orbot-android

The Github home of Orbot: Tor on Android (Also available on gitlab!)

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PowerTunnel-Android

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Powerful and extensible proxy server with anti-censorship functionality for Android

Quick Overview

Orbot is an Android app that provides anonymity and privacy for internet usage through the Tor network. It acts as a proxy, routing traffic through Tor to enhance user privacy and bypass censorship. Orbot is developed by the Guardian Project and is open-source.

Pros

Enhances online privacy and anonymity by routing traffic through the Tor network
Helps bypass internet censorship and access blocked content
Open-source, allowing for community audits and contributions
Integrates with other apps to provide system-wide Tor protection

Cons

May slow down internet speeds due to routing through multiple nodes
Some websites and services may block Tor exit nodes, limiting access
Requires some technical knowledge to set up and use effectively
Battery consumption can be higher when actively using Tor

Getting Started

To use Orbot:

Download Orbot from the Google Play Store or F-Droid
Open the app and tap the large onion icon to connect to Tor
Wait for the connection to be established
Use Orbot's built-in browser or configure other apps to use Orbot as a proxy

For developers who want to integrate Tor functionality into their Android apps:

Add the OrbotHelper library to your project
Use OrbotHelper to check if Orbot is installed and running
Configure your app to use Orbot as a proxy for network requests

Note: As this is not a code library but an Android app, detailed code examples are not provided. Developers interested in integrating Tor functionality into their apps should refer to the OrbotHelper documentation in the repository.

Competitor Comparisons

wiki

7,272

Pros of wiki

Focuses on providing censorship-resistant access to Wikipedia content
Simpler and more targeted approach for a specific use case
Potentially easier to use for non-technical users seeking Wikipedia access

Cons of wiki

Limited in scope compared to Orbot's broader privacy and anonymity features
May not provide the same level of protection for general internet browsing
Less actively maintained, with fewer recent updates

Code comparison

Orbot (Java):

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.layout_main);
    mDrawer = findViewById(R.id.drawer_layout);
    mContent = findViewById(R.id.content_frame);
}

wiki (JavaScript):

function loadWikipedia() {
  const url = 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=query&format=json&prop=extracts&exintro=&titles=Main_Page';
  fetch(url)
    .then(response => response.json())
    .then(data => displayContent(data));
}

The code snippets highlight the different focus areas of the projects. Orbot's code relates to Android app setup, while wiki's code fetches Wikipedia content via API. This reflects their distinct purposes: Orbot as a privacy-focused Android app and wiki as a tool for accessing Wikipedia content.

PowerTunnel-Android

1,737

Powerful and extensible proxy server with anti-censorship functionality for Android

Pros of PowerTunnel-Android

Lightweight and focused on DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT)
Simple user interface, making it easier for non-technical users
Supports custom DNS servers and rules for specific domains

Cons of PowerTunnel-Android

Limited feature set compared to Orbot's comprehensive privacy tools
Doesn't provide access to the Tor network or onion routing
Less frequent updates and smaller community support

Code Comparison

PowerTunnel-Android (DNS resolution):

private fun resolveDns(host: String): String? {
    return try {
        val address = InetAddress.getByName(host)
        address.hostAddress
    } catch (e: Exception) {
        null
    }
}

Orbot (Tor circuit establishment):

private void establishTorCircuit() {
    try {
        TorControlConnection conn = new TorControlConnection(mTorControlSocket);
        conn.authenticate(new byte[0]);
        conn.signal("NEWNYM");
    } catch (IOException e) {
        Log.e(TAG, "Error establishing Tor circuit", e);
    }
}

This comparison highlights the different focus areas of the two projects. PowerTunnel-Android emphasizes DNS-related functionality, while Orbot provides more comprehensive privacy features, including Tor network integration.

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README

Orbot

Android Onion Routing Robot

(CI docs)

Orbot is a freely licensed open-source application developed for the Android platform. It acts as a front-end for the Tor binary application, while also providing a secure HTTP Proxy for connecting web browsers and other HTTP client applications into the Tor SOCKS interface.

Orbot is a crucial component of the Guardian Project, an initiative that leads an effort to develop a secure and anonymous smartphone. This platform is designed for use by human rights activists, journalists and others around the world. Learn more: https://guardianproject.info/

Tor protects your privacy on the internet by hiding the connection between your Internet address and the services you use. We believe that Tor is reasonably secure, but please ensure you read the usage instructions and learn to configure it properly. Learn more: https://torproject.org/

Download the Latest Orbot Release

Tor FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Please Contribute Your Translations

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wiki

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PowerTunnel-Android

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Powerful and extensible proxy server with anti-censorship functionality for Android

Convert designs to code with AI

Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.

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