Run `tor-browser` as another user ??

Hi,

I need to run Tor Browser as another user..

So here what I'm doing under, MX Linux ( Debian, SysVinit, xfce)

#as root, in a terminal under xfce

useradd --create-home --system --shell /usr/sbin/nologin TorUser
# btw --system or not ?

tar -xf tor-browser-linux...tar -C /opt --totals
chown -R TorUser:TorUser /opt/tor-browser

runuser -u TorUser -- /opt/tor-browser/start-tor-browser.desktop

return

Launching './Browser/start-tor-browser --detach'...

But nothing happen, and I don't see any process for TorUser

any ideas ?

Posted on the offical Tor-browser in June, but no reactions so far... :/

20 points · 10 comments · view on lemmy.world

10 Comments

mina86@lemmy.wtf · 4 pts · 214d (1 reply)

[ removed ]

Korhaka@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 214d

Allows multiple easy to remember users. You can have user, User, uSer, USeR, USER, uSER...

Elieas@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 214d (7 replies)

TorUser doesn't have access to your current user's display. You need to first give access using something like xauth or xhost.

observantTrapezium@lemmy.ca · 0 pts · 214d (6 replies)

I think that's the issue. It's xhost + if I remember correctly.

mina86@lemmy.wtf · 5 pts · 214d (5 replies)

[ removed ]

Gordon_F@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 213d (4 replies)

Thank you @mina86@lemmy.wtf I've look where point the $XAUTHORITY but it point to another user /home/<aUser>/.Xauthority and to give access to the file I have to change also the permission on the parent folders... not to hot to do so...

I see also the TorUser do not have a file .Xauthority ! I've look how generate one for it, but I found no good documentation ! They show how do it once logged with TorUser ! but mine is not meant to be used to login on the system..

Gordon_F@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 213d (2 replies)

I've try one guidance, but it didn't worked.

I quit the xfce, login as root, did

echo $XAUTHORITY
#returned nothing

XAUTHORITY=/tmp/.Xauthority.tmp
xauth -f $XAUTHORITY generate :0 . trusted

and after few minute it returned

xauth: (argv):1 unable to open display :0 😢

kumi@feddit.online · 1 pts · 213d

Do you get a different result if you replace that :0 with your actual DISPLAY value?

Also make sure you run that in a context that does have access to the x server (i guess keep your display manager running as you do this).

Depending on your setup you should be running such commands as normal user instead of root.

kumi@feddit.online · 1 pts · 213d

[ removed ]

mina86@lemmy.wtf · 1 pts · 213d

[ removed ]

Gordon_F@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 213d

I create also a "regular user" TorUser2
To see if it generate the same problems
This user have the .Xauthority file.\

# as root user
runuser -u TorUser2 -- /opt/tor-browser/start-tor-browser.desktop

return Launching './Browser/start-tor-browser --detach...'
and ps -u TorUser2 return nothing...

I've tried also

runuser -l TorUser2 -c '/opt/tor-browser/start-tor-browser.desktop'

/usr/bin/env: './Browser/execdesktop': No such file or directory

Gordon_F@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 208d

I'm still stuck...
I wanted to report to issue to gitlab.torproject.org, to be able to do so, I had to create a account at https://anonticket.torproject.org/user/gitlab-account/create/

few days, and my account is still in "pending" f*ck !

Did someone manage to run tor-browser as another user ?

mumblerfish@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 214d (1 reply)

I don't use .desktop files that much... But I guess xfce is X and not wayland. Check the DISPLAY env var for your user and set the same in your script there or run the binary with that env var.

Gordon_F@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 213d

Thanks @mumblerfish@lemmy.world I did

runuser -u TorUser -- echo $DISPLAY and I have the same value as for my other user. :0.0