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Noise Generating Mixnet

Nym's Noise-Generating Mixnet (NGN) is a novel privacy solution that can obfuscate metadata patterns of users accessing the open internet.

The NymVPN is the first commercial application enabling anyone to benefit from AI-surveillance, and It can be integrated to any blockchain, wallet, or app to provide network layer privacy protection.

Key Features

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5-hop mixnet

Data sent via the mixnet to any web application travels 5-hops, before arriving at its destination. Between an Entry Node and an Exit node, three layers of mixnodes guarantee metadata obfuscation.

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Nested encryption

At each subsequent hop, the data packets are encrypted so each node only has information about the packet's origin and destination but not the payload (data) itself.

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Zero knowledge access credentials

When a Nym Client connects to the mixnet, the Entry Gateway performs the check for a zero-knowledge network access credential, making users un-linkable to their internet usage.

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Stopping AI surveillance

With AI technology now being deployed by surveillance systems worldwide, no other existing network can guarantee the privacy of our data. Every centralized VPN is structurally inadequate, and even decentralized networks like Tor are vulnerable. By adding noise to the decentralized network, Nym's NGM can protect users not only against current surveillance systems, but also against the AI-powered threats of the future.

Noise components

Noise

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Cover traffic

Empty data packets are introduced into the network to increase the anonymity of all users. These dummy packets look just like real ones.

Noise

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Traffic mixing

Anonymized data packets from different users are shuffled together by mix nodes to obscure patterns of communication across the network.

Noise

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Timing obfuscation

Data mixing prevents surveillance from tracking your packets based on the timing of when they arrive on and leave a server.

Learn more

NymVPN App Blog Image

Nym is more than a VPN

The first app that protects you from AI surveillance thanks to a noise-generating mixnet

7 mins read
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What is a mixnet? Unparalleled online privacy with a VPN

Learn how a mixnet works and how it can power the world's most private VPN

11 mins read
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Step-by-step guide to the Anonymous Mode

How the Nym mixnet works to protect your traffic

13 mins read
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Why nymVPN Anonymous Mode provides the best privacy

Appreciating the value of technologically enhanced VPN privacy

8 mins read

FAQ

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are currently the most popular network-level privacy solution. A VPN provides protection via an encrypted tunnel between a user’s computer and a server run by the VPN provider.

One problem with many VPNs is configuration: misconfigurations in the software of clients can lead to sensitive data leaks or cyber attacks. But even when configured correctly, traditional VPNs don’t offer real privacy or adequate resistance to surveillance and censorship. This is because they are centralized: all your data passes through server(s) owned and operated by a single company. This makes user data vulnerable to server breaches, syber attacks, and overreaching government subpoenas. It also makes surveillance of the network extremely easy to accomplish.

VPN providers themselves can also fully observe all network traffic between users and the public internet, knowing exactly which services its users are accessing at a given time. The user must thus trust that the VPN provider is not using their information in a malicious manner or keeping logs.

The Nym mixnet is an anonymous overlay network that provides strong network-level anonymity, even in the face of powerful systems capable of passively monitoring the entire network. The Nym mixnet is decentralized, with no trusted third parties, and so does not require a trusted provider like a VPN.

Tor provides better privacy than centralized VPNs. The Tor network solves the network layer surveillance problem by routing onion encrypted traffic through a "circuit" of three relays so that only the final Tor node can see the destination. However, Tor’s anonymity properties can be defeated by an entity like an intelligence agency that is capable of monitoring the "entry" and "exit" nodes of the entire network. Tor’s design is expected to continue to be the best network layer privacy solution for web-browsing and other stream-based traffic.

Mixnets have higher latency but provide stronger network layer privacy properties, defending also against a global passive adversary capable of monitoring the entire network. By adding network noise (cover traffic, data mixing, and timing obfuscations), traffic patterns are obscured, protecting against any attempt at correlating flows and deanonymizing users.

Nym can provide more powerful network-level privacy for cryptocurrency transactions, e-mail, instant messaging, and any other message-based traffic. Unlike Tor, Nym’s mixnet design guarantees network anonymity and resistance to surveillance, even in the face of adversaries capable of monitoring the entire network, by adding noise to the network. Rather than operated by a trusted provider like a VPN, the Nym Noise Generating Mixnet is decentralized, using blockchain technology and token economics to organize the topology of the network. Nym node operators are incentivized to run nodes and provide good quality of service and uptime. Software updates are governed through community adoption as decisions are made by the node operators and token holders.

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Introducing NymVPN

Experience the world’s most private VPN. Starting at $5.49/month for up to 10 devices. Get NymVPN today and save up to 65%. Try it worry-free with 30-day pro-rated refunds.