[tor-bugs] #6151 [TorBrowserButton]: Startpage is blocking searches

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#6151: Startpage is blocking searches
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 Reporter:  cypherpunks       |          Owner:  rransom
     Type:  defect            |         Status:  closed
 Priority:  Immediate         |      Milestone:
Component:  TorBrowserButton  |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal            |     Resolution:  not a bug
 Keywords:                    |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                    |         Points:
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Comment (by cypherpunks):

 I recently had a rash of "Sorry, but..." interruptions from Startpage.  In
 8 yrs since this bug was filed, I rarely had a problem with Tor network &
 Startpage or Ixquick.  I might see one interruption notice in 6 - 8 mo.
 Thousands of exits & searches.

 By sheer probability, I had to have drawn some of the same exits that gave
 others problems with Startpage.

 The interrupt page now has space to comment on what you're using, for what
 (Tor, VPN, proxy, etc.). Optional place for your email - I entered none.

 Recently, I sent a short comment explaining what I was doing & from the
 benign & uncommon search terms used, the small amount of time doing
 searches - usually well spaced, I was an unlikely candidate for page
 scraping.  I'm sure they just look at inquiries coming from the same exit
 addresses.

 Amazingly, the interruptions mostly stopped.  Coincidence or luck resumed
 of not drawing problematic exits, or they've got fingerprinting down to a
 science?

 Maybe it's because of unique device data that sites can see,
 like exact computer time (was correct). see :
 https://browserspy.dk/date.php
 They know java script versions supported
 My real OS - by several methods (not Windows NT).
 Many others I don't have time to check.  Most typically aren't available
 in TBB.

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/6151#comment:21>
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