So while there are a bunch of new Tor clients running, it would seem they're not doing much.
Huh, didn't notice that. Should have seen it from the network bandwidth graph. It's even more odd in some ways than the OP spike.
I've got a fairly good understanding of the mechanics of the Tor network having studied it down to the packet level, modified the source for academic experiments, etc. I can't think of any reason that would compromise anonymity where it would help to have a whole bunch of mostly idle OPs idling on the network.
Maybe a botnet C&C with low bandwidth staggered command orders, or maybe it's infrastructure building for something that hasn't been activated yet. Or of course the more mundane explanation that lots of people downloaded the clients after the recent publicity, and don't really use the browser bundles.
Huh, didn't notice that. Should have seen it from the network bandwidth graph. It's even more odd in some ways than the OP spike.
I've got a fairly good understanding of the mechanics of the Tor network having studied it down to the packet level, modified the source for academic experiments, etc. I can't think of any reason that would compromise anonymity where it would help to have a whole bunch of mostly idle OPs idling on the network.
Maybe a botnet C&C with low bandwidth staggered command orders, or maybe it's infrastructure building for something that hasn't been activated yet. Or of course the more mundane explanation that lots of people downloaded the clients after the recent publicity, and don't really use the browser bundles.