Re: Russian blockade of common bitcoin sites, possible workarounds - Роскомнадзор заблокировал пять посвящённых биткоинам сайтов, возможные способы, чтобы избежать цензуры

[mirimir@riseup.net (Mirimir)]

On 01/13/2015 09:57 PM, odinn wrote:
> Mirimir, not everyone has access to VPN.  I should point out that by
> September 2015 in Russia, there is some kind of "tokenization" law
> that goes into effect, which actually was adopted in 2014, which
> apparently is creating all kinds of hassles for everybody ~ something
> about all data having to basically be localized and tokenized and
> Russianized basically.  In other words, even worse than right now today.
> 
> Don't ask me why Russian gov't is becoming probably even more
> ridiculous possibly than China.  I can't tell you.  But you can see
> what I mean by looking at this:
> http://perspecsys.com/how-we-help/cloud-privacy/russia-data-privacy-laws/
> I look at that kind of stuff and I'm just... :-0 hmmmm

This is a different issue. As I read the Perspecsys piece, it's about
protecting Russian users' data from the NSA etc, and not about censoring
online activity.

| It requires [foreign cloud services that Russians use] to store all
| Russian citizen data within the country â?? meaning any cloud services
| that will house personal data of Russian citizens must have physical
| servers located within the Russian Federation.

Good VPN services don't store any user data, and so should be exempt :)

But then again, maybe they'll just be blocked :(

> Now you mentioned VPNs and so for example there is Cryptostorm's free
> VPN, which you can access here:
> https://cryptostorm.is

Yes, the rebirth of CryptoCloud :)

> or
> 
> https://cryptostorm.org/viewforum.php?f=58 (free! may take some
> messing around with and not sure if plays well through Russia)

Also http://www.vpngate.net/en/ and http://www.securitykiss.com/

> or our CgAN VPN, yay! (it's free.)
> 
> https://cyberguerrilla.info/howto-connect-to-cgan-vpn-server-from-a-linux-computer/

:)

> But, not everybody knows about such resources, and many may actually
> be blocked from use of some of either the sites where they are
> available or may find it difficult to find, download, and utilize the
> software packages safely.

Well, VPN services have become more popular, and have proliferated
enormously. Also Tor. But yes, many remain unenlightened.

One can tunnel OpenVPN through SSH, stunnel or obfsproxy to evade
blocks. Obfsproxy has the most potential, I think, given the efforts of
the Tor Project.

> Not to say a VPN isn't going to work but more decentralized systems
> that also have some of the functionality of VPNs of today may be more
> logical to consider.  Similar ideas, but new models, is what I am
> saying. Think forward.  Fall forward.

At some point, it may be necessary to use covert channels :(

> I do think that the (general) model used by OpenBazaar and ZeroNet is
> a very good one and which will hopefully help many people (and the
> content they want to get out to the world) resist censorship.

https://openbazaar.org/
https://github.com/HelloZeroNet/ZeroNet

I'm not so comfortable with sharing my participation in P2P networks
with local observers. Even if adversaries couldn't censor me or see my
activity, they would know what group(s) I'm part of. I'd rather make
them work (at least a little) to see all that.

> Cheers
> 
> -O
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Mirimir:
>> On 01/13/2015 04:11 PM, odinn wrote:
>>> Now banned in Russian Federation:
>>>
>>> bitcoin.org bitcoin.it coinspot.io btsec.com indacoin.com
>>>
>>> So how does one make some possible workarounds to this sort of
>>> censorship?
> 
>> Just use a VPN service.
> 
>>> Well, one could make the sites be broadcast in different ways.
>>> This is an effort that I will simply shown in a visual manner
>>> here: https://twitter.com/anonycast/status/554853564880015360 
>>> That's a lot of work but if you have your site(s) backed up to
>>> all those places, it's hard to take them down.
>>>
>>> But what if they are literally blocked somehow anyway?
>>>
>>> Here's another workaround or method to avoid such censorship that
>>> I saw emerge recently:
>>>
>>> "Zeronet - Decentralized websites using bitcoin crypto and
>>> bittorrent network"
>>>
>>> In otherwords, for those that have bitcoin installation in Russia
>>> (and there are full nodes in Russian Federation in various
>>> places, as can be seen by a brief indication from
>>> https://getaddr.bitnodes.io/ )
>>>
>>> However, you do not need to be full node to actually use Zeronet.
>>> You just need to publish content in a decentralized way, see:
>>>
>>> https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/2s72uy/zeronet_decentralized_websites_using_bitcoin/
>>>
>>>
>>>
> An explanation is available at:
>>>
>>> https://github.com/HelloZeroNet/ZeroNet/blob/master/README.md
>>>
>>> Ð?бÑ?Ñ?Ñ?нение можно найÑ?и на 
>>> https://github.com/HelloZeroNet/ZeroNet/blob/master/README.md
>>>
>>> Essentially this comes right at the same time as the Cameron 
>>> announcements of bans of encryption in UK (which will not work)
>>> and right at same time as announcement of "New CISPA" in United
>>> States... and right before a US Presidential announcement to come
>>> in a week.  So expect more countries' "leaders" to throw out
>>> annoucements saying that you can only have encryption if they let
>>> you, or they get to decide what sites you visit, and so forth.
>>> We must fight this.  They do what they will do, we do what we
>>> will do, and we will win.
>>>
>>>
>>> News story from January 13 (text is shown below in English and
>>> Russian) original link from:
>>> http://tjournal.ru/paper/bitcoin-org-rkn
>>>
>>> Roscomnadzor blocked five dedicated Bitcoin sites
>>>
>>> Roskomnadzor introduced address Bitcoin.org - community of users
>>> and experts in Cryptocurrency supported organization Bitcoin
>>> Foundation - in the register of banned sites. In addition, the
>>> sites were blocked bitcoin.it, coinspot.io, btsec.com and
>>> Exchange indacoin.com. Information about this appeared on January
>>> 13 on the website Roskomnadzora. - Editorial TJ tests buttons
>>> UpToLike
>>>
>>> Updated at 17:13: added an excerpt from the court's decision.
>>>
>>> The reason why the site was inscribed in the register was
>>> initially unknown. TJ verification showed that the site is no
>>> longer open.
>>>
>>> There is information on the benefits of Bitcoins and how to use
>>> it as individuals and companies, as well as links to community
>>> dedicated Bitcoin. User-generated content on the website.
>>>
>>> According to Vladislav Zdolnikova taken after unloading from one
>>> of the providers were also blocked sites Bitcoin.it (Wiki
>>> dedicated Bitcoins) and Btsec.com (Russian-speaking community
>>> Bitcoin). The reason was the decision of the court rendered more
>>> September 30, 2014.
>>>
>>> Press secretary Vadim Roskomnadzora Ampelonsky confirmed TJ,
>>> that dedicated Bitcoin sites are blocked on the basis of the
>>> decision of the City Court Nevyansk Sverdlovsk region. Details of
>>> the decision he did not elaborate.
>>>
>>> On the Court's website states that view the text of judicial
>>> decisions is temporarily unavailable. TJ sent to the court a copy
>>> of the request for extradition of the judicial act to limit
>>> access to these sites.
>>>
>>> The court was told that copies are only actors, but it is clear
>>> that the defendant does not take part in the process. In the
>>> city prosecutor's office offered to send an appeal to the
>>> District prokurara on the official form by fax to the media, but
>>> this proved impossible due to the lack of TJ media registration
>>> and fax.
>>>
>>> Block were also Russian-speaking community coinspot.ru and
>>> Exchange indacoin.ru. Coinspot.ru representatives stated that
>>> they have never been contacted directly, and they said the
>>> decision to block the site was taken unilaterally. After they
>>> changed the lock on the domain coinspot.io.
>>>
>>> - From the latest government initiatives to regulate Bitcoins
>>> can distinguish the bill prepared by the Ministry of Finance for
>>> the proposed fine for Bitcoin mining, loading mayningovyh
>>> programs and even spreading of information on how to
>>> Cryptocurrency sale. However, the document was published by the
>>> Ministry of Finance October 3 - later than the decision was made
>>> Nevyansk court.
>>>
>>> Later Roskomnadzor published excerpts from the decision Nevyansk
>>> City Court. Apparently, the court was guided by a statement of
>>> the Central Bank on 27 January 2014, in which Cryptocurrency
>>> equated to money substitutes. However, on March 4 at the Central
>>> Bank explained that it is not prohibited Cryptocurrency in
>>> Russia.
>>>
>>> In accordance with Art. 27 of the Federal Law "On the Central 
>>> Bank of the Russian Federation," the official monetary unit
>>> (currency) of the Russian Federation is the ruble. Introduction
>>> in Russia of other monetary units and production of money
>>> substitutes is prohibited.
>>>
>>> In such circumstances Cryptocurrency, including "Bitcoin" are 
>>> money substitutes, contribute to the growth of the shadow economy
>>> and can not be used by citizens and legal persons on the
>>> territory of the Russian Federation. of solutions â??2-978 Nevyansk
>>> City Court
>>>
>>> РоÑ?комнадзоÑ? заблокиÑ?овал пÑ?Ñ?Ñ? поÑ?вÑ?Ñ?Ñ?ннÑ?Ñ? биÑ?коинам Ñ?айÑ?ов
>>>
>>> РоÑ?комнадзоÑ? внÑ?Ñ? адÑ?еÑ? Bitcoin.org â?? Ñ?ообÑ?еÑ?Ñ?ва полÑ?зоваÑ?елей и 
>>> Ñ?пеÑ?иалиÑ?Ñ?ов по кÑ?ипÑ?овалÑ?Ñ?е, поддеÑ?живаемÑ?й оÑ?ганизаÑ?ией
>>> Bitcoin Foundation â?? в Ñ?ееÑ?Ñ?Ñ? запÑ?еÑ?Ñ?ннÑ?Ñ? Ñ?айÑ?ов. Ð?Ñ?оме Ñ?ого,
>>> заблокиÑ?ованнÑ?ми оказалиÑ?Ñ? Ñ?айÑ?Ñ? bitcoin.it, coinspot.io,
>>> btsec.com и биÑ?жа indacoin.com. Ð?нÑ?оÑ?маÑ?иÑ? об Ñ?Ñ?ом поÑ?вилаÑ?Ñ? 13
>>> Ñ?нваÑ?Ñ? на Ñ?айÑ?е РоÑ?комнадзоÑ?а. â?? Ñ?едакÑ?иÑ? TJ Ñ?еÑ?Ñ?иÑ?Ñ?еÑ? кнопки
>>> UpToLike
>>>
>>> Ð?бновлено в 17:13: добавлена вÑ?деÑ?жка из Ñ?еÑ?ениÑ? Ñ?Ñ?да.
>>>
>>> Ð?Ñ?иÑ?ина, по коÑ?оÑ?ой Ñ?айÑ? бÑ?л внеÑ?Ñ?н в Ñ?ееÑ?Ñ?Ñ?, изнаÑ?алÑ?но бÑ?ла 
>>> неизвеÑ?Ñ?на. Ð?Ñ?овеÑ?ка TJ показала, Ñ?Ñ?о Ñ?айÑ? пеÑ?еÑ?Ñ?ал оÑ?кÑ?Ñ?ваÑ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?.
>>>
>>> Ð?а Ñ?айÑ?е опÑ?бликована инÑ?оÑ?маÑ?иÑ? по пÑ?еимÑ?Ñ?еÑ?Ñ?вам биÑ?коина и
>>> Ñ?поÑ?обаÑ? его иÑ?полÑ?зованиÑ? как оÑ?делÑ?нÑ?ми лÑ?дÑ?ми, Ñ?ак и
>>> компаниÑ?ми, а Ñ?акже Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?лки на Ñ?ообÑ?еÑ?Ñ?ва, поÑ?вÑ?Ñ?Ñ?ннÑ?е биÑ?коинÑ?.
>>> Ð?олÑ?зоваÑ?елÑ?Ñ?кого конÑ?енÑ?а на Ñ?айÑ?е неÑ?.
>>>
>>> Ð?о инÑ?оÑ?маÑ?ии Ð?ладиÑ?лава Ð?долÑ?никова, взÑ?Ñ?ой Ñ?еÑ?ез вÑ?гÑ?Ñ?зкÑ? Ñ?
>>> одного из пÑ?овайдеÑ?ов, заблокиÑ?ованнÑ?ми оказалиÑ?Ñ? Ñ?акже Ñ?айÑ?Ñ?
>>> Bitcoin.it (вики-Ñ?нÑ?иклопедиÑ?, поÑ?вÑ?Ñ?Ñ?ннаÑ? биÑ?коинам) и Btsec.com
>>> (Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?коÑ?зÑ?Ñ?ное Ñ?ообÑ?еÑ?Ñ?во Bitcoin). Ð?Ñ?иÑ?иной Ñ?Ñ?ало Ñ?еÑ?ение Ñ?Ñ?да,
>>> вÑ?неÑ?енное еÑ?Ñ? 30 Ñ?енÑ?Ñ?бÑ?Ñ? 2014 года.
>>>
>>> Ð?Ñ?еÑ?Ñ?-Ñ?екÑ?еÑ?аÑ?Ñ? РоÑ?комнадзоÑ?а Ð?адим Ð?мпелонÑ?кий подÑ?веÑ?дил TJ,
>>> Ñ?Ñ?о поÑ?вÑ?Ñ?Ñ?ннÑ?е биÑ?коинам Ñ?айÑ?Ñ? блокиÑ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ? на оÑ?новании Ñ?еÑ?ениÑ? 
>>> Ð?евÑ?Ñ?нÑ?кого гоÑ?одÑ?кого Ñ?Ñ?да СвеÑ?дловÑ?кой облаÑ?Ñ?и. Ð?еÑ?али Ñ?еÑ?ениÑ?
>>> он не Ñ?Ñ?оÑ?нил.
>>>
>>> Ð?а Ñ?айÑ?е Ñ?Ñ?да говоÑ?иÑ?Ñ?Ñ?, Ñ?Ñ?о пÑ?оÑ?моÑ?Ñ? Ñ?екÑ?Ñ?ов Ñ?Ñ?дебнÑ?Ñ? акÑ?ов
>>> вÑ?еменно недоÑ?Ñ?Ñ?пен. TJ напÑ?авил в Ñ?Ñ?д пÑ?оÑ?Ñ?бÑ? о вÑ?даÑ?е копии
>>> Ñ?Ñ?дебного акÑ?а по огÑ?аниÑ?ениÑ? доÑ?Ñ?Ñ?па к Ñ?казаннÑ?м Ñ?айÑ?ам.
>>>
>>> Ð? Ñ?Ñ?де Ñ?аÑ?Ñ?казали, Ñ?Ñ?о копии вÑ?даÑ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ? лиÑ?Ñ? Ñ?Ñ?аÑ?Ñ?никам пÑ?оÑ?еÑ?Ñ?а,
>>> однако оÑ?евидно, Ñ?Ñ?о Ñ?Ñ?оÑ?она оÑ?веÑ?Ñ?иков не пÑ?инимаеÑ? Ñ?Ñ?аÑ?Ñ?иÑ? в
>>> пÑ?оÑ?еÑ?Ñ?е. Ð? гоÑ?одÑ?кой пÑ?окÑ?Ñ?аÑ?Ñ?Ñ?е пÑ?едложили напÑ?авиÑ?Ñ? обÑ?аÑ?ение
>>> на имÑ? окÑ?Ñ?жного пÑ?окÑ?Ñ?аÑ?а на оÑ?иÑ?иалÑ?ном бланке СÐ?Ð? по Ñ?акÑ?Ñ?,
>>> однако Ñ?Ñ?о оказалоÑ?Ñ? невозможнÑ?м ввидÑ? оÑ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?виÑ? Ñ? TJ
>>> Ñ?егиÑ?Ñ?Ñ?аÑ?ии СÐ?Ð? и Ñ?акÑ?а.
>>>
>>> Ð?аблокиÑ?ованнÑ?ми Ñ?акже оказалиÑ?Ñ? Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?коÑ?зÑ?Ñ?ное Ñ?ообÑ?еÑ?Ñ?во
>>> coinspot.ru и биÑ?жа indacoin.ru. Ð?Ñ?едÑ?Ñ?авиÑ?ели coinspot.ru
>>> заÑ?вили, Ñ?Ñ?о Ñ? ними никÑ?о не Ñ?вÑ?зÑ?валÑ?Ñ? напÑ?Ñ?мÑ?Ñ?, и по иÑ? Ñ?ловам
>>> Ñ?еÑ?ение о блокиÑ?овке Ñ?айÑ?а пÑ?инималоÑ?Ñ? в одноÑ?Ñ?оÑ?оннем поÑ?Ñ?дке.
>>> Ð?оÑ?ле блокиÑ?овки они Ñ?менили домен на coinspot.io.
>>>
>>> Ð?з поÑ?ледниÑ? гоÑ?Ñ?даÑ?Ñ?Ñ?веннÑ?Ñ? иниÑ?иаÑ?ив по Ñ?егÑ?лиÑ?ованиÑ?
>>> биÑ?коинов можно вÑ?делиÑ?Ñ? законопÑ?оекÑ?, подгоÑ?овленнÑ?й
>>> Ð?иниÑ?Ñ?еÑ?Ñ?Ñ?вом Ñ?инанÑ?ов, по коÑ?оÑ?омÑ? пÑ?едлагалоÑ?Ñ? Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?аÑ?оваÑ?Ñ? за
>>> добÑ?Ñ?Ñ? биÑ?коинов, загÑ?Ñ?зкÑ? майнинговÑ?Ñ? пÑ?огÑ?амм и даже за
>>> Ñ?аÑ?пÑ?оÑ?Ñ?Ñ?енение инÑ?оÑ?маÑ?ии о Ñ?поÑ?обаÑ? пÑ?одажи кÑ?ипÑ?овалÑ?Ñ?Ñ?.
>>> Ð?днако докÑ?менÑ? Ð?инÑ?ина бÑ?л опÑ?бликован 3 окÑ?Ñ?бÑ?Ñ? â?? позже, Ñ?ем
>>> бÑ?ло вÑ?неÑ?ено Ñ?еÑ?ение Ð?евÑ?Ñ?нÑ?кого Ñ?Ñ?да.
>>>
>>> Ð?озже РоÑ?комнадзоÑ? опÑ?бликовал вÑ?деÑ?жкÑ? из Ñ?еÑ?ениÑ? Ð?евÑ?Ñ?нÑ?кого 
>>> гоÑ?одÑ?кого Ñ?Ñ?да. СÑ?дÑ? по вÑ?емÑ?, Ñ?Ñ?д Ñ?Ñ?ководÑ?Ñ?вовалÑ?Ñ? заÑ?влением 
>>> ЦенÑ?Ñ?обанка оÑ? 27 Ñ?нваÑ?Ñ? 2014 года, в коÑ?оÑ?ом кÑ?ипÑ?овалÑ?Ñ?Ñ?
>>> пÑ?иÑ?авнÑ?ли к денежнÑ?м Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?огаÑ?ам. Ð?Ñ?авда, 4 маÑ?Ñ?а в ЦенÑ?Ñ?обанке
>>> Ñ?азÑ?Ñ?Ñ?нили, Ñ?Ñ?о не запÑ?еÑ?али кÑ?ипÑ?овалÑ?Ñ?Ñ? на Ñ?еÑ?Ñ?иÑ?оÑ?ии РФ.
>>>
>>> Ð? Ñ?ооÑ?веÑ?Ñ?Ñ?вии Ñ?о Ñ?Ñ?. 27 ФедеÑ?алÑ?ного закона «Ð? ЦенÑ?Ñ?алÑ?ном
>>> банке РоÑ?Ñ?ийÑ?кой ФедеÑ?аÑ?ии» оÑ?иÑ?иалÑ?ной денежной единиÑ?ей
>>> (валÑ?Ñ?ой) РоÑ?Ñ?ийÑ?кой ФедеÑ?аÑ?ии Ñ?влÑ?еÑ?Ñ?Ñ? Ñ?Ñ?блÑ?. Ð?ведение на
>>> Ñ?еÑ?Ñ?иÑ?оÑ?ии РоÑ?Ñ?ии дÑ?Ñ?гиÑ? денежнÑ?Ñ? единиÑ? и вÑ?пÑ?Ñ?к денежнÑ?Ñ?
>>> Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?огаÑ?ов запÑ?еÑ?аеÑ?Ñ?Ñ?.
>>>
>>> Ð?Ñ?и Ñ?акиÑ? обÑ?Ñ?оÑ?Ñ?елÑ?Ñ?Ñ?ваÑ? кÑ?ипÑ?овалÑ?Ñ?Ñ?, в Ñ?ом Ñ?иÑ?ле «Ð?иÑ?коин», 
>>> Ñ?влÑ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ? денежнÑ?ми Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?Ñ?огаÑ?ами, Ñ?поÑ?обÑ?Ñ?вÑ?Ñ?Ñ? Ñ?оÑ?Ñ?Ñ? Ñ?еневой
>>> Ñ?кономики и не могÑ?Ñ? бÑ?Ñ?Ñ? иÑ?полÑ?зованÑ? гÑ?ажданами и Ñ?Ñ?идиÑ?еÑ?кими
>>> лиÑ?ами на Ñ?еÑ?Ñ?иÑ?оÑ?ии РоÑ?Ñ?ийÑ?кой ФедеÑ?аÑ?ии. из Ñ?еÑ?ениÑ? â??2-978
>>> Ð?евÑ?Ñ?нÑ?кого гоÑ?одÑ?кого Ñ?Ñ?да
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
> 
> 
>