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http://24.125.12.101/meta.html

Not as long as we have good crypto.

That is WHY we need good crypto -- if we ever hope of having true freedom of speech, crypto is the key.

You might be interested in this - Meta-Net. There's a lot of these networks out there and they are growing. And there are people out there who realize that it is important to do this before it's too late.

Welcome to paranoia, albeit justified.

Here's an example of one of those VPN's over public internet:

the Meta network (scroll down on the page to read the intro)

Actually, I've been thinking about modifying a few cable modems to intercept the QPSK OOB signal on digital cable, and spoof it. Have 2 cable modems, with some splitters and filters in between them, so that we can get QAM to the set top box, but the first cable modem could listen/talk to the headend, and the second cable modem could listen/talk to the cablebox.

For instance, docsis cable modems would seem to be able to ahndle this, assuming they have a frequency agile tuner (most do, I believe), and aren't one chip solutions (RCA ones come to mind).

Anyone care to comment?

"Chances are, you live in the USA as I do. No amount of begging will persuade me to invite you."

Since Since people in the US can not get invited, screw you, I'm posting your cable modem everywhere.

> Why is this so tough for people to "get" ?

Maybe because you say right on your website, "Don't post this to slashdot. You will murder my cable modem."

Who knows how many truely brilliant ideas have languished in obscurity because their author was afraid of a slashdotting... Surely thousands -- no, millions...

In short, what you've written sucks.

You should have linked here: http://24.125.12.101/meta2.html

Look here. Metanet

I know that many of you do check it out, even seem interested. Contact me if you're not in the USA, for an immediate invitation, and be prepared to install openvpn.

Yes, I am owed a home (not necessarily a house) and a job. I can't trek off to the wilderness, and build myself a log cabin. But hey, that's cool too... because if I did that, how could I be a consumer, and support the "free market" ?

Sorry, didn't mean to insult your religion.

No, you are not owed a home, or a job, not even food. Just because the government prints the money (sort of), doesn't mean that they actually make the money. When the government gives you something, they took it from somebody else.

And yes you can trek off to the wilderness and build youself a log cabin if you wish, assuming that you own the property you built it on. That really wouldn't be all that hard either, there are places in this country where you can buy land for real cheap. But then that would involve real work on your part, instead of just a government handout, so we can rule out that possibility..

As for remaining a consumer, I am sure that you could just continue to throw away money on small cardboard rectangles. That would work. If you stopped that too, well then you would be quite the little heathen! Insulting my religion, Southern Missionary Capitalism [Reformed]! Don't you know that, just like you have a right to a house and a job, I have a right to not have my beliefs questioned! (I haven't even gotten my 40 acres or my mule yet.)

Better idea: Metanet

Yes, because freenet is a replacement for all those protocols. Haha.

You could try something like Metanet, which puts the encryption and anonymity at layer 2, where it belongs. That way, it's simple to do TCPI/IP like you would with any other modern network, and leave the 1970ish "let's swap files with zmodem" bullshit to the tinfoil beany people.

Actually, it doesn't solve their problem. I'm quite certain that installing freenet is a crime, and so is sending encrypted packets.

Freenet is bad for them. Even metanet is problematic for such people. I've been working on this problem, and it isn't easy. But here's what I have so far. The VPN software a chinese dissident would need, has to be disguised as something innocuous. I'm thinking a boring "shareware-esque" network game. There would be a legit version, and one that stegonographically hides data in the game packets. The problem with this approach, is that there are few games that would be adequate for it.

Chess isn't all that appropriate. There are relatively few moves, and more so, there are even less moves that make any kind of sense. So if you hide bits in there, it's going to have to be in some metadata somewhere, and I don't think that's all that safe.

Go has more potential, but not much. What else is left? I'm looking for a non-traditional game, maybe something tetris like, I suppose. Even so, how many bits can be squeezed through such a connection? At best, this chinese dissident is going to be lucky to get a pop3 account through the thing, hardly the 1st class network connection I had hoped for.

Non-game connections all look contrived. I can't hide it in a grainy 160x120 webcam feed, without someone noticing. Audio has the same implications. Random looking bits simply aren't easy to hide in ways that don't look suspicious... anyone have any suggestions?

I wish I could get as many people to try this as have tried freenet. My idea works... if only there were people there.

Do not make the mistake of believing that all systems offering freedom and anonymity have this problem.

Try Metanet. As a true peer, not only do you decide how to use the hardware that you donate to the cause, but anything truly reprehensible like kiddy porn can be null routed quickly.

Then try out my scheme. Anonymous IPv4 network, and you only store what you want on it. Perhaps an email server with a vanity domain name, or whatever.

None of this bullshit bbs-style "let's send files around". It's 2004, not 1982.

None of the "is there kiddy porn on my machine?". IPv4, works just as most would expect.

As for pedophiles and terrorists... they're still going to be a problem. We don't intend to ignore them though... their real-life identity may be hidden, but that doesn't mean a 10.x.x.x IP address isn't there to see. Most router admins take that sort of thing seriously, and they would lose their invitation quickly (and I wouldn't be ashamed if the one that knew their internet IP turned them in). Those router admins who don't take that behavior seriously, will end up quickly de-routed.

I still have 5 slots open for router admins, for anyone not residing in the USA. Contact me.

Sounds like a good idea. Want an invitation?

I have a better idea. Let's build such a network, but with the IPv4(/IPv6) we all know and love.

Anyone and everyone is welcome, and you can actually ping people. ;)

No matter what we do, it will only be worse. As a US citizen, I can say with some manner of expertise that my congressmen will find a way to fuck it up royally. Remember, these are the guys that think a "dot porn" and a "dot kids" TLD will actually fix anything. Even if it's managed by some federal bureau or dept (FCC?), they kowtow to congress and corps.

And don't even get me started on the UN.

I'm personally writing off the internet, and I don't have any expectations. If DNS dies completely, fine. I don't expect the web to be anything other than a stinky pile of feces, which it mostly is (80%), and definitely not email (110% smelly dung there).

Hope if you like, and prayer can't hurt. But stop lying to yourself that we can fix it. If you really want to be proactive, help me build a new internet. If my scheme seems stupid, then do freenet, or whatever. The internet is ours no longer.

Too bad it doesn't fucking work. My own network is invitation only, and 8 months later we're struggling along at 50 people.

As it is, I still have half a dozen slots open for anyone outside of US borders... want to invite yourself?

Link.

Never bothered to change my sig after Hurricane Isabel powered my cable modem off for 11 days.

Not all "invitation-only" schemes are elitist. Check out my own dumb idea, if you believe otherwise.

Hmm, I must admit this one seems to strive for the "exclusive for exclusivity's sake" element.

PS I've still got slots open for 6 networking-savvy people outside the USA. ;)

Check out this.

There is a way to be safe on a somewhat public network. I want to see how big it can be built....

New link.

My network would choke and die on mp3 sharing, let alone the bigger files people trade. More of a free speech thing, I suppose.

The metanet you found, is ran by Isomer on undernet. Some of the same ideas (semi-private, vpn), but not built for anonymity. I've shared some ideas with him in the past.

PS I wouldn't wait until the goverment decides you can't share your own crappy singing... by then, maybe it would be a little late.

I think you mean IIP, it's on sourceforge somewhere. Check out this one.

Currently, I'm looking for about half a dozen network savvy BSD or linux people outside the USA (who would be free to invite other users or router admins after a probationary period). I also have a few slots open for users (any OS) who would like to build some kind of content (ranging from opening an IRC channel, to websites, or even help writing custom software). Domain names are free, static IPs, no restrictions of any kind.

Too late. Never fixed my sig, but here's the link. Personally, I think this is a good thing, I'd like to see them try to enforce laws there...

How about this?

More usable than freenet, compatible with all tcp/ip apps, and it's for real. Too bad we're stuck on the wrong side of a "network effect/critical mass" issue....

And yes, someday I will fix the sig.