---
title: Connect to IRC with Tor
---

-   [Debian](#debian)
    -   [hexchat](#hexchat)
    -   [irssi](#irssi)
-   [Connect to freenode w/ Tor](#connect-to-freenode-w-tor)

Debian
======

hexchat
-------

Two options:

-   set up a \'global\' proxy that applies to every hexchat connection,
    which can be overridden
-   set up a \'local\' proxy that only applies to one connection.

1.  Install Tor Browser
2.  Settings \> Preferences \> Network setup
    -   hostname: 127.0.0.1
    -   port: 9150
    -   type: socks5
    -   user proxy for: all connections \<\<\< I can\'t find this option
3.  HexChat \> Network List \> Add
    -   name it whatever
    -   servers \> add \> km3jy7nrj3e2wiju.onion/6667
    -   leave all checkboxes blank
    -   close \> connect

irssi
-----

1.  install irssi
2.  cat irssi-tor =\> proxychains-ng/proxychains4 -f
    src/proxychains.conf irssi --home \~/.irssi-tor

more info?
<https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/wiki/doc/TorifyHOWTO/irssi>

Connect to freenode w/ Tor
==========================

You need to generate a certificate from your computer and add it to IRC.

-   From the command line:
    -   cd to .config/hexchat/certs
    -   openssl req -x509 -new -newkey rsa:4096 -sha256 -days 1000
        -nodes -out freenode.pem -keyout freenode.pem - generates a
        self-signed certificate
    -   openssl x509 -in freenode.pem -outform der \| sha1sum -b \| cut
        -d\' \' -f1 - generates a fingerprint (i.e. public key sorta)
    -   the certificate file has to have the same name as the name of
        the network in your client
-   in IRC:
    -   connect to freenode server
    -   /msg nickserv cert add \<fingerprint\>
    -   set auth to sas exteral
    -   have tor running while you connect