torservers.net is an independent network of non-profit organisations that provide nodes to the Tor anonymity network.[1][2][3] The network started in June 2010 and currently transfers up to 7.4 GB/s (~59.2 Gb/s) of exit node traffic as of May 2022.[4][5][6]

Torservers.net is known for operating servers with high network bandwidth[1] and running them as exit nodes in the Tor network, which helps increase its speed and capacity. The group additionally helps provide lawyers for relay operators along with arranging operator meetups.[2]

Funding

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While Tor is free software that anyone can run, successful operation of Tor nodes may require technical expertise, access to high-bandwidth, and can involve legal complications in some jurisdictions.[1] The Torservers.net network accepts financial donations as a way to sponsor additional nodes.[1][7]

Bavarian Raid

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On June 20, 2018, Bavarian police raided the home of the board members of the German non-profit Zwiebelfreunde, "Friends of the Onion,"[8] (part of torservers.net).[9] Zwiebelfreunde helps collect donations from Europe for various non-commercial providers such as Riseup.net.[10]

The police claim the raid was prompted by a blog post from an unrelated activist that promised violence against an upcoming Alternative for Germany convention in Augsburg.[11] The blog post was published on a website that used a Riseup.net e-mail address.[12] Riseup Collective is based in Seattle in the United States, and reported publicly that Zwiebelfreunde does not run its service.[13]

On August 23 the German court at Landgericht München ruled that the raid and seizures was illegal. The hardware and documentation seized had been kept under seal, and purportedly were neither analyzed nor evaluated by the Bavarian police.[14]

Members

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[1][15]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Steele, Sharon (3 December 2016). "Tor at the Heart: torservers.net". blog.torproject.org. Retrieved 2018-06-17. [..] covers legal costs for exit operators when needed
  2. ^ a b "torservers.net". torservers.net. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  3. ^ "2014 FOSS Donations". DuckDuckGo Blog. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  4. ^ Mo (5 July 2010). "Torservers.net: Why it's so Important – moblog". moblog.wiredwings.com. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  5. ^ "First nodes are online". blog.torservers.net. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  6. ^ Mo (10 November 2022). "Relay Search". metrics.torproject.org. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  7. ^ "Services". torservers.net. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  8. ^ n/a, n/a (2011-07-26). "Zwiebelfreunde". Public Sphere Project. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
  9. ^ Grauer, Yael (2018-07-04). "German police raid homes of Tor-linked group's board members One board member described the police's justification for the raids as a "tenuous" link between the privacy group, a blog, and its email address". ZDNet. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  10. ^ "Tor-linked nonprofit raided by police". Naked Security. 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
  11. ^ torservers.net (4 July 2018). "Coordinated raids of Zwiebelfreunde at various locations in Germany - torservers.net blog". blog.torservers.net. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
  12. ^ 46halbe (2018-07-04). "Police searches homes of "Zwiebelfreunde" board members as well as "OpenLab" in Augsburg". Chaos Computer Club. Retrieved 2018-07-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Bavarian raids - riseup.net". riseup.net. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
  14. ^ "Coordinated raids of Zwiebelfreunde at various locations in Germany". torservers.net. 2018-08-23. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  15. ^ "Partner Organizations". torservers.net. Retrieved 2018-06-17.