Onion Routing Averts Prying Eyes

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

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

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