Oddbean new post about | logout
 if possible give it a try without the vpn client running (disable any vpn cient built in firewall). I doubt this is the issue but it would eliminate one variable. 

the reason why you were sometimes having success with 9050 and other times 9150 is likely because you have both tor daemon as well as tor browser installed. You could try uninstalling all tor services and focus on getting it to work with sparrow's built in service.  
 Hm… the only tor-anything I’ve downloaded is the browser, unless you count trying wasabi wallet and sparrow which I also now understand has a Tor component. Re: VPN/firewall, it’s a basic VPN (think Nord, Mullvad, proton) and no firewall enabled, never touched my router settings, etc.

Is there an easy way to find out whether I have Tor daemon (or is that the “version” that comes boxed up with sparrow)?

I‘ll try disabling the vpn just to reduce variables - but once I’m done with this browsing/other general online activity session, just to stick to best practices

Thanks for all your help 🙏