EDIT: sorry for the rambly post here’s a quick clarification I wanted a decentralized/open source variant of something like NordVPN etc.

Crypto-based options I found: Sentinel, Mysterium , Orchid All of those are on the Blockchain and use their own coins as a payment system, both to pay usage fees and to pay out node-hosts. Not sure if that’s my jam.

I tried to use the search and came up short - so point me elsewhere if there’s already a discussion.

Let me preface this by saying I’m pretty green when it comes to a lot of the deeper aspects of FOSS privacy tools. Meaning that i’m probably more clueless about this topic than I realise.

Had a bit of a shower thought moment earlier and googled if decentralized VPNs are an option for the occasional torrent.
Did a bit of a google and came up with a couple of options, seemingly all tied into a blockchain with their own coin for payments - either using or hosting a node.

I’m a bit allergic to cryptobros and their blockchain-everything-mentality but I suppose it’s not a terrible system for the usecase?

So are there people on here who have hands-on experience with this? Is it a valid tool for safer browsing and torrenting?

Are there any obvious alternatives I should look into?

Are there any obvious risks I’m not aware of?

Is the concept flawed altogether?

  • 31337@sh.itjust.works
    8·
    18 days ago

    Tor for browsing is similar to a VPN. I2p and Tribbler for downloads is also similar. You could also just rent a cheap VPS and set up your own VPN. There’s a high chance people will be doing illegal shit through a VPN-like services, so I don’t think a p2p VPN-like service where everyone is like an exit node is viable.

    • masterofn001@lemmy.ca
      21·
      18 days ago

      I use tor as a VPN (the tor org has finally realized and accepted people use it like this and welcome it now) via the tor network layer. I’ll run a few instances and run my stuff through them. (Easier to set up a conjure or webtunnel bridge and exit node to a specific country than rely on the randomness of tor browser where some countries have restrictions or are restricted from accessing certain sites.)

      If I need that extra sense of anonymity, I’ll use the tor browser.

        • masterofn001@lemmy.ca
          2·
          17 days ago

          True. Technically just a proxy.

          But, I’m broke. And it’s fast enough (with the right node)

          So tor and protonvpn are what I use.

          I’ve had issue with proton being blocked though, too. But a quick server change and everything is OK.

    • shapesandstuff@feddit.orgOP
      1·
      17 days ago

      Yeah I was thinking of TOR when I read about the concept, but I did read a lot in the past how a lot of the nodes aren’t really secure anymore.
      I’ll check out the other suggestions. The sidebar doesn’t mention piracy, so I’ll just come out the gate and say that that’s my usecase via torrents.
      Which can get pretty expensive where I live due to absurd legal definitions. My thought process was if a P2P VPN gets me through another country where it’s not persecuted as much I’d be safer than going with the proprietary big names.

  • meyotch@slrpnk.net
    4·
    18 days ago

    I recently began learning about mixnets. Interesting stuff there. Look up the Nym project for example

  • oshu@lemmy.world
    3·
    18 days ago

    As a category, decentralized vpns are interesring.

    It comes down to specific details of the exact provider compared with your own security objectives, to evaluate if it will work for your needs.

    • shapesandstuff@feddit.orgOP
      1·
      17 days ago

      That reads more like connecting my own devices in a private VPN right?
      I was hoping for an alternative to Nord and the likes.

    • jim3692@discuss.online
      4·
      17 days ago

      Is this like Tailscale? Maybe closer to Headscale, as tinc seems to be completely self hosted.

      I think the OP is looking for a decentralized alternative to something like Nord/Express/Mullvad to hide their traffic, and not a way to connect their devices together.

      • shapesandstuff@feddit.orgOP
        2·
        17 days ago

        I think the OP is looking for a decentralized alternative to something like Nord/Express/Mullvad to hide their traffic, and not a way to connect their devices together.

        exactly! Sorry if i didn’t write that clearly in the post.

      • iii@mander.xyzEnglish
        1·
        17 days ago

        Ah yes, there’s no turnkey, pay 5USD, tinc provider.

        From a users point of view, it’s like wireguard, without the star configuration and manual ip config and routing.

        • jim3692@discuss.online
          2·
          17 days ago

          WireGuard supports mesh as well, but it requires to manually configure all the keys and all the IPs on all devices.

          There is wgsd, which supposedly makes WireGuard mesh networking easier, but I haven’t tried it.