Orbot on mobile devices for .onion for bitcoin mixing

[_act_]

I am using Tor to access .onion mixer link, but I tried it with Orbot on a privacy browser like Duckduckgo, not on browser like Chrome, Edge or Safari.

I downloaded Orbot, I enabled Duckduckgo on my mobile phone, I went to Duckduckgo browser and .onion sites are not working which is normal because I disabled Orbot first. I started Orbot, I used the mixer .onion link and it was working and I was able to mix my coins.

Is this idea good as an alternative to Tor browser?

[BlackBoss_]

Do you think it is good idea to use VPN or better Orbot to use your accounts on centralized exchanges and think you will have good privacy.

If you want privacy, don't use centralized and closed source services from wallets, exchanges to browsers. It is problem you get when using Orbot with Chrome, Edge, Safari browser.

[_act_]

If you want privacy, don't use centralized and closed source services from wallets, exchanges to browsers. It is problem you get when using Orbot with Chrome, Edge, Safari browser.

Do you mean Orbot is centralized?

Or are you referring to browsers to be centralized?

Orbot us not centralized.

I am referring to browsers like Duckduckgo which is my favorite. Another privacy browse is Mozilla Firefox.

It is good to mention Tor which is a privacy browser but not need the help of anything because it is Tor itself.

[BlackBoss_]

If you want privacy, don't use centralized and closed source services from wallets, exchanges to browsers. It is problem you get when using Orbot with Chrome, Edge, Safari browser.

Do you mean Orbot is centralized?

Or are you referring to browsers to be centralized?

In the post, I emphasized about problems with browsers for your privacy. Orbot is good for your device and privacy but if you use it in combination with other softwares that are centralized like those browser, it is a bad practice and weaken your privacy.

If you use Orbot, why do you need to find alternatives for Tor browser?

[NotATether]

Is this idea good as an alternative to Tor browser?

Not really, using browser other than Tor Browser when using Tor connection would lead to weaker privacy. This is also not recommended by Tor project[1].

[1] https://support.torproject.org/tbb/#tbb_tbb-9

Actually, Tor Browser recommends Orbot for using Tor on Android.

Tor Project also has an Android version of Tor Browser, but it is just a slightly modified version of Orbot.

[RickDeckard]

I am using Tor to access .onion mixer link, but I tried it with Orbot on a privacy browser like Duckduckgo, not on browser like Chrome, Edge or Safari.

I downloaded Orbot, I enabled Duckduckgo on my mobile phone, I went to Duckduckgo browser and .onion sites are not working which is normal because I disabled Orbot first. I started Orbot, I used the mixer .onion link and it was working and I was able to mix my coins.

Is this idea good as an alternative to Tor browser?

There seems to be some kind of confusion between the use case for Orbot and Tor browser _act_. They are both designed to give access to the Tor network with a small difference : Tor browser is a fork of Firefox that allows you to browse the internet behind the Tor network (and bridges) while Orbot ends up being a VPN for smartphones whose aim is to route traffic from any installed app that you have on your device through the Tor network. What are you trying to achieve in looking for an alternative for the Tor browser (that, as you could see, ends up using the same network)?

As an additional note, I don't know where you installed Orbot from, but usually the newest updated version can be found on their GitHub[1] page. Even if you don't usually install the Beta versions, the latest stable release that can be found on GitHub is v17 RC 1 (tor 0.4.7.11) while the Google Play store version[2] still sits on the v16.6.3-RC-1-tor.0.4.7.10.
[1]https://github.com/guardianproject/orbot/releases
[2]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.torproject.android

[o_e_l_e_o]

Actually, Tor Browser recommends Orbot for using Tor on Android.

If you want to route traffic from your other apps via Tor, then yes. But not if you want to use a browser. If that's the case, as what OP is doing here, then you should use the Tor browser.

https://support.torproject.org/tormobile/tormobile-6/

Is this idea good as an alternative to Tor browser?

No, it isn't. You'll get better security with Tor due to things like NoScript and limited permissions for websites you visit, and you'll get better privacy since by using DDG via Orbot you are providing a fairly unique fingerprint which could be used to deanonymize you.

Why not just use Tor browser?

[Lucius]

~snip~
Why not just use Tor browser?

I wonder the same thing, because using Tor for Android is the simplest possible solution if someone needs something like that on a smartphone or tablet. I've never used Orbot, so the only thing that comes to mind is that the surfing speed on the same one is perhaps a bit higher than on Tor, which can be really slow - I think that on the Android version of Tor there is no option for the new Tor circuit.

[o_e_l_e_o]

I think that on the Android version of Tor there is no option for the new Tor circuit.

You should have an option for a "New identity" on the Tor notification in the notification panel, which will give you a new circuit without closing or restarting the app.

See the section on "Managing Identities": https://tb-manual.torproject.org/mobile-tor/

If you need a whole new identity, then close the app and reopen it.

[Lucius]

~snip~

You're right, I didn't pay attention to the fact that the notification window can be expanded, so I only saw data related to sent/received data. Honestly, it would be strange if this option didn't exist in the mobile version, but on the other hand, desktop and mobile versions often don't have the same features.

[_act_]

Thank you all for your replies. I tried Orbot and it worked and I thought I should ask the question on this forum to know if it is a safe to use Orbot to on privacy browsers, not that I am intending to do that. I use Tor and Tor is very fast than before. I have read all what that you have posted and this lead to a conclusion that Orbot should not be used with browsers. Although there are still apps that you can use it with, example are noncustodial wallets that you can connect it with directly. There are wallets that uses that on mobile devices like Electrum and Unstoppable wallet.