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I tested an Android app that lets anyone fight censorship - and shows your impact in real time
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Snowflake Volunteer, a new Android app recently revealed by the minds behind the Tor Project, has now landed on the Google Play Store as a way for the general public to help fight global censorship.
Not everyone can lend high bandwidth, set up Tor volunteer nodes, or campaign politically in what has become aprox worldwide fight for our right to privacy, amid tightening controls by states and governments that restrict our access to the internet and online services.
But this doesn't mean we can't all contribute in a small way. Snowflake Volunteer developers argue that a convenient way to help is already in our pockets -- our smartphone can be used to provide others with access to the privacy-protecting Tor Network. Snowflake Volunteer is described as a "single-purpose app that gives volunteers control over when and how they contribute."
Also: The best secure browsers for privacy: Expert tested
So, what is Snowflake Volunteer, how does it work, and how did the new Android app perform during hands-on testing? ZDNET decided to find out.
Developed in partnership among Android app studio Bloco, the Tor Network, and Guardian Project, Snowflake Volunteer is a standalone Android app that allows users to lend their internet connections to others to create Snowflake proxies for accessing the Tor Network.
Snowflake Volunteer is based on the Tor Project's Snowflake, which debuted in 2019. Neither Snowflake nor Snowflake Volunteer is designed for anyone living in an oppressed country; instead, they are projects for individuals living in countries that do allow access to the Tor Network -- and are happy to lend this freedom to others.
The Tor Network, accessible via the Tor Browser, is a free way to access the web and .onion addresses while reducing the risk of being tracked. Connections are anonymized through volunteer-run nodes that bounce traffic among themselves, creating high levels of obfuscation and making it extremely difficult for third parties to monitor.
Also: 5 ways to scour the dark web for your data after Google kills its free report