New "Dark" Freenet Available for Testing

Sanity writes "The Freenet Project has just released the first alpha version of the much anticipated Freenet 0.7 branch. This is a major departure from past approaches to peer-to-peer network design, embracing a 'scalable darknet' architecture, where security is increased by allowing users to limit which other peers their peer will communicate with directly, rather than the typical 'promiscuous' approach of classic P2P networks. This means that not only does Freenet aim to prevent others from finding out what you are doing with Freenet, it makes it extremely difficult for them to even know that you are running a Freenet node at all. This is not the first P2P application to use this approach, other examples include Waste, however those networks are limited to just a few users, while Freenet can scale up almost indefinitely. The new version also includes support for NAT hole-punching, and has an API for third-party tool development. As always, the Freenet team are asking that people support the development of the software by donating."

Comments

This sounds way overhyped

[sl4shd0rk]

There is no such thing as a 'hidden' network. Not to your ISP, not to your legal system, and not to your government. Packets are packets and that is that. Routers see them, switches see them and traffic sniffing sees them. This whole 'dark' sup3rs3ckr3t n3tw0rk sounds like a bunch of baloney to me. The only way you can possibly get around any problems with getting busted for pirating music/software on p2p is to meet in a dark alley somewhere and swap cds. Even then, you'll probably IM on yahoo to meet and get busted anyway.

Re:Will this ever succeed in full?

[Professor_UNIX]

To have a better chance of remaining anonymous, run TOR from a random WAP with a spoofed MAC address, and, if you are paranoid, do not access any information that could reveal your identity: personal email accounts, Online Retail stores, etc.

So, basically use it for its original intended purpose: accessing hacking sites and downloading kiddie porn. I'd say warez was also one of the purposes, but its so slow that it would be silly to try downloading huge files over it.

Re:Practical measures

[Gorshkov]

Not true. The issue is not whether the citizens can stop the government in its tracks, but how much effort is required to enforce unpopular laws - at some point they become impractical to enforce if enough of the population would kill to resist them, and are capable of doing so.

Actually, I believe that WAS the point. But that's a whole other argument.

I would not totally discount the possibility of laws that bad from the Bush administration or its successors

There is nothing more intollerant than one who preaches tollerance and freedom for all.

You live in a democracy - celebrate it.
Having a president that you don't agree with doesn't mean the world as we know it is about to end. That last statement of yours just illustrates my point about the paranoia pefectly.