Tor Blocked in Belarus. What to Do

Since the end of last week Belarusians have started experience problems when access to the Internet using Tor program.

Tor is the program which allows you to remain anonymous and to get access to blocked sites. It seems that the problem affected customers of many Belarusian providers, but it is not observed in neighbouring countries, Radio Svaboda reports .

What to do?

To follow instructions.

It is not possible to completely block Tor. Access denied to standard connection paths, but alternative paths (Bridges) can be selected in the Tor settings for desktops (when clicking Settings), and for mobile devices (e.g., Orbot for Android in the side menu find Bridges).

Besides, the access problems are observed with alternative paths. But not with all. Programs themselves suggest alternative paths to Tor, there is a special section on the site Tor project, which at the time of the publication is available online. In case of its unavailability bridges@torproject.org can be requested for the list (letters sent from Riseup, Gmail and Yahoo).

Facebook users disseminate instructions on their own:

It is required by the law.

In particular, the decision of Operational and Analytical Centre of the President and the Ministry of Communications of Belarus: it is written that it is necessary to block means of access to "banned" sites when identification of these means. Decision dated February 19, 2015, Tor was "found" only in December, 2016.

However, many other means of access to blocked sites and tools ensuring a user anonymity in Belarus operate without interference.

Can it be blocked completely?

No one has managed to do it yet.

A number of countries have fought Tor and other means of anonymity on the Internet. The most well-known one occurred in China, but over the last 10 years Tor has managed to survive: new Bridges are always available.

Nevertheless, such confrontation causes more complex anonymous access. And the usual access to the Internet is not anonymous. For example, since 2016 the Belarusian official providers are obliged to hold data about sites a user visited, and the KGB can legally listen to any talk.