Algorithm-agnostic anonymization network.
Let's say we are agreed that a new anonymization network should be implemented.
One problem is that advances in such networks generally require implementing
entirely new networks to check out new algorithms and new features, such
improvements are strongly deterred. After all, that's one reason that TOR
doesn't get as many improvements as we might like. (Another reason is that it
is financed, at least in part, by people who are hostile to a "too-good"
anonymization system.)
Sure, we could implement a new set of nodes, hopefully at least 1000 in number.
I think that ordinary, residential users should be able to run nodes. Internet
services are provided with as much as 1 terabyte/month capacity, and possibly
unlimited as well. (CenturyLink 1 Gbps, for example) We could implement a
new onion-routing system, akin to TOR but with some improvements, most
prominently adding chaff. So far, so good. But there may be other ideas,
other improvements that people might want to try out.
I've already proposed that it should be possible for just about every node to
be an output node. Possibly every node should be an input node, as well. The
big impediment to this is that people naturally want to avoid the potential
legal harassment they might get if their IP node sent out gigabytes of 'in the
clear' forbidden data. My ideas for a solution? Output data could be
encrypted, enough to make it unreadable except by the end recipient. The
operator of an output node that emits only seemingly-random data would be hard
to hold legally responsible for that forbidden content, since nobody expects
him to know how to convert it into plaintext. And/or, the data can be output
into two streams, which would be XOR'd with each other only by the intended
recipient to find the data.
And, this network could also run different anonymization algorithms,
simultaneously. Onion-routing may have its own limitations. Somebody might
have a good idea for an alternative system. Why shouldn't it be possible to
serve two algorithms? Or dozens? How about Bittorrent as well? Imagine 1000
nodes, each equipped with a 10-terabyte hard drive?
Jim Bell
