I2P, Freenet — Anonymous Networks Explained
I2P (Invisible Internet Project)
What it is:
An anonymous, distributed network built on top of the internet. The focus is on internal, private services (called eepsites) that end in .i2p. Unlike Tor, there’s almost no access to the regular web — everything lives inside.
How it works:
Traffic is encrypted and routed through tunnels built by the user via multiple relays. The direction is one-way — separate tunnels for sending and receiving. This makes deanonymization harder.
What it’s used for:
- Chats, forums, file storage, and blogs where privacy is critical.
- Great for peer-to-peer (P2P) protocols.
- Used by developers and activists in countries with strict censorship.
Drawbacks & caveats:
- Slower than the regular internet.
- Less user-friendly than the Tor Browser.
- Requires setup and understanding.
- Little to no access to external traffic — you’re in a closed bubble.
Freenet
What it is:
A distributed peer-to-peer network without servers. All data is encrypted, duplicated, and stored on users’ machines. It’s self-contained — anything you publish or read is stored in someone’s encrypted node.
How it works:
Once connected, you become part of the network. Data is routed by popularity — the more it’s requested, the closer it moves to you. You can publish content without owning a host or domain. It’s anonymous and censorship-resistant.
What it’s used for:
- Publishing content without risk of takedown.
- Reading forums, articles, and hosting “permanent” files.
- Freenet not only hides your IP — it hides the very location of the original file.
Drawbacks & caveats:
- It’s slow. Really slow.
- Old-school interface.
- Content updates infrequently — or not at all.
- You can’t browse the regular web. Everything stays inside.
⚙ Pro Tip
There are bridges between I2P and Tor — via proxy gateways or special tunnels. This gives access to both worlds. But beware: such combos expand your attack surface if misconfigured. Best practice: use each network for its purpose and don’t mix them unless you really know what you’re doing.
Conclusion
Tor — for anonymous browsing and .onion sites.
I2P — for secure internal communication and peer-to-peer activity.
Freenet — for storing and accessing uncensorable content.
Choose the right tool for the job — and remember: anonymity starts not with clicking an icon, but with what’s in your head.
