Where is the torrc configuration file stored at ? I need the full path.
I am using Flatpak Tor Browser 15.0.2. Not the Flatpak from the Stable repository. I found a “torrc” file at /etc/tor/torrc But any edit to this file are ignored somehow by Tor Browser.
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Below is the same as above. But with details for those interested.
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Using
• Debian 12 Bookworm
• GNOME 43.9
• Flatpak Tor Browser Launcher 0.3.9
• Tor Browser 15.0.2
• Tor 0.4.7.16-1
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**Steps to reproduce**
1 . Install this Flatpak https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher
2 . Using the installed Tor Browser Launcher above, install **Tor Browser**
3 . Exit **Tor Browser**
4 . Using a text editor, edit the torrc configuration file at /etc/tor/torrc At the bottom of this file, add those two lines:
ExitNodes {ca},{us}
StrictNodes 1
5 . Using Terminal, execute this command to reload the configuration file
sudo systemctl reload tor.service
6 . Using Terminal, execute this command to restart tor
sudo systemctl restart tor.service
7 . Start Tor Browser
8 . Somehow the StrictNodes are ignored. 95% of the time, the ExitNodes are other random countries. This is the second challenge.
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**Notes**
• Why using ExitNodes and StrictNodes? For my testing software services for software engineers.
• I understand all the risk of using ExitNodes and StrictNodes. Per above, my primary need is using Tor ExitNodes Tor testing.
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**What I tried that failed**
• Searched for torrc configuration file stored in other location. I found none. The only one is at /etc/tor/torrc But it is suspiciously hold. Dated way back from 2023.
• Double-checked that the permissions are appropriate on the configuration file at torrc /etc/tor/torrc
• Searched for a .torrc file at /<USERNAME>/.torrc but found none
• Using Flatseal at https://flathub.org/en/apps/com.github.tchx84.Flatseal Allowed access to all files on the devices. Including, but not limited to, /etc/tor/torrc
• Tried another device
• Rebooted devices
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**Cause of this challenge**
Below are theories about the cause of this challenge.
Theory 1
Somehow, Tor Browser does not have reading access to the file at /etc/tor/torrc
Theory 2
Somehow, the Flatpak version of Tor Browser install and use a torrc configuration file which is stored elsewhere. When searching, sometime I get a result at /run/user/<NUMBER>/doc/<RANDOM.CODE>/etc/tor/torrcI am guessing that, after the Flatpak Tor Browser starts, this is a temporary file is created by Flatpak.
We will try that. Then I will try to share our results here.