop was on windows 10 and not up-gradable. Runs so much faster on Linux (bloat, AI etc. removed yeah!!), but obviously a learning curve. Unfortunately I don't get the "Don't show this message again" button for your app notification in the notification menu (bottom right with bell). I do get it for the wifi connection established notification, so I am guessing there may be a way to disable it, but I have not got a clue at the moment.