What is I2P and how does it work?
As top companies of the world compete for access to the most granular of data points relating to user’s online activity, it has become important to take your online security and privacy into your own hands and make sure that you’re safe online.
If you’ve been looking into online security, you’ve probably already run into I2P and the benefits of using it. But is it really the right security solution for you? Let’s find out!
What is I2P?
I2P, or the Invisible Internet Protocol is a peer-to-peer network that acts as a layer of protection against online surveillance, for example, censorship, online tracking and government surveillance by scattering your traffic. This makes tracking your online activities and browsing difficult.
I2P also helps you gain secure access to the dark web via an encrypted tunnel, much like Tor. Even though both technologies let you connect to the dark web safely, there are some key differences between them, which we will also discuss later on in this blog.
You can also use I2P to safely access the internet, sending and receiving messages without the fear of sensitive information being intercepted by third-parties, safe file sharing and storing, secure website hosting and even downloading torrents.
How does it work?
As discussed before, the I2P technology consists of a decentralized peer-to-peer network. This network encrypts your traffic using end-to-end encryption, routing it through a volunteer-maintained network. This volunteer-maintained network consists of thousands of services and devices scattered all around the world, making the dispersed traffic very difficult to track or spy on.
Some reasons why the I2P is considered to be a highly secure network are:
- This network uses end-to-end encryption, which in turn turns the endpoints of your data route into cryptographic identifiers that are further secured with public keys.
- The network consists of uni-directional tunnels that separate the incoming and outgoing traffic, providing a higher quality of anonymity.
- I2P uses garlic routing, which divides message packets into smaller, encrypted packets that then travel separately until they reach their destinations. This makes it almost impossible to spy on I2P communication as an interceptor will never be able to get access to an entire message.
- As discussed before, I2P is a decentralized system spread over thousands of devices all around the world. Even if a device is hacked into, it won’t compromise the security of the entire network.
Benefits and Downsides of I2P
I2P is perfect for specialized security needs, but just like everything, the network isn’t perfect. Here are some of the pros and cons of the network.
Pros:
- As an obvious benefit, I2P networks are highly secure and will let you surf the internet anonymously, protecting you from hackers, snoopers, and even third-party surveillance, among others.
- The high security and efficiency of the network make it a great network for P2P file sharing.
- I2P networks use packet switching. This makes sure that the performance of the network is always efficient by maintaining balance among the peers.
Cons:
- Given the complexity of the network structure and the quality of security it provides, it’s understandable that it comes with a fairly complicated installation procedure and browser configuration. Having said that, there are plenty of online tutorials one can follow.
- The network also requires the user to be logged in to the system to make their content accessible.
- Given Tor’s popularity, I2P has a comparatively smaller user-base, which translates into having lesser nodes and a greater vulnerability to attacks.
- Perhaps one of the biggest downsides to I2P is that it doesn’t guarantee complete anonymity when you’re using surface web to access indexed sites. A good VPN, however, should be able to solve this issue.
I2P vs Tor vs VPN
While both these technologies can look similar and offer similar features, there are several key differences between the two. Let’s talk about some of the biggest ones.
- I2P uses different tools for managing the network and gather statistics, making it somewhat more decentralized than Tor.
- Tor uses onion routing which carries whole messages, whereas I2P uses garlic routing where messages are broken down into smaller messages or ‘cloves’ that are encrypted and dispersed over a volunteer-maintained network.
- I2P disperses messages across its network instead of relying on a single path, on the other hand, Tor doesn’t use multiple paths.
- Even though Tor is increasingly being used to access the dark web, its primary purpose is to let users browse the web safely and anonymously. On the other hand, I2P is predominantly a dark web tool.
The Best Way To Stay Private
Even though you can use both Tor and I2P to remain anonymous while browsing the internet for increased security, both technologies could potentially slow your traffic down. Apart from that, unless you work a job that requires highly secure internet access 100% of the time, this level of security isn’t absolutely necessary for everyday usage.
As an easier, more affordable, and simpler alternative, try using a high-quality professional VPN like Ivacy! Ivacy provides up to 256-bit military level encryption, hides your original IP address, and makes sure your online activities are completely anonymous.
Additionally, Ivacy also provides DDoS and malware protection, as well as a kill switch and split tunneling.
FAQs:
Is I2P safer than Tor?
Yes. The I2P approach is considered to be safer than Tor because there are no fixed points to attack. Furthermore, Tor uses two-way encrypted connections between each Relay, and on the other hand, I2P makes use of one-way connections between every server, which is more secure.
Is I2P Dark Web?
The I2P was designed as a self-contained darknet and can be thought of as an internet within an internet.
Is I2P legal?
There are no legal complications with using I2P.
Is I2P traceable?
I2P’s garlic protocol makes it almost impossible to trace user activity making it a highly secure protocol.
Do I need a VPN with I2P?
Even though it’s highly secure, I2P does not guarantee complete anonymity while using surface web makes using a VPN along with it a great option. Looking for a reliable VPN to subscribe to? Try Ivacy!
