Orbot

Use Orbot in PTP

In the long run it would be nice to use Orbot instead of providing an own Tor binary with PTP. The page lists some advantages, disadvantages and necessary steps to be able to use Orbot. The list isn't complete and there might be more problems to encounter when migrating to Orbot which haven't been identified yet.

Advantages

• No need to update app to deliver Tor updates
• Benefit from code in Orbot that handles connection changes. (like DisableNetwork,...)
• simplify code in PTP

Disadvantages

• No direct (control connection) access to Tor (unable to do things like close a circuit when PTP determines a broken connection)
• User has to install additional app
• Orbot has to run in the background (possibily showing a notification)
• For platforms other than Android we still need a Tor binary and the code to manage it

Necessary steps

• Use OrbotHelper from NetCipher
• provides Method requestHiddenServiceOnPort(int port) which only allows to set the port. We need to be able to get the private key of our hidden service to do authentication. Is this even possible? Apps are separated on Android. Can Orbot grant permissions?
• counterpart is in OrbotMainActivity.java
• how to get the hidden service identifier?
• how to get the socks proxy port/use Tor for outgoing connections?
• adapt TorManager in PTP to use Orbot