Tor Browser 6.0a1 is released

by boklm | January 27, 2016

A new alpha Tor Browser release is available for download in the 6.0a1 distribution directory and on the alpha download page.

This release features important security updates to Firefox.

On the usability front we improved the setup wizard UI flow. We also changed the search bar URL for the DuckDuckGo search engine to its onion URL.

On the build system side, we switched the guest build VMs to Debian Wheezy for the Linux version (the previous versions were built using Ubuntu 10.04 LTS).

Here is the complete changelog since 5.5a6:

  • All Platforms
    • Update Firefox to 38.6.0esr
    • Update NoScript to 2.9.0.2
    • Update Torbutton to 1.9.5
      • Bug 16990: Show circuit display for connections using multi-party channels
      • Bug 18019: Avoid empty prompt shown after non-en-US update
      • Bug 18004: Remove Tor fundraising donation banner
      • Code cleanup
      • Translation updates
    • Update Tor Launcher to 0.2.9
      • Bug 18113: Randomly permutate available default bridges of chosen type
      • Bug 11773: Setup wizard UI flow improvements
      • Translation updates
    • Bug 17428: Remove Flashproxy
    • Bug 18115+18102+18071+18091: Update/add new obfs4 bridge
    • Bug 18072: Change recommended pluggable transport type to obfs4
    • Bug 18008: Create a new MAR Signing key and bake it into Tor Browser
    • Bug 16322: Use onion address for DuckDuckGo search engine
    • Bug 17917: Changelog after update is empty if JS is disabled
    • Bug 17790: Map the proper SHIFT characters to the digit keys (fix of #15646)
  • Build System
    • Linux
      • Bug 15578: Switch to Debian Wheezy guest VMs (10.04 LTS is EOL)

Comments

Please note that the comment area below has been archived.

Anonymous (not verified) said:

January 28, 2016

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After updating W10 to 14251.rs1 I am getting an error msg
" Couldn't load XPCOM. " this is an issue in both 5.x & 6.x of Tor

Have uninstalled Mozilla and Tor a couple times with no resolve...

Anonymous (not verified) said:

January 28, 2016

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I get the XPCOM error with Windows 10 Insider Preview build 14251 and am not running any Webroot product.

Anonymous (not verified) said:

January 28, 2016

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slow

Anonymous (not verified) said:

January 28, 2016

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"We also changed the search bar URL for the DuckDuckGo search engine to its onion URL."

YES. I tried adding it a couple days ago, it's like you've read my mind.

Anonymous (not verified) said:

January 28, 2016

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I actually didn't mind the donation banner; the only reason I didn't donate is because I'm broke right now. Will it be re-introduced in the future or are there sponsorships in the works that would help with funding?

We will definitely do another donations campaign. The exact timing is still to be decided though -- we really want to get our infrastructure better in place for handling donations, before doing a second drive.

Thanks!

Anonymous (not verified) said:

January 28, 2016

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I try to run this version, but the error appears

tor-browser_en-US/Browser/libxul.so: undefined symbol: gdk_window_get_visual
Couldn't load XPCOM.

and torbrowser can not start.

The link provided above is Windows-specific and not relevant because I run under Linux. All previous versions from 3.0 to 5.5 work without this issue.

Anonymous (not verified) said:

January 30, 2016

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Couldn't load XPCOM error after installing Windows 10 insider 14251. Installed TOR 5.5 problem remains ;-( (no webroot products installed)

Anonymous (not verified) said:

February 01, 2016

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Same here, gettting Couldn't load XPCOM error since I installed build 14251. Tried Uninstalling and Intalled multiple Tor versions with the same problem.

Firefox by itself works fine.

Anonymous (not verified) said:

February 01, 2016

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Tor Browser doesn't work on Windows 10 build 14251.rs1
getting error: Couldn't load XPCOM

Tried Uninstalling and Installed multiple Tor versions with the same problem.

Firefox by itself works fine.

Anonymous (not verified) said:

February 01, 2016

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Same here, does not work in Windows 10 insider 14251, Couldn't load XPCOM, I am not running any Webroot or antivirus products.

Anonymous (not verified) said:

February 01, 2016

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Windows 10 x64 14251.rs1_release.160124

Firefox - working
Firefox Developer Edition (46a2) - working
Firefox Portable Edition - working

Tor Browser - not working, showing "cannot start xpcom" error

Anonymous (not verified) said:

February 02, 2016

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Windows 10 x64 14251
Firefox Developer Edition (46a2) - working
Tor Browser - "cannot start xpcom"

Anonymous (not verified) said:

February 03, 2016

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i'm having a problem with tor browser can't load xpcom. i tried using both stable and experimental version of tor. i only have the windows 10 pro and microsoft's version of windows virus scanner and firewall. i don't use any third party antivirus n firewall. i never got to use the tor browser before and i don't know of any good alternatives to use until tor gets fixed.

Anonymous (not verified) said:

February 04, 2016

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potential security issue:

Warning message from my anti malware software that says: "screen logger detected"
when I'm trying to load the Tor browser.

Warning message details are as follows:

"screen logger detected"
Program: Tor Browser\Browser\firefox.exe
PRoduct Name: Tor Browser
Product Version: 38.6.0
Company: Mozilla Corporation
Description: Tor Browser
"The program firefox.exe is trying to get screen content. A screen content reader can compromise passwords or other sensitive information."

Has anyone seen this before?

I have also seen this warning issue in past versions (1-3 years ago), but am only trying to submit this now.