From User to Operator: How to Run a Tor Relay and Defend Online Freedom

Dan Salmon

Abstract:

Privacy is a fundamental human right. By running a Tor relay, you can contribute to a global communication network, free from spying and authoritarian censorship.

In this session, I’ll describe my journey going from a Tor user to becoming volunteer relay operator. I’ll walk through my experiences working directly with users in censored countries to get around blocks and explain how you can help by running your own relay and bridges. I’ll explain the real-world challenges relay operators face and how those challenges are addressed in practice.

The talk will cover the “why”, but more importantly the “how”: how someone with a technical background can create, monitor, and maintain a Tor relay as well as stay connected with other operators.

Dan Salmon

Computer User

Dan is a hacker with 6 years of experience in web security testing. He leverages development knowledge to aide in source code analysis as well as building new offensive tooling for his team. Dan enjoys building custom keyboards, learning new tech to finding interesting ways to break it, and technical writing. He has published many open-source security tools and has written a Wired opinion piece. You can find him regularly blogging about silly projects at danthesalmon.com.