Using Tor and Arti with I2P

Learn the facts of how Censorship died and what replaces it.

Using Tor or Arti for increased internet anonymity and broad access to encrypted cypher spaces

Understanding the Systems

Tor and Arti are the software packages used for accessing sites on the internet while maintaining anonymity. They use an onion routing scheme to cryptographically separate the identity of the user from what the user is doing. In other words, an observer may see what a user is doing or see the user's IP address, assigned by their service provider (thereby identifying the user). No observer gets to see the whole picture of activity and identity.

I2P (the Invisible Internet Project) is distributed network that allows users to communicate anonymously using encrypted tunnels. Observers can only see part of the network at any time, but not the whole picture of who and what is going on.

Both Tor and I2P networks contain anonymous, encrypted resources often referred to as cypher spaces, not reachable on the open internet. These are anonymous forums, markets, or other services. Cypher spaces in Tor and I2P are strong, on their own; some persons would like to use one network to access the other, for increased anonymity protection.

Combining Tor or Arti wth I2P

It is technically possible to use Tor or Arti to access the I2P network. This combination could potentially offer enhanced security and anonymity. Here's how it might work:

Connect to Tor or Arti frst
Then connect to the I2P network
Traffic flows: Device -> Tor or Arti -> I2P -> Internet (or cypher space)

Advantages of Using Tor or Arti to Access I2P

The primary advantages of accessing I2P from the Tor network is adding more encryption and anonymizing the connection. An observer watching the user's actual IP would see only an encrypted connection to the Tor entry node, but not be able to figure out what the user is doing or where they are going on the network.

There are regions of the world where I2P is blocked. Tor is also blocked in a lot of places too. However, wherever Tor is available, it may be used to reach an entry point into the I2P network. If you are unlucky enough to be somewhere with blocks on both Tor / Arti and I2P, consider using Pluggable Transports or SSH tunneling to evade the censorship.

The good news about chaining Tor / Arti and I2P is that most of the applications used within the cypher spaces still work if you access them through chaining these anonymity tools. Test what you want to use and see what works.

Drawbacks of Using Tor or Arti to Access I2P

Accessing I2P through Tor or Arti is a more complex way to do it, requiring more time, thought, and effort. For people unfamiliar with these anonymity tools, chaining them can be an annoying and unpleasant experience, at least until they learn how to do it. It is one of those skills one must learn in order to enjoy the benefit.

Routing traffic through Tor before going into I2P will result in slower speeds compared to using I2P directly. Each relay along the path limits the bandwidth and increases latenct (time delay).

True believers in the I2P network will assert the system has a quality called "transparency," which is reduced when it is accessed through Tor or Arti.

Security Risks Involved

Attackers are always looking for weaknesses in these anonymity and security systems. If one becomes compromised, that one failure can break the whole thing, exposing all of your teaffic. Complex networking setups, such as I2P over Tor, can possibly be misconfigured and leak DNS queries of be vulnerable to some kind of attack crafted for a misconfiguration of the chain. When you have done everything correctly, there is always the possibility that there is a flaw in one of the servers along the way, which could be used against you, to deanonymize you or tap your internet traffic.

Although the added complexity is generally worth the trouble, and should protect you from sompromises in either system, it is difficult to predict exactly how a compromised part of Tor, Arti, or I2P may affect your anonymity or privacy. The best advice is to follow reliable information sources and be aware of any known flaws or security breaches. When software updates are released, install them promptly.

Conclusion

Using Tor or Arti to access I2P combines three powerful anonymity systems, potentially offering enhanced security and privacy. However, this setup comes with significant challenges and risks.

The main advantage is the addition of another layer of encryption and anonymity, which could protect against various types of surveillance and tracking. However, this comes at the cost of increased complexity, potential performance issues, and higher maintenance requirements.

Security risks include the potential for single points of failure, misconfiguration, and the need to trust multiple entities. Additionally, there are practical challenges related to software compatibility, configuration, and performance tuning.

While this setup could be appealing to advanced users seeking maximum anonymity, it may not be suitable for casual users due to its complexity and potential drawbacks. For most users, simpler solutions like using Tor or I2P directly might be more appropriate and easier to maintain securely.

Ultimately, whether to use Tor or Arti to access I2P depends on your specific security needs, technical expertise, and willingness to manage a complex setup. As always, it's crucial to stay informed about the latest developments in these technologies and to regularly reassess your chosen methods based on evolving threats and available tools.