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Scan the TOR Exit Relay using Exitmap

Table of Contents

Exitmap is a fast and modular Python-based scanner for Tor exit relays. Exitmap modules implement tasks that are run over (a subset of) all exit relays. If you have a background in functional programming, think of exitmap as a map() interface for Tor exit relays. Modules can perform any TCP-based networking task; fetching a web page, uploading a file, connecting to an SSH server, or joining an IRC channel.
In practice, exitmap is useful to monitor the reliability and trustworthiness of exit relays. Mainly, we use exitmap to check for false negatives on the Tor Project’s check service and to find malicious exit relays. It is easy to develop new modules for exitmap; just have a look at the file HACKING in the doc/ directory, or check out one of the existing modules.
Exitmap uses Stem to create circuits to all given exit relays, and as soon as tor notifies exitmap of an established circuit, a module is invoked for the newly established circuit. Modules can be pure Python scripts or executables. For executables,torsocks is necessary.

Running exitmap

The only argument exitmap requires is the name of a module. For example, you can run exitmap with the checktest module by running:
$ ./bin/exitmap checktest
The command line output will then show you how Tor bootstraps, the output of the checktest module, and a scan summary. If you don’t need three hops and prefer to use two hops with a static first hop, run:
$ ./bin/exitmap --first-hop CCEF02AA454C0AB0FE1AC68304F6D8C4220C1912 checktest
To run the same test over German exit relays only, execute:
$ ./bin/exitmap --country DE --first-hop CCEF02AA454C0AB0FE1AC68304F6D8C4220C1912 checktest
If you want to pause for five seconds in between circuit creations to reduce the load on the Tor network and the scanning destination, run:
$ ./bin/exitmap --build-delay 5 checktest

Learn more about it here.

Irfan Shakeel

Irfan Shakeel

Irfan Shakeel is a distinguished cybersecurity professional, thought leader, and trainer. As a director at CIP Cyber, he contributes valuable insights and opinions on the industrial cybersecurity domain. In addition to his written expertise, Irfan hosts the popular CIP Cybersecurity webinar, further showcasing his extensive knowledge and commitment to enhancing critical infrastructure protection.

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