[tor-bugs] #3354 [Vidalia]: tor's auto bridge default and unintended Vidalia side effects

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#3354: tor's auto bridge default and unintended Vidalia side effects
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 Reporter:  erinn    |          Owner:  chiiph         
     Type:  defect   |         Status:  new            
 Priority:  blocker  |      Milestone:                 
Component:  Vidalia  |        Version:  Vidalia: 0.2.12
 Keywords:           |         Parent:                 
   Points:           |   Actualpoints:                 
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Comment(by chiiph):

 Replying to [comment:7 rransom]:
 > Replying to [comment:6 chiiph]:
 > > Replying to [comment:3 Sebastian]:
 > > > This is a problematic change, in that it has several unintended side
 effects: If you had bridges configured previously and unticked the
 checkbox, you'd stop using them for now but keep them saved in your torrc
 for later use so you didn't have to re-enter them. That's a very useful
 feature, because it means you can test if bridges aren't required anymore
 and if they are go back to all the ones you had configured.
 >
 > > So, that behavior isn't possible with this new feature in tor?
 >
 > Yes it is.  Simply set ‘`UseBridges 0`’, and all ‘`Bridge`’ lines will
 be ignored.

 Ok, then I should force UseBridges 0 when the checkbox isn't checked.

 >
 > > > The other worry is that for all users who don't configure bridges,
 the "my isp censors..." option is checked so they will *think* they're
 using bridges, even tho they didn't configure any. This is bad for people
 who want to make sure they're using a bridge.
 >
 > > If the user checks the option, and doesn't add any bridges, Vidalia
 could warn with something like: "You haven't added any bridges. This
 change will be reverted." or something like that.
 >
 > My understanding is that once upon a time, ‘My ISP blocks connections to
 the Tor network’ did something other than simply allow the user to specify
 bridges (‘`TunnelDirConns 1`’?).  If it still has other effects, we should
 add a separate tri-state checkbox that only controls ‘`UseBridges`’, with
 a hint/tooltip/whatever Qt calls the box that pops up when the mouse is
 pointed at a control; if ‘My ISP blocks connections to the Tor network’
 has no effects other than setting ‘`UseBridges 1`’, it should become a
 tri-state checkbox, with the ‘Bridge Settings’ panel visible when it is
 set to ‘auto’ or ‘1’, and with a note shown when it is set to ‘auto’ and
 no bridges are specified indicating that because the user has not
 specified any bridges, Tor will not use bridges.

 I don't think a tri-state checkbox is going to make any sense for the
 user. I'd rather handle it behind the scenes.

 Ok, so I think that the "auto" part should be hidden by the GUI.
 Here's the workflow as I see it:
 - If unchecked, then assure "UseBridges 0"
 - If checked and no bridges added, then uncheck it and explain it to the
 user.
 - If checked and bridges added, then "UseBridges 1" with those bridges.

 If noone finds anything really wrong with this, I'll make a patch.

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/3354#comment:8>
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