VPNs, Tor, I2P – how does Nym compare? | Hacker News Reader

VPNs, Tor, I2P – how does Nym compare?

blog.nymtech.net

12 pointsyamrzou7 comments

I think to some extent, the Tor network coordinators are needed to prevent correlation attacks, are they not?

I'll keep an eye on Nym, but I am pretty skeptical of any network that relies on a cryptocurrency scheme to operate, especially one with staking like Lokinet. Hypothetically it could work as an incentive structure, but the probabilistic nature of privacy schemes don't bode well, and I think the incentives for HODLing usually displace any actual interest in the network as a service.

Additionally, I have a hard time imagining Tor or I2P being displaced due to network effects, especially if it requires purchasing cryptocurrency, which is already pretty difficult.

The author clearly has an agenda, and completely ignores hidden services of Tor which is one of it's most used and secure features.

> completely ignores hidden services of Tor which is one of it's most used and secure features.

While it would be nice if more web services like Instagram or Reddit were available from hidden services, but unfortunately they aren't. The vast majority of websites are still on the clearnet, and Nym seems to be trying to improve privacy on that front.

I'm curious how they mitigate Sybil attacks. There doesn't seem to be any elaboration on that point, and any claim to a technique by which to mitigate the problem with no centralization is a very strong claim and needs some type of citation.

I imagine sybil attacks are prevented at scale. The issue with Tor is that afaik it's still small enough that a nation state can buy enough relays / exit nodes to make network correlation feasible. If there were financial incentive to spin up relays, it could be way harder for any one group to control a significant portion.

For some numbers, there are currently around 7000 Tor relays [1]. I couldn't find a conclusive source for the number of bitcoin miners but one source says 300,000 [2] and another says 13,000 [3]...

[1]: https://metrics.torproject.org/networksize.html

[2]: https://www.btcwires.com/round-the-block/how-many-bitcoin-mi...

[3]: https://bitnodes.io/

The only real way one can mitigate sybil attacks is to permit private nodes.

Article is two and a half years old. Anyone have an update on this project?

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