Call for Testers: Snowflake Volunteer, an Android app to help others circumvent censorship

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We’re launching a new way for Android users to run Snowflake proxies and help others access the Tor Network.

Android users can already use the Kindness mode inside the Orbot app to turn their phones into Snowflake proxies. But we felt a single-purpose app could help grow the number of volunteers.

We invite you to test the new Snowflake Volunteer Android app and provide us feedback. You just need an Android device and be in a region where your Internet access if not heavily censored.

:snowflake: What is Snowflake?

Snowflake allows people to connect to the Tor network in places where Tor is blocked by routing your connection through volunteer proxies located in uncensored countries.

Similar to VPNs, which help users bypass Internet censorship, Snowflake disguises your Internet activity as though you’re making a video or voice call, making you less detectable to Internet censors.

Learn more at https://snowflake.torproject.org

:test_tube: How to test the Snowflake Volunteer app?

Step 1 - Install the app

You can install it from:

Soon it will be available on F-Droid too.

Step 2 - Enable it

Open the app and enable the proxy through the big Enable toggle button in the main screen.

You can configure if you only want it to run on Wi-Fi (default), and/or while the device is charging, in the Settings screen.

You may see a dialog asking you to disable battery optimization, so the app can run successfully in the background. This is optional, but important long-term, to make sure the app runs as often as possible in the background, without you having to open the app manually.

Soon you should start getting connections from people who are trying to access the Tor Network (check the stats in the bottom part of the main screen).

Step 3 - Share feedback

Let us know what do you think of the app by replying here or sending us an email.

We want to know specifically if:

  • is it clear what the app does and how to use it?
  • are you able to get connections?
  • the app is using significant battery while in the background? (there’s a battery usage screen inside Android’s Settings)
  • is any feature missing?

Thanks!

2

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I installed it on all my phones. Overall the app works well, it can help multiple persons simultaneously.

Yes, the screenshot below is the battery use today, much higher than Orbot :

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I also submitted a bug report on the repository.

Recommend adding metric on total number of person helped since installed, and a real-time chart of throughput.

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Thank you for the feedback. The bug you reported has been fixed.

Can I ask what was the capacity in your settings when it consumed 8.8% of your battery?

In our tests:

  • helping 1 user max used around 1% of battery
  • helping an unlimited amount of users used from 5% to 10% of battery
4

Thank you for your information. It seems within the normal range, my setting is background running & unlimited connection both are on.