User:Gandaganza/Using IRC with Tor

Connecting to IRC via TOR

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NOTE

Guide unsuitable for the average user - WIP

WARNING:

Guide only applicable to the Windows OS (XP, Vista, 7 and 8).

Introduction

This small guide is for anyone interested in using the IRC while remaining as anonymous as possible (or because you're paranoid like me). You'll need to install TOR (The Onion Router) and an IRC Client, as well as request an IRC Bouncer (instructions provided for all).

This guide will consist in 3 parts: Part 1 will focus on installing all the requirements, Part 2 will focus on configuring your client to use TOR connections and Part 3 will focus on the specific settings of our unnoficial chat (currently: Rizon).

This is currently the best way to remain anonymous while in IRC. However, I can't guarantee your safety/anonymity, specially if you do something not advised by your Client/TOR. Suggestions are welcome!

WARNING:

In order for this guide to be effective at protecting you, it should be used before registering your nickname in the IRC servers.

Part 1

• Install a TOR Client.
  1. Go to the TOR Project download page.
  2. Expand the "Microsoft Windows" tab.
  3. Download the "Vidalia Bridge Bundle".
  4. Install the Vidalia Bundle with all the default options. (See F.A.Q. for running this at startup)

• Install your preferred IRC client (XChat based client highly suggested - XChat 2, HexChat) - DO NOT install any plugins! (not even the update checker)
• Make sure you don't start your client.
  
  

Part 1 is done! You're now ready to start configuring your IRC Client to use TOR.

Part 2

• Configure Vidalia.
  1. Open Vidalia (not TOR).
  2. Wait for it to establish a connection.
  3. Click on "Settings".
  4. Go to the Sharing tab and click on "Run as Client only".
  5. Go to the Advanced tab, untick "Randomly Generate" and fill in a password (make sure you remember it as you'll need it later).
  6. click on "Ok" to leave the settings and in "Hide" to minimize Vidalia to tray.
  7. You are now connected to TOR :D
     
     
• Configure the IRC Client.

1. Press WindowsKey + R.
2. Type %appdata% and click "Ok"
3. Open Appdata/Roaming/<yourIRCClient>
4. Right-click <yourIRCClient>.conf and select "Edit with Notepad++"
5. Locate the line with "gui_slist_skip = 0" and change it to "gui_slist_skip = 1". If not there then add it at the bottom. (This prevents the client from using your local connection to search for other uninteresting networks)
6. Right-click servlist.conf and select "Edit with Notepad++"
7. Delete any networks that might be listed there and paste this there:
N=LocalComputer E=IRC (Latin/Unicode Hybrid) F=10 D=0 S=127.0.0.1/6667 In the end it should look like this (Xchat based Clients need to connect to a network or they crash! So we give it an empty network :p)
8. Open your Client. A blank window should appear and the Client should be trying to connect to the blank network we added earlier (and failing miserably).
9. Enter these next commands, one at a time:
/set net_proxy_host 127.0.0.1
/set net_proxy_port 9050
/set net_proxy_type 3
/set net_proxy_use 0 (The last commands make the IRC Client use the TOR proxy to connect)
/set net_proxy_auth 1
/set net_proxy_pass = *****
/set net_proxy_user = ***** (The last commands activate proxy authentication - instead of ***** use the password you put in Vidalia earlier)
/set dcc_auto_chat 0
/set dcc_auto_resume OFF
/set dcc_auto_send 0
/set irc_hide_version ON
/set identd OFF (The last commands prevents protocol leakage - a bunch of personal information)
/ignore *!*@* CTCP DCC
/ignore * CTCP DCC (The last commands make your Client ignore CTCP and DDC inquiries)

10. Open Settings -> Preferences and delete everything under Default Messages.

Part 2 is done! Your Client should now be configured to use TOR instead of your local connection.

Part 3

• Make an anonymous e-mail account. (Highly recommended)

1. If you have TOR Browser Bundle installed, create a mail2tor account. (Open link within TOR)
2. If you don't have TOR Browser Bundle installed, create a TorGuard account. (not ideal but better than nothing)

WARNING:

BNC4Free is screwing us over and banning TOR users, so you shouldn't use it anymore. Until the guide is updated try using EliteBNC.

• Create an IRC Bouncer account. (BNC4Free recommended and instructions are provided for thsi specific bouncer)

1. Go to your anonymous e-mail service (created in the step above) and start composing a message.
2. Enter "request@bnc4free.com" as the recipient (without the "").
3. Provide:
   1. Your desired username (for the bouncer account, not the IRC)
   2. The IRC server you wish to connect to (irc.rizon.net/ recommended - Advanced users can choose a different server based on latency)
   3. The port you wish to connect to (+6697 recommended - don't forget the +).

   Example e-mail content:
   
   
   Username: AwesomeUser
   IRC Server: irc.rizon.net/+6697
   
   Thank you!
   

4. Wait for the answer with you account details.

• Configure your IRC client to auto connect to your IRC Bouncer account.

1. Open your IRC Client.
2. From the Client chat window, <yourIRCClient> -> Network List.
3. Add a new Network named "Rizon_IRC_SSL_via_TOR".
4. With the new Network highlighted, click on "Edit".
5. At the top, change "newserver/6667" to the secure (SSL) server the bouncer gave you.
6. Check:
   • "Connect to selected server only"
   • "Connect to this network automatically"
   • "Use SSL for all the servers on this connection"
   • "Accept invalid SSL certificate" (only if your bouncer requires it - BNC4Free does)
   • "Use global user information"
7. For the Login Method choose: "Server Password (/PASS password)"
8. For the password field enter both your username and password in this format: "username:password" (without "").
9. You can now delete the blank network created in Part 2.
10. Go ahead and connect to Rizon!

Part 3 is done! Everything should now be setup properly for you to remain anonymous while chatting in IRC. Enjoy!

F.A.Q.

Q: Why download the Vidalia Bridge Bundle instead of the other ones?

Q: Should I run Vidalia from startup?

Q: I already use the TOR Broswer Bundle, will my pc blow up if I install the Vidalia Bundle?

Q: What about for IRC Servers that support hidden services?
A: Just in case STEP eventually changes to a different server (such as freenode) and no one is here to update the guide. You should still do everything here, except using a bouncer. You should connect the network directly to the hidden service using the instructions the server provides. Everything else is the same!

Q: How does {{{1}}} get to mordor? A: One does not simply walk into Mordor.