Tor Issues Urgent Call for WebTunnel Bridge Operators to Curb Blocks

The Tor Project has issued a call to action as Russian authorities escalate censorship measures aimed at blocking access to Tor and other circumvention tools. Recent reports highlight increased targeting of Tor bridges and pluggable transports, removal of circumvention apps, and actions against popular hosting providers, complicating efforts to bypass internet restrictions. Despite these efforts, Tor remains a vital tool for secure access in restrictive environments.

Rising demand for WebTunnel bridges

Russian internet regulators, led by Roskomnadzor, have intensified their blocking of hosting providers frequently used for Tor bridges, rendering many of these tools inaccessible. To counter these actions, the Tor Project has emphasized the urgent need for WebTunnel bridges, a censorship-resistant transport launched earlier in 2024. The organization aims to deploy 200 additional WebTunnel bridges by December 2024 to maintain connectivity for users in Russia.

The WebTunnel transport, which operates by blending in with regular web traffic, has proven effective against sophisticated censorship techniques. Currently, there are 143 operational WebTunnel bridges, but this number falls short of meeting growing demands as Russian censors continue to refine their blocking strategies.

How volunteers can help

The Tor Project is urging community members to set up and run WebTunnel bridges to expand its network. Running a WebTunnel bridge requires moderate technical expertise, including configuring a web server and managing bandwidth. Operators are required to:

• Use a static IPv4 address and a valid SSL/TLS certificate.
• Host bridges on self-managed websites, avoiding free shared DNS services often blocked in Russia.
• Maintain bridges with at least 1 TB/month bandwidth, prioritizing 24/7 uptime.

Tools like Docker and an Ansible automation role simplify the process, making it accessible for volunteers with varying levels of expertise. The campaign, which runs until March 2025, offers incentives such as a Tor t-shirt for operators managing five or more bridges.

A legacy of censorship

Russia's crackdown on Tor began in 2021 when the government attempted a blanket ban on the service. However, the adaptability of Tor bridges allowed many users to continue accessing the network. In early 2024, the Tor Project introduced WebTunnel, with just 60 bridges initially available. Despite doubling this number, the need for more resources has become critical in the face of evolving censorship.

Tor-powered applications, like the Tor Browser, are vital for circumventing restrictions in regions where internet freedom is heavily curtailed. Reports indicate that even advanced pluggable transports, such as obfs4 and Snowflake, are now facing partial blocks on Russian networks.