[banned mixer] Mixer Review Program #2
Bitcointalk username: joker_josue
#INTROSince this was their first time using the platform, I cannot assess what changes were made before this second phase of revisions. Therefore, I tried to focus on how the platform itself works, based on my previous experiences with other mixes. I also tried to understand how the site works and situations that can be improved for Tumbler users.
All tests carried out were carried out on a computer with original Windows 11 and with all updates, as well as the browsers used (Chrome and Edge), on a fiber internet connection with 500MBits of speed.
#WEBSITEI found the website modern and with a lot of information about the mixing service, with clear and easy-to-understand information. We easily find information about
/fee]service costs, with a button directly in the top menu, and I think this is very good.
There is also a very complex
/faq]FAQ available that answers many questions about the platform and what to do in the most varied situations that may arise.
Suggestion: Since there is a wide variety of types of questions answered in the FAQ, I suggested the implementation of subtopics, allowing people to go more quickly to the topic they want to obtain information about. It could be divided into topics, such as: Info Tumbler (response about the website); Mixing (answer about how the mix is made); Problems (answers about problems that may occur), among others.
Another point that I found interesting was the way Tumbler provides support, giving the user the possibility of contacting the service team anonymously.
Suggestion: I noticed that whenever the support pop-up opens, the user is automatically assigned a name - which I think is a good thing. But, I got the idea that it is always the same name given "John Doe". Wouldn't it be interesting and easier for you to manage support if the automatically assigned name was different every time? Maybe this can be done and I don't know, but here's a tip.
Although the site is responsive, and has the button to start the mix in both the menu and the initial header, in smaller resolutions this button is no longer visible.
Suggestion: It could be interesting somehow, in smaller resolutions, to have a button at the top of the page. This allowed the user to not have to click on the menu button or scroll to see the mix button. This would speed up the use of the website on any device.
On the home page, in the "What is Tumbler?" allegedly there is a video, but when you click play nothing happens.
Suggestion: Is it something that is still in development? If so, it would be a good idea to give that indication or remove it from the website until it is ready. If it is a bug, you should check the situation.
#MIX 1Date: 28/10/2023 12h30 UTC +1
Browser: Chrome - Clearnet
Security level: Standard fee 2.5%
Delay: 4h
Order: QDRD675K-2IDR0HWhen starting the mix, the first thing you have to do is fill out a captcha. Although I didn't see a problem with that, I noticed that it took several seconds (enough to have noticed) for the captcha to appear and then to be validated.
Next, the settings we want to use in our mix appear - I used them as already mentioned. In the "Fee calculator" option, I detected a bug, which despite being irrelevant to the operation of the mix, can be annoying.
When you write a value that you want to use and it is not the most suitable for privacy, an alert appears - something that I really liked.
But, when you change the value, the pop-up symbol disappears, but it remains on the page, and no matter where you click or scroll, it doesn't leave the page.
Suggestion: It would be good to review this situation, because it can be annoying, as the only way I managed to remove the pop-up was to use the calculation value where the alert appears and click on the symbol again, or continue the mixing process.
The next step is a page where you have to approve the terms of service, remembering the conditions under which it is used. A very positive aspect, in my opinion.
Then we have the page with all the information about the mixing process, deposit address, time and point at which the mixing process is, the possibility of downloading the letter of guarantee, and the overview of the order which tells the value which will be received after all fees have been paid.
At the end of the process, we are given the code for future mixing so that the coins already sent are not used and we are informed of the txid of the transaction.
Blockchain Analysis: I'm not an expert in blockchain analysis, but I decided to try to understand how the mixing chain is made, by looking at the Tumbler mix transactions. I noticed that I sent the BTC to an address that had that balance and it was not sent anywhere. Well, maybe other mixing systems also work like this, I never took the time to research, I just wanted to do it in this case. For me, not being an expert, I found the method very interesting.
#MIX 2Date: 29/10/2023 15h50 UTC +0
Browser: Edge - Clearnet
Security level: Premium fee 3.9%
Delay: 4h
Order: 54SQKKKE-FRPWDYOverall, it seemed like the site loaded slightly faster on Edge. Even the captcha loading time, although it also took a few seconds, was slightly faster than in Chrome. On the other hand, I had the feeling that it took a little longer to go from step 3 (terms) to 4 (mix progress).
The bug, already mentioned, related to the privacy alert pop-up based on the amount to be sent, remained. Otherwise, the process proceeded normally, with behavior equivalent to mix 1.
It should also be noted that at the end of the process, in addition to what has already been mentioned, the page also presents the code to be used in the next mix, with the aim of avoiding receiving coins already sent again. As well as a button to start a new mix.
And also on this page, we are informed that the information from this mix will be automatically deleted (this information was also available in the previous test).
Blockchain Analysis: I noticed that the BTC received came from an address that had not been used for 3 days. But when I did mix 1 at the Standard level, the BTC received came from an address that hadn't been used in 4 days. As I said, I'm no expert in blockchain analysis, but I thought that the mix in Premium makes more sense, with BTC coming from an older address than in Standard. Perhaps this element is irrelevant to the mix, either way, this information is here.
#MIX 3Date: 30/10/2023 20h40 UTC +0
Browser: Chrome - Clearnet
Security level: Basic fee 0.4%
Delay: 0h15
Order: C1ODVHYF-75QO6ZI decided to take another type of approach, which was to directly compare Tumbler with another mix, something I had already done with other mixing services. To make this comparison, I chose to use the Yomix service. For this test, I used the minimum configurations of both services: Tumbler (Security level: Basic fee 0.4% + 0.0002 per output address); Yomix (Service Fee: 0.700% + 0.00002673 per output address). Bitcoin was sent at the same time to the address of each mixing service, in the same transaction via Electrum, in equal amounts (0.001
BTC minimum acceptable for both platforms).
After sending the BTC, the Yomix service detected the sending of money more quickly, while Tumbler took a little longer. But this is probably related to the block explorer that each service uses. Both services were effective within the defined delay, as I received the mix from each service at the same time, that is, in the same block.
Blockchain Analysis: Once again, as I am not an expert, I took a quick look at the transactions of each service, I got the feeling that it is easier to understand that bitcoin comes from Yomix than from Tumbler. This is because Yomix uses P2SH addresses and Tumble uses SegWit addresses. So, as it is increasingly common to use SegWit addresses nowadays, transactions end up going unnoticed. But, that might just be my perception, and it's probably an irrelevant detail.
#FINAL COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONSOverall, I enjoyed using the [banned mixer] mixing service. I found the site simple and easy to use, with relevant information and practical to configure, even for those not used to using this type of service. With the different levels of security proposed, they all seemed to me to be quite viable for what is intended. I got the idea that the site is slightly faster on the Edge browser than on Chrome. Although Yomix has lower rates, I think Tumbler becomes more effective in terms of mixing objectives.
Suggestions:- In the "Fee calculator" option, in step 2, the value appears blank. I suggested that the minimum value be set by default, which can then be adjusted by the user;
- When we wait for the mixing to be done, in step 4 "In progress", there could be a sound signal each time the process moves to the next mixing phase (with the user being able to deactivate it). This allowed, if the user keeps the browser window open, to always know that a phase of the process has been passed;
- It is possible to create a mixing profile, where the user creates a certain configuration (fee, delay, addresses, etc.). In other words, the user created a txt file, following certain parameters with necessary information, which would then simply be sent to the website and the mixing process would begin. I don't remember seeing such a feature in any other mixing service, but it could be useful for those who use mixing a lot;
- The discount code and the code from previous mixes are placed in the same field, this is no longer practical if the person wants to use both. I think it could be useful to have separate fields for each type of code;
- Still related to the mixing code, from what I understand, it is only possible to use one code at a time. How does it work if the person has two codes that have not yet been used, and only wants to use them in a third mix? It could be useful to have the option to add more than one mixing code.