Hello,

I’ve written a post that I’d like to distribute as anonymously as possible while still reaching a large audience (if possible). However every forum that has let me create an account through tor always has a server error when trying to make a post. Do you guys have any recommendations for where I could make a forum post from the tor browser?

Thanks

  • sexy_peach@beehaw.org
    0·
    7 months ago

    So many people here saying “you probably don’t need tor” as it is tor is only for whistleblowers. It feels really different to be 100% anonymous online, you should try it sometimes.

  • xor@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    Unless you’re trying to mask your identity from your ISP, instance or government, I don’t really see how tor is useful here, given that you’re presumably posting on the clearweb anyway.

    It’s hard to give specific useful advice, because you’re so vague about what you’re trying to post, and who you want anonymity from. If it’s just other users on lemmy, don’t bother using tor, just create a burner account and access it normally via the web.

    Unsurprisingly, instances aren’t super keen on letting users access their platform via tor since it’s an effective method of ban evasion, and thus people will mostly be using it to post awful things they didn’t want in the first place.

    • baritone_edge@lemmy.mlOP
      0·
      7 months ago

      I’m just trying to make a text-based post somewhere, anywhere. I don’t really have a preference.

      I am concerned about local government. Though what I have to say would be legal in most other places in the world. I really don’t want to post to be tied back to me, I just feel morally compelled to say something even if there’s little to no impact. I just need to try and say it.

      • xor@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        0·
        7 months ago

        If you’re whistleblowing with information not otherwise in the public domain, I’d suggest contacting wikileaks or a trustworthy independent media outlet.

        The Guardian, for example, has the securedrop platform at theguardian.securedrop.tor.onion.

        If you just have an opinion to express, the local authority probably isn’t really that interested in trying to compromise the encryption on your web traffic, unless they’re extremely authoritarian. A standard VPN and a burner account should be sufficient to keep your anonymity.

  • lemmyreader@lemmy.mlEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    Which forums are you talking about ? Discourse based forums ? Reddit ? Lemmy ? Reddit will shadowban Tor and VPN users immediately. Lemmy with some exceptions should be fine is my experience. Note however that Tor circuits can change. For example, a few days in a row I had search engine results thinking I’d come from a certain country and on some sites I was offered to solve reCAPTHAs or blocked for reading things. Then since a few days search engine results think that I come from another country, and I don’t have to solve reCAPTCHAs for a site where I had to before. I’m trying to say that it appears that some sites block all Tor but some sites only block some of Tor. You can manually change the country you appear to come from with Tor browser though this is not recommended. Using a VPN is an alternative to HYA.

    • baritone_edge@lemmy.mlOP
      0·
      7 months ago

      I’m not talking about any forums specifically, I’m asking for forum recommendations. Something that works with Tor. I’ve tried Reddit, Lemmy, and a few other local forums I’m not going to list here. My question is not really about technical issues. I understand and accept that Tor is abused and often banned. I just want help to find someplace that hasn’t banned it.

  • Rimu@piefed.social
    0·
    7 months ago

    You could use a VPN to obscure your IP address. Then with the VPN enabled, create an email account using a privacy-focused provider like Proton and use that email address to create a Lemmy / Mastodon account. Then post.

    Perhaps you can get more technical advice in one of the privacy communities.

  • FalseMyrmidon@kbin.run
    0·
    7 months ago

    I’ve written a post that I’d like to distribute as anonymously as possible while still reaching a large audience

    Sounds like spam.

      • impure9435@kbin.run
        0·
        7 months ago

        blocks Tor exit nodes and VPNs

        Actually, only Reddit blocks VPNs. I’m able to access all the other big social media platforms behind my VPN.

  • schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de
    0·
    7 months ago

    you see, the problem is: if you can do that, any spambot or troll farm can do it too…

    Some years ago I was actually able to post to reddit through Tor. Has that really changed?

  • prole@beehaw.orgEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    I don’t know what it is you want to distribute, but if it is newsworthy or political in nature, I think most media outlets (like “legit” ones like WaPo, NYT, etc.) have ways of contacting them through Tor for situations where the person with the information might have legitimate fears for their safety (e.g. whistleblowers).

    But that’s really only for a certain type of “post.”