Re: [Tails-dev] Novice using Tails after looking for answers…

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Author: Fré van Limpt
Date:  
To: The Tails public development discussion list
Subject: Re: [Tails-dev] Novice using Tails after looking for answers to a Tor Error in Tails (no issues when using Tor without Tails)

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24 nov. 2021 16:52:25 boyska <boyska@???>:

> Sheridan Thorn:
>> Hi there!
>
> hello!
>
>> Tails set up at Greenwich time, which used to work just fine. Now "Error
>> connecting to Tor" with the one and only viable option for me is to Fix the
>> Clock (which doesn't seem like a good idea).
> [...]
>> 2. Wary about fixing the clock as it identifies my time zone
>
> thanks for explaining your concern! Fixing the clock is actually *not* a security problem at all (quite the contrary): those informations are only used by the system internally, and never sent to anyone else.
>
>> 3. Issue is persistent and requires manual changes each time I enter Tails.
>
> Indeed this is a known usability problem.
>
>> 5. IF I don't use default bridges, the one attempt I tried allowed access.
>> Still...not helpful  for what I want to do.
>
> Let me see if I understood correctly:
>   - if you connect to Tor directly, it works without setting the clock
>   - if you connect to Tor with default bridges, it will fail. If you fix     the clock, it will then work
>   - you prefer using default bridges for security reasons
>
> The choice is yours, but from my security perspective the two options as being equivalent: you are not hiding that you are using Tor. Default bridges are only used because sometimes they can evade censorship when a direct connection wouldn't work.
> When you need to hide the fact that you are using Tor, you need to choose the appropriate option in the "Tor Connection" window.
> See https://tails.boum.org/doc/anonymous_internet/tor/#index3h1
>
>> What I did: Verified after download - reinstalled twice on new stick (of 3
>> usb sticks, 1 is kingston and the other 2 are sandisk cruzer blade
>> I use an att gateway, and did not see adjustments to allow unsafe browsers,
>> yet will look again.
>
> Unfortunately I don't know what an "att gateway" is. Would you mind explaining?
>
>> Any suggestions or links for me, please? Alternative safety measures I
>> could try out?
>
> I'm sorry but I'm not sure I got what exactly you are trying to be safe from, so I don't know how to help you.
>
> cheers
>
> --
> boyska
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A vital issue in Tails' design is anonymity on the net. So trying to set your clock on your *correct* local time is just what you're not supposed to do. Tails never installs *correct local times* —on purpose (see Tails' introduction), giving hackers extra trouble to locate you.
This is a principal issue, please think it over.