[tor-bugs] #25713 [Core Tor/Tor]: "DisableNetwork is set" log message in Tor Browser scares/confuses users

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#25713: "DisableNetwork is set" log message in Tor Browser scares/confuses users
------------------------------+---------------------
     Reporter:  arma          |      Owner:  (none)
         Type:  defect        |     Status:  new
     Priority:  Medium        |  Milestone:
    Component:  Core Tor/Tor  |    Version:
     Severity:  Normal        |   Keywords:  ux-team
Actual Points:                |  Parent ID:
       Points:                |   Reviewer:
      Sponsor:                |
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 When Tor Browser has trouble connecting, we tell users to go look at the
 logs. The first thing they see in their logs is something like
 {{{
  13/06/2017 11:31:29.600 [NOTICE] DisableNetwork is set. Tor will not make
  or accept non-control network connections. Shutting down all existing
  connections.
 }}}
 and if they're hunting for a log message that gives them a hint about why
 Tor doesn't work, that one is easy to find and seems really related to why
 their tor might not work.

 So we have this recurring event where users come to us and say "My Tor
 Browser isn't working, it says DisableNetwork is set."

 Now, Tor Browser legitimately starts Tor with DisableNetwork set, so Tor
 Browser will have time to ask the user whether they want to use bridges or
 proxies or etc before their Tor starts interacting with the network. So
 "well stop using that option then" is hopefully not our best plan.

 But I wonder if there is a smarter way to have that phrased in the logs,
 so users have a better chance of guessing correctly what is going on.

 (Long term we want to not send Tor Browser users to go read Tor's logs.
 But we're not there yet either.)

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/25713>
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