Share Files Securely With Onionshare

Objective

Distributions

Requirements

Conventions

# - requires given linux command to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command

- requires given linux command to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of command $ - given linux command to be executed as a regular non-privileged user

Introduction

Install Onionshare

Ubuntu

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:micahflee/ppa $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install onionshare

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Debian

# apt install onionshare

/etc/apt/preferences

Package: * Pin: release a=stable Pin-Priority: 1000 Package: * Pin: release a=testing Pin-Priority: 1 Package: onionshare Pin: release a=testing Pin-Priority: 1001

/etc/apt/sources.list

deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ buster main deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ buster main

# apt update # apt install onionshare

Fedora

# dnf install onionshare

Arch Linux

Sending A File

Onionshare Running

Add

Onionshare with a file

Start Sharing

Onionshare Sharing

.onion

Onionshare from Torbrowser

Settings

Onionshare Settings

Closing Thoughts

.onion

Install Onionshare in Linux and use it to send files over Tor.This guide targets Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Arch Linux.A working install of one of the supported distributions with root privileges.Sharing files can be a pain. The larger the file is, the more difficulty it inevitably creates. If you want those files kept private, you're in for a real nightmare. Well, not exactly.Onionshare is a relatively new application that allows you to share files of any size securely and relatively anonymously over the Tor network without the need for a "midde-man" website. It's completely free and open source, and it's actually easy for anyone to use.The developer of Onionshare officially supports Ubuntu with a PPA. Enable it on your system, and install Onionshare.Debian is in an unusual situation. Only the testing and unstable releases have updated versions of Onionshare in their repositories. Stable doesn't have it at all. So, if you're running testing or unstable, just install it. Otherwise, you're going to need to use Apt pinning.If you're on stable, create a file at, and place the following block in it.Now, open. Add the following two lines in.Save, exit, and update Apt. Then, install Onionshare.Onionshare is packaged and ready to install in the Fedora repositories.Onionshare is available in the AUR. You can install it from its page or via whichever AUR tool you prefer.Now that you have Onionshare installed, you can start using it to send files. Start by opening up the program. It's completely graphical, so you'll find it under the "Internet" section of your desktop's launcher.The window that opens up is fairly plain. It's just a small window with a big blank field taking up most of the room. To start sharing files, drag them into that empty space or use thebutton to select the ones you want to share.When you have all your files ready, click the big green button toOnionshare will take a few seconds to get ready. Then, it'll present you with a uniqueaddress.Anyone with a Tor browser can access that address to download the file. So, send the address to the person that you want to share with. If you want to check it out for yourself, use the Tor browser to navigate to the address. You'll see your file there.While Onionshare works great with the defaults, you absolutely can change your settings, if you choose. Click on the gear icon in the lower right corner of the Onionshare window. A new window will open up with the available options. You probably won't need most of it, but the upper left section has a few good things.You can limit the time that your share is available, either by setting a time limit or telling Onionshare to shut down immediately when the file's been downloaded once.Take a look at the other stuff, but it's not necessary most of the time.You're now ready to share files of any size securely over the Tor network. If you're genuinely concerned with security and anonymity, remember to share youraddress over a secure channel, like Signal.