> 1. If you're threat model is surveillance state, are things like this helpful or harmful?
Good question. I don't know the answer, but I've been operating on the assumption that Tor Browser gives you more privacy from commercial surveillance (e.g., our fellow HNers), but not from many state actors (e.g., US gov't).
I especially wouldn't encourage Tor Browser use by a member of a group being oppressed by a regime that has use of sophisticated surveillance technology. Tor use is very easily detected, and I would fear they would just be drawing attention to themself.
However, if you're not targeted (as a group, or individually), and your threat model is mainly that you don't want a hundred data brokers to know about your totally legal interest in the Tina Fey Matt Damon Fanfic Clubhouse site... then, sure, run Tor Browser. Just be sure to disclose that club membership if ever asked on the form when applying for DoD security clearance, and I'd guess they probably already know.
> 2. If you need a tool like this, what's the best way to obtain/install this anonymously?
Simply using it will flag it to the ISP as Tor traffic. So you could just download it using whatever ISP you will be using to run it, without revealing much more.
Good question. I don't know the answer, but I've been operating on the assumption that Tor Browser gives you more privacy from commercial surveillance (e.g., our fellow HNers), but not from many state actors (e.g., US gov't).
I especially wouldn't encourage Tor Browser use by a member of a group being oppressed by a regime that has use of sophisticated surveillance technology. Tor use is very easily detected, and I would fear they would just be drawing attention to themself.
However, if you're not targeted (as a group, or individually), and your threat model is mainly that you don't want a hundred data brokers to know about your totally legal interest in the Tina Fey Matt Damon Fanfic Clubhouse site... then, sure, run Tor Browser. Just be sure to disclose that club membership if ever asked on the form when applying for DoD security clearance, and I'd guess they probably already know.
> 2. If you need a tool like this, what's the best way to obtain/install this anonymously?
Simply using it will flag it to the ISP as Tor traffic. So you could just download it using whatever ISP you will be using to run it, without revealing much more.