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diff --git a/content/blog/2025-12-06-self-hosting-tor.org b/content/blog/2025-12-06-self-hosting-tor.org new file mode 100644 index 0000000..48157f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2025-12-06-self-hosting-tor.org @@ -0,0 +1,115 @@ +#+date: <2025-12-06 Sat 14:13:00> +#+title: Self-Hosting Guide: Tor Websites +#+description: Learn how to host your own website on Tor with an Onion Address in a few short steps! +#+slug: self-hosting-tor + +* Installation + +First, install the Tor package. I'm using Ubuntu, so I'll be using =apt= to +install Tor. + +#+begin_src sh +sudo apt install tor +#+end_src + +* Configuration + +** Tor +Next, let's configure the service we'll be serving via Tor. For this, edit the +file below and add the lines below to the end of the file. + +#+begin_src sh +sudo nano /etc/tor/torrc +#+end_src + +The following lines you add to the file will define the directory to use and the +internet protocol (IP) address and port we will be using. + +#+begin_src text +HiddenServiceDir /var/lib/tor/hidden_service/ +HiddenServicePort 80 127.0.0.1:5000 +#+end_src + +Next, you will need to =cat= the contents of the file below to find the onion +address provided to you. + +#+begin_src sh +sudo cat /var/lib/tor/hidden_service/hostname +#+end_src + +** Nginx + +With this onion address handy, create a file in your Nginx configuration +directory. Mine is =conf.d=, but yours may be =sites-available=. If that's the +case, don't forget to create a symbolic link from the file you created in +=sites-available= to =sites-enabled=. + +#+begin_src sh +sudo nano /etc/nginx/conf.d/tor-website.conf +#+end_src + +Within this Nginx configuration file, I will be using the file below. I have +left comments to explain each part. + +#+begin_src conf +server { + # The IP address and port Nginx will listen on + listen 127.0.0.1:80; + # The onion address to listen for + server_name sv3g2dlyvwyk2nvi3eeh55fcrpdvjlclhi6wwsx57cste6lwdjanzyyd.onion; + # The directory where your website files are + root /var/www/tor-website/; + + # By default, try to serve the files. Return 404 if a file is not found. + location / { + try_files $uri $uri/ =404; + } + + # Put any other configurations here at the end, such as redirects + # ... +} +#+end_src + +Finally, we can restart the services and check to see if it's working. + +#+begin_src sh +sudo systemctl restart nginx.service +sudo systemctl restart tor.service +#+end_src + +At this point, you should be able to view your Onion address in Tor. + +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20251206-self-hosting-tor/onion.webp]] +#+caption: Onion Address in Tor + +** Onion-Location + +Lastly, let's advertise the =Onion-Location= on our clearnet website so that +users on Tor can automatically switch to the Onion address if they want to. + +#+begin_src sh +sudo nano /etc/nginx/conf.d/regular_website.conf +#+end_src + +#+begin_src conf +server { + server_name example.com; + add_header Onion-Location http://YourOnionAddress.onion$request_uri; +} +#+end_src + +Once complete, restart Nginx. + +#+begin_src sh +sudo systemctl restart nginx.service +#+end_src + +You should now see a big purple button in Tor titled =.onion available= when +visiting the clearnet web page. + +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20251206-self-hosting-tor/clearnet.webp]] +#+caption: Onion-Location Button + +If everything worked, you're all done! You now have a website served via an +onion address on Tor and an Onion-Location header advertising your new onion +address. |