Oh boy. The first line of any blog post on how to create a Tor Exit Node should be: DON'T.

If you really want to, first do a metric shitload of legal and commercial prep work, including picking a specific ISP for the exit node, registering an LLC or equivalent to be the legal entity that owns the exit node, and all sorts of steps that mean when the inevitable deluge of traffic from hackers, bittorrenters and so on come through your exit node, you're at least somewhat insulated from the blowback you'll get. Prepare for answering legal queries about your exit node being your full time job.

Read https://blog.torproject.org/tips-running-exit-node/ first, and note that even that post is 8 years old.

If you merely want there to be more Tor exit nodes in the world, I recommend you donate to an existing operator of them, like https://torservers.net/ -- if you read their blog, https://torservers.net/blog/ , you'll see the latest entries (also from 8 years ago) are about seized servers and arrested operators.

If you want to donate your ISP bandwidth for improving the Tor network, do it by running a guard relay or middle relay, that is relatively straightforward.

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mitxela 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

I don't really agree with this entirely. Yes, you can be paranoid and only run them when you're absolutely sure there won't be any trouble. Alternatively, we can run so many and the police can learn that nothing happens from raiding one, and then there won't be any legal trouble. Also, you aren't living if you aren't taking risks.

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pixel_popping 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You can also just rent a VPS anonymously and setup an exit node there, which plenty do, you don't need an LLC or any sort of legal entity, you don't need to KYC and you can use XMR (multi-coin swap if paranoid).

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ftnnn 4 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Bit overblown? I have ran many over the years. Another option is don't have a legal presence in the US. Many of these issues disappear. Many US companies will rent you hardware and when there is an issue move on.

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mmooss 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

That's an intense reaction. Do you have experience doing it?

	▲	amiga386 a day ago \| parent [-]
		I haven't run an exit node but I have run a middle node with no issues at all. I know a person who (unrelated to running Tor exit nodes) was accused of doing something illegal using a computer and the police took all his personal electronic equipment - computers, consoles, phones, everything - and locked them up as evidence. Ultimately, the police decided the accusation lacked merit and no charges were brought, and years later he was graciously allowed to collect his equipment back from the police at his own expense. Running an exit node can bring a police response if the strangers you're unconditionally letting use your IP address do something terrible with it. When it traces it back to you, you just have to hope they've heard enough about Tor not to confiscate your entire home's worth of equipment for years on end. That's why I object to the 2015 article which reads like running an exit node on your own computer is like trying out a new MP3 player. It's fine running an exit node with some sort of legal firewall keeping it separate from your person and your home, but it's a failing not to bring this up.