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Comment by ashleysmithgpu | Hacker News Reader

Freenet, i2p, tor, hyperboria

I2P sites are centralized (as in no resources are shared between parties at all when serving sites; if the owner shuts down, their site does too), although it operates in a P2P manner (through an overlay network, of course). Same thing with tor. I don't know about Freenet nor hyperboria, to be honest.

I've been on i2p almost a decade ago, the level of filth and illegality of the content there made me very quickly reconsider what network I wanted to participate in.

Don't know if that has changed but I honestly don't want to know, I'd stay away from it if I were you.

Heh, replace i2p with any technology that connects humans to each other and you'll get the same.

I remember many saying the same about the internet when it first became mainstream as well. "What's the use of connecting with other anonymous people? Sounds like ripe for committing crimes. Normal people just talk with each other in person or on the phone"

Any network is prone to go through the same phases of "Just nerds > just nerds and some others who don't have a place > Broader community > Mainstream > Old, left-behind people"

I have been using it for almost a year and I haven't find a single instance of what you're describing. I haven't been searching for it, either. It's a great tool with great promise with regards to avoiding censorship and surveillance. I wish more people tried it.

>I'd stay away from it if I were you.

I'd rather recommend anyone on this thread to try it and form an opinion for themselves.

“I wish more people tried it.”

I’d like to poke around. Any chance you bookmarked resources for getting started?

Sure!

[0] Official I2P Java client download: https://geti2p.net/en/download. Once started, you should check the router console, on localhost:7657. You can check the firewall settings on localhost:7657/confignet (which TCP/UDP ports to open, for instance).

[0a] If you want to host an eepsite (I2P's anonymous websites), you should follow indications located on localhost:7658. You'll have to set 'http://localhost:4444' as your browser's proxy to visit eepsites (*.i2p).

[0b] I2P technical documentation: https://geti2p.net/en/docs/.

[1a] i2pd (C++ implementation): https://github.com/PurpleI2P/i2pd/releases/tag/2.31.0

[1b] i2pd documentation (very useful) https://i2pd.readthedocs.io/en/latest/.

[2] List of supported I2P applications (it might be outdated): https://geti2p.net/en/docs/applications/supported.

[3] MuWire (file sharing program): https://muwire.com or muwire.i2p.

[4] Popular torrent tracker: http://tracker2.postman.i2p.

Keep in mind it can take several minutes for your router to get some speed.

Thank you very much, appreciate it.

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