{"id":596405,"date":"2023-11-02T20:11:41","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T17:11:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/a-new-decentralised-vpn-aims-to-patch-a-gaping-security-hole\/"},"modified":"2023-11-02T20:11:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T17:11:41","slug":"a-new-decentralised-vpn-aims-to-patch-a-gaping-security-hole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-new-decentralised-vpn-aims-to-patch-a-gaping-security-hole\/","title":{"rendered":"#A new decentralised VPN aims to patch a gaping security hole"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23b0cff0db1\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23b0cff0db1\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-new-decentralised-vpn-aims-to-patch-a-gaping-security-hole\/#Risks_of_centralisation\" >Risks of centralisation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-new-decentralised-vpn-aims-to-patch-a-gaping-security-hole\/#Nyms_approach\" >Nym\u2019s approach<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-new-decentralised-vpn-aims-to-patch-a-gaping-security-hole\/#The_VPN_market\" >The VPN market<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image?fit=796%2C417&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.tnwcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Ffiles%2F2023%2F11%2FUntitled-design-6.jpg&amp;signature=51aaf4832c3cf2ca3fddde79a94594b8\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-main-content\">\n                            <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VPNs have become popular means of protecting personal data, but there\u2019s a big vulnerability in their defences: the service provider.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These companies can technically gain access to all your unencrypted traffic. Consequently, they can see all the data on your browsing habits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This frailty has sparked interest in decentralised VPNs. Instead of funnelling all user data through a single server, they disperse the traffic across a network run by multiple users. In theory, this makes the shield more difficult to breach, because there\u2019s no central authority controlling the service.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a theory that Nym Technologies wants to prove true. The Swiss startup today announced that it will launch a new decentralised (dVPN) in the first quarter of next year. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Named NymVPN, the service promises to provide an \u201cunparalleled\u201d level of privacy and security. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>At the core of the system is a so-called \u201cnetwork of nodes.\u201d A collection of hundreds of gateways, this obfuscates the flow of data by transmitting internet traffic through entry and exit points.<\/p>\n<div class=\"inarticle-wrapper channel-cta\">\n<div class=\"ica-text\">\n<p class=\"ica-text__title\">Get your ticket NOW for TNW Conference &#8211; Super Earlybird is almost sold out!<\/p>\n<p>Unleash innovation, connect with thousands of tech lovers and shape the future on June 20-21, 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The nodes are run by independent individuals in various countries. Each of these operators routs a user\u2019s\u00a0internet traffic through various stages of the information pathway, known as hops. According to Nym, this reduces the risk of data breaches, surveillance, identity theft, and censorship.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe believe that privacy is a fundamental right, and our vision has always been to empower individuals to take full control over their online security,\u201d said Harry<\/span> Halpin, Nym\u2019s CEO and co-founder. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe NymVPN offers just this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Risks_of_centralisation\"><\/span>Risks of centralisation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The principal <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>eal of <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dVPNs is preventing access to unencrypted traffic.<\/span>\u00a0However, e<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ven encrypted traffic can\u2019t fully conceal metadata, which can expose the sites you visit and the apps you use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDon\u2019t just take our word for it,\u201d Jaya Klara Brekke, Chief Strategy Officer at Nym, told TNW. \u201cAs former NSA <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General<\/a> Counsel Stewart Baker said: \u2018Metadata absolutely tells you everything about somebody\u2019s life. If you have enough metadata, you don\u2019t really need content\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Users of centralised VPNs, therefore, must place great faith in the provider. If a centralised VPN is asked to hand over data to third parties, the trust could be severely tested.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"c-richText__pullQuote\">\n<div class=\"c-richText__pullQuoteGradient\">\n<p class=\"c-richText__pullQuoteQuote\">The internet internet may come to look like a very different place.\n            <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Even ostensibly private centralised VPNs could turn over information to authorities. <\/span><span>NordVPN, for instance, has <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.pcmag.com\/vpn\/138232\/nordvpn-actually-we-do-comply-with-law-enforcement-data-requests\">acknowledged<\/a> that it complies with law enforcement data requests. Free VPNs, meanwhile,\u00a0can <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/blog\/vpn-privacy\/free-vpn\/\">sell<\/a> user browsing habits and data to anyone they like.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s better to eliminate the risk of holding unnecessary data at all,\u201d Brekke said. \u201cThis is what actual decentralisation offers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nyms_approach\"><\/span>Nym\u2019s approach<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the NymVPN app, the decentralisation comes in two different levels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first is VPN\u00a0mode, which is better for streaming, browsing, and other use cases that require high performance but only moderate privacy. Data is transmitted through two hops, each of which is hosted by an independent node operator. The operators are rewarded with NYM tokens, which are used to incentivise good governance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>For extra protection, the app has a mixnet option. This mode is designed for\u00a0messaging, sensitive file sharing, transactions, and other use cases that require high levels of privacy but only mid-range performance. Data is divided into small, identically-sized packets that are encrypted with a novel system called Sphinx. It\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a>s through five \u2018hops\u2019 in the network before reaching its destination.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To further obscure communications, Nym generates\u00a0fake dummy traffic, which is indistinguishable from the real thing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEven in the presence of global network observers or advanced machine learning attacks, this mode ensures your online activities remain confidential and shielded from prying eyes,\u201d Brekke said. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThus, it surpasses the privacy properties of traditional VPNs and Tor and is the fastest, most secure mixnet available today, keeping your online activities truly private.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_VPN_market\"><\/span>The VPN market<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A dVPN remains a specialist product, but Nym argues that it has mainstream potential. The company is initially targeting four different user groups. The first is privacy enthusiasts, who are typically interested in\u00a0emerging technologies. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once that establishes a solid user base, Nym will target journalists, activists, and whistleblowers. B2B and B2G clients are also \u201cdefinitely on the radar,\u201d according to Brekke. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe\u2019ve received interest,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In time, Brekke expects the general public to also become customers. As evidence, he can point to the sector\u2019s rapid growth. <\/span><span>Industry researchers <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.precedenceresearch.com\/virtual-private-network-market\">predict<\/a>\u00a0that the<\/span><span> global VPN market alone will be worth $358bn by 2032. <\/span><span>The value of the worldwide data privacy market, meanwhile, is <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fortunebusinessinsights.com\/data-privacy-software-market-105420\">projected<\/a>\u00a0to reach $30bn by 2030<\/span><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Investors have also made bullish predictions. In 2020, Fred <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wilson, a prominent venture capitalist, warned that mass surveillance by both governments and corporations \u201cwill become normal and expected this decade.\u201d This, Wilson continued, will spark a market boom.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe biggest consumer <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a> successes of this decade will be in the area of privacy,\u201d he concluded.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsurprisingly, it\u2019s a view that Nym welcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWith the shifting sands of censorship and companies threatening to pull their services in the wake of regulations like the Online Safety Bill, it may come to pass that the internet looks like a very different place indeed,\u201d Brekke said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIn this scenario, a VPN would be an essential part of anyone\u2019s toolkit in order to access the internet as we are used to.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\/><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\/>\n                        <\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/nym-accounces-decentralised-vpn-privacy-protection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VPNs have become popular means of protecting personal data, but there\u2019s a big vulnerability in their defences: the service provider. These companies can technically gain access to all your unencrypted traffic. Consequently, they can see all the data on your browsing habits.\u00a0 This frailty has sparked interest in decentralised VPNs. Instead of funnelling all user&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":596406,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/tnw-blurple?filter_last=1&fit=1280,640&url=https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/11\/Untitled-design-6.jpg&signature=cf384eb163a73d403c614cdd3e9dfea2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-596405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=596405"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596405\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/596406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=596405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=596405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=596405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}