Pidgin freezes when generating new OTR private key

[jasonwc]

Binary package hint: pidgin

Package: pidgin-otr (Intrepid) 3.2.0-1
Version of Ubuntu: Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid)
Systems used: AMD XP 3200+, 1 GB DDR, 160 GB HDD running Ubuntu 8.10
                         HP dv9500t laptop, 2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo, 2 GB DDR, 160 GB HDD running of Ubuntu 8.10 LiveCD

When I enable the pidgin-otr plugin and attempt to generate a new private key, Pidgin pops up a dialog box telling me that a new private key is being generated. However, key generation never completes and eventually I receive a notification that Pidgin or "Generating Private Key" is not responding. I have attempted to generate keys for both a XMPP (GMail Account) and an AIM account with the same result, and have repeated the process on both systems multiple times.

I have successfully generated keys using the same version of OTR on Windows XP SP3 on the HP dv9500t laptop.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 8.10
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/pidgin
Package: pidgin 1:2.5.2-0ubuntu1
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: pidgin
Uname: Linux 2.6.27-9-generic i686

[Jmadero (jmadero)]

This bug definitely still exists. I'm not sure what triggers it though. On my laptop (Inspiron 9400) it momentarily froze pidgin while generating a new key but then it ended up working. On my friends it freezes pidgin and does not come out of frozen state (waited half an hour to verify). I've seen this on my computer as well in previous attempts. We're both running Intrepid, with pidgin 2.5.2 and OTR version 3.2.0

Thanks all

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[chrisballinger (chrisballinger)]

This bug still exists on Ubuntu 13.10 + Pidgin 2.10.7 + pidgin-otr 4.0.0

[Paul G (paul-goergen)]

I also experienced the bug (13.10, Pidgin 2.10.7 (libpurple 2.10.7), pidgin-otr 4.0.0-1). After doing some research I think I can conclude that the reason must be that Pidgin tries to get the initialization randomness from /dev/random and stalls until /dev/random delivers sufficient data.

For me pidgin unfreezes after typing random data into an arbitrary text field for a few minutes to produce entropy for /dev/random. It would be adviseable to give a hint to the user as to what pidgin is waiting for, and how he can speed up the process (like using mouse/keyboard/whatever devices feed entropy to /dev/random).

[Thomas Balthazar (tbalthazar)]

I also have the problem on Ubuntu 13.10 / Pidgin 2.10.7 / pidgin-otr 4.0.0-1.

[Tronde (tronde)]

I have the problem on Ubuntu 13.10 / Pidgin 2.10.7 / pidgin-otr 4.0.0-1, too.

[Tronde (tronde)]

Ok. I just tried the suggestion from Paul G in Post #5.

When the Dialog opens which says that the OTR Key for the account is created I continued using my computer. I had ran some for-loops in a terminal, did some research in the web and some typing in an editor.

I did this in order to gather entropy for /dev/random. After 1-2 minutes the key was created successfully.

I agree with Paul that there should be a hint for the user what to do, to get the key generated.

Cheers,
Tronde

[Thomas Müller (mueller-8)]

same here. installed the tool "haveged" to have enough /dev/random "content" to create the key in a short time

[vlc (vlc)]

Also on 14.04.

Typing random text in a text field works as workaround. Nevertheless, a hint for the user on what to do would be helpful.

[rjr162 (ronrossman)]

I'll just add it just happened to me in Description: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS (Lubuntu)

It just sat there as well until I clicked the Pop up that said it was generating a new key and typed random keys as suggested by Paul G in post #5. I'm not sure if this is a pop-up generated by Pidgin or by the OTR plug-in, but whichever it is it's horribly written.

The whole issue could be resolved by adding text that reads "Please press some random keys to generate the key" or something along those lines so people would KNOW to do so instead of thinking it's a garbage plug-in or app that's now frozen

[Antonio Augusto Todo Bom Neto (atodobom)]

Using Ubuntu 14.04. Same problem. Solve with haveged too Many thanks Mr. Müller.

[Elliot (elliot-wolk)]

haveged fixed my problem on debian as well. <3s !

[rubo77 (rubo77)]

Same here Ubuntu 14.04. ''sudo apt-get install haveged'' helped.

I filed this bug in the pidgin trac system here: https://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/16432

[rubo77 (rubo77)]

Since this is a OTR-Plugin problem I re-submitted it here: https://bugs.otr.im/issues/63

[JohnRB (rbxtnc)]

Yea it works fine if you just give it some time, you dont even have to open a doc and bang on the keys, just do whatever you need to do. It will "unfreeze" after it generates the crypt key. I would also have to agree that this is a pidgin/pidgin-otr issue and bugs/reports should be pushed too https://bugs.otr.im/

[dino99 (9d9)]

outdated flavor, report about a newer active version if needed

[rubo77 (rubo77)]

You should add the packages ''pidgin-otr'' and ''haveged'' to the suggested packages

[dino99 (9d9)]

Resolution set to invalid
Status changed from new to closed
This issue is caused by a third party plugin. We have no control over these plugins. Please report this problem to the authors of this third party plugin.
OTR is a third party plugin.

ref: #14 url link