Onionshare

Introduction

OnionShare is an open source program that allows a file of any size to be shared securely and anonymously using the Tor network. The OnionShare wiki succinctly describes the design:

It works by starting a web server, making it accessible as a Tor Onion Service, and generating an unguessable URL to access and download the files. It does not require setting up a separate server or using a third party file-sharing service. You host the files on your own computer and use a Tor Onion Service to make it temporarily accessible over the internet. The receiving user just needs to open the URL in Tor Browser to download the file.

At the time of writing, the OnionShare package is not packaged in Debian stretch, and the package version available in Debian buster is quite old (v0.9.2.1 from 2017). For these reasons, the following instructions use the most recent version available from github (v1.3). Advanced users may prefer to use APT pinning to install the version from Debian buster instead.

Install OnionShare

1. Optional: Create a Separate Whonix-Workstation (anon-onionshare AppVM)

Note: This is not strictly necessary, but best practice is to separate anonymous activities of a different nature in alternate VMs (AppVMs).

In Qubes-Whonix, to clone the existing anon-whonix AppVM: Right-click on anon-vm -> Select "Clone VM" -> Rename to "anon-onionshare"

2. Install git in Whonix-Workstation (anon-onionshare AppVM)

Open a terminal (Konsole) in Whonix-Workstation (anon-onionshare) and navigate to the persistent home directory.

[select code]

cd /home/user

cd /home/user

Next install git which is not available by default in the VM (AppVM).

[select code]

sudo apt-get install git

sudo apt-get install git

3. Clone the OnionShare Directory

This will pull the OnionShare source code directly from github.com

[select code]

git clone https://github.com/micahflee/onionshare.git

git clone https://github.com/micahflee/onionshare.git

Next navigate into the OnionShare directory.

[select code]

cd onionshare

cd onionshare

4. Retrieve the OnionShare PGP Signing Key

This step retrieves the OnionShare developer's PGP key using its long key ID.

[select code]

gpg --keyserver pool.sks-keyservers.net --recv-keys 0x927F419D7EC82C2F149C1BD1403C2657CD994F73

gpg --keyserver pool.sks-keyservers.net --recv-keys 0x927F419D7EC82C2F149C1BD1403C2657CD994F73

5. Examine and Verify the git Tags and Commit

These steps list the available git tags, and verifies the latest version and its commit (v1.3 at the time of writing).

[select code]

git tag

git tag

[select code]

git verify-tag v1.3

git verify-tag v1.3

[select code]

git verify-commit v1.3^{commit}

git verify-commit v1.3^{commit}

Qubes-Whonix users should shut down the anon-onionshare AppVM prior to the next step.

6. Install OnionShare Dependencies

Several dependencies must be installed in Whonix-Workstation (whonix-ws TemplateVM) for OnionShare to work correctly. In a terminal (Konsole) run.

[select code]

sudo apt install -y build-essential fakeroot python3-all python3-stdeb dh-python python3-flask python3-stem python3-pyqt5 python-nautilus python3-pytest obfs4proxy

sudo apt install -y build-essential fakeroot python3-all python3-stdeb dh-python python3-flask python3-stem python3-pyqt5 python-nautilus python3-pytest obfs4proxy

Qubes-Whonix users should shutdown the whonix-ws TemplateVM after dependencies have installed, and restart the anon-onionshare AppVM.

7. Extend the onion-grater Whitelist in Whonix-Gateway (sys-whonix ProxyVM)

Extend onion-grater Whitelist

On Whonix-Gateway.

Create a new directory.

[select code]

sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/etc/onion-grater-merger.d/

sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/etc/onion-grater-merger.d/

Symlink the onion-grater profile to the onion-grater settings folder.

[select code]

sudo ln -s /usr/share/onion-grater-merger/examples/40_onionshare.yml /usr/local/etc/onion-grater-merger.d/

sudo ln -s /usr/share/onion-grater-merger/examples/40_onionshare.yml /usr/local/etc/onion-grater-merger.d/

Restart onion-grater.

[select code]

sudo service onion-grater restart

sudo service onion-grater restart

8. Modify the Whonix-Workstation (anon-onionshare AppVM) User Firewall Settings and Reload Them

Modify Whonix-Workstation User Firewall Settings

Note: If no changes have yet been made to Whonix Firewall Settings, then the Whonix User Firewall Settings File /etc/whonix_firewall.d/50_user.conf appears empty (because it does not exist). This is expected.

If using Qubes-Whonix, complete these steps.
In Whonix-Workstation AppVM.

Make sure folder /rw/config/whonix_firewall.d exists.

[select code]

sudo mkdir -p /rw/config/whonix_firewall.d

sudo mkdir -p /rw/config/whonix_firewall.d

Open /rw/config/whonix_firewall.d/50_user.conf with root rights.

[select code]

kdesudo kwrite /rw/config/whonix_firewall.d/50_user.conf

kdesudo kwrite /rw/config/whonix_firewall.d/50_user.conf

If using a graphical Whonix-Workstation, complete these steps.

Start Menu -> Applications -> Settings -> User Firewall Settings

If using a terminal-only Whonix-Workstation, complete these steps.

[select code]

sudo nano /etc/whonix_firewall.d/50_user.conf

sudo nano /etc/whonix_firewall.d/50_user.conf

For more help, press on Expand on the right.

Note: The Whonix Global Firewall Settings File /etc/whonix_firewall.d/30_default.conf contains default settings and explanatory comments about their purpose. By default, the file is opened read-only and is not meant to be directly edited. Below, it is recommended to open the file without root rights. The file contains an explanatory comment on how to change firewall settings.

## Please use "/etc/whonix_firewall.d/50_user.conf" for your custom configuration,
## which will override the defaults found here. When Whonix is updated, this
## file may be overwritten.

See also Whonix modular flexible .d style configuration folders.

To view the file, follow these instructions.

If using Qubes-Whonix, complete these steps.

Qubes App Launcher (blue/grey "Q") -> Template: whonix-ws -> Whonix Global Firewall Settings

If using a graphical Whonix-Workstation, complete these steps.

Start Menu -> Applications -> Settings -> Global Firewall Settings

If using a terminal-only Whonix-Workstation, complete these steps.

[select code]

nano /etc/whonix_firewall.d/30_default.conf

nano /etc/whonix_firewall.d/30_default.conf

Add.

[select code]

EXTERNAL_OPEN_PORTS+=" $(seq 17600 17659) "

EXTERNAL_OPEN_PORTS+=" $(seq 17600 17659) "

Save.

Reload Whonix-Workstation Firewall.

If you are using Qubes-Whonix, complete the following steps.

Qubes App Launcher (blue/grey "Q") -> Whonix-Workstation AppVM (commonly named anon-whonix) -> Reload Whonix Firewall

If you are using a graphical Whonix-Workstation, complete the following steps.

Start Menu -> Applications -> System -> Reload Whonix Firewall

If you are using a terminal-only Whonix-Workstation, run.

[select code]

sudo whonix_firewall

sudo whonix_firewall

Start OnionShare

To start OnionShare in Whonix-Workstation (anon-onionshare) first navigate to the OnionShare folder.

[select code]

cd onionshare

cd onionshare

Then either run the command line interface or GUI version, depending on your preference.

[select code]

./dev_scripts/onionshare

./dev_scripts/onionshare

[select code]

./dev_scripts/onionshare-gui

./dev_scripts/onionshare-gui

Advanced users can also build an OnionShare package to install.

OnionShare Configuration

On the first run of OnionShare:

• Select the settings button/icon (cog symbol) in the GUI.
• Under “How should OnionShare connect to Tor?” choose “Connect using socket file”, and set the socket file to /var/run/tor/control.
• Under “Tor authentication options” choose “No authentication, or cookie authentication”.

To test OnionShare is running correctly:

• Click the “Test Settings” button. If all steps were completed correctly, Tor will successfully connect.
• The GUI should say it supports both ephemeral onion services and stealth onion services.
• Check “Create stealth onion services” to make OnionShare operations more secure.

How to Use OnionShare

Once OnionShare has been installed correctly and the Tor check is successful, sharing files anonymously is easy:

Open OnionShare, drag and drop files and folders you wish to share into it, and click Start Sharing. After a moment, it will show you a .onion URL such as http://asxmi4q6i7pajg2b.onion/egg-cain. This is the secret URL that can be used to download the file you're sharing.

Send this URL to the person you're sending the files to. If the files you're sending aren't secret, you can use normal means of sending the URL, like by emailing it, or sending it in a Facebook or Twitter private message. If you're sending secret files then it's important to send this URL securely.

The person who is receiving the files doesn't need OnionShare. All they need is to open the URL you send them in Tor Browser to be able to download the file.

A complete user guide, along with advanced topics and development documentation is available on the official website.

OnionShare AppArmor Profiles

AppArmor profiles are available to better contain OnionShare, but they have not yet been tested in Whonix. Whonix community wiki contributions and testing are most welcome!

TODO: Test profiles and expand this section.

Footnotes

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