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Onion Routing Averts Prying Eyes
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2004 08:20:46 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: Monty Solomon <monty () roscom com> Date: August 7, 2004 4:22:14 PM EDT To: undisclosed-recipient:; Subject: Onion Routing Averts Prying Eyes Onion Routing Averts Prying Eyes By Ann Harrison 02:00 AM Aug. 05, 2004 PT Computer programmers are modifying a communications system, originally developed by the U.S. Naval Research Lab, to help Internet users surf the Web anonymously and shield their online activities from corporate or government eyes. The system is based on a concept called onion routing. It works like this: Messages, or packets of information, are sent through a distributed network of randomly selected servers, or nodes, each of which knows only its predecessor and successor. Messages flowing through this network are unwrapped by a symmetric encryption key at each server that peels off one layer and reveals instructions for the next downstream node. In contrast, messages traveling across the Internet are generally not encrypted, and the path of a message can be seen easily, linking users to activities like website visits. The Navy is financing the development of a second-generation onion-routing system called Tor , which addresses many of the flaws in the original design and makes it easier to use. The Tor client behaves like a SOCKS proxy (a common protocol for developing secure communication services), allowing applications like Mozilla, SSH and FTP clients to talk directly to Tor and route data streams through a network of onion routers, without long delays. Onion routing does not guarantee perfect anonymity. But it helps protect users from eavesdroppers who aren't watching both the initiator and recipient of the message at the time of the transaction. Developers say Tor can be used to prevent websites from tracking their users; block governments from collecting lists of website visitors; protect whistleblowers; and circumvent local censorship by employers, ISPs or schools that restrict access to certain online services. ... http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,64464,00.html ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- Onion Routing Averts Prying Eyes David Farber (Aug 08)