Broadly speaking, there are three parties fighting the guerilla war on privacy and internet anonymity. Government agencies, cybercriminals and we average internet users who mostly give Facebook all of our information and then complain, on Facebook, about our privacy concerns.
53% of users around the world are now more concerned with their online privacy compared to February 2019.
(Image showing the percentage of users who are now more concerned about their online privacy compared to a year ago (February 2019). Image Source: Statista)
The capabilities and threats of hackers have grown in conjunction with that of technological advancements in the 21st century. But there has been a movement towards a more open, transparent and secure use of the internet as well as proactive steps to take in order to safeguard privacy. Many turn to VPN, yet there is a will and a way to go further than this traditional precautionary measure.
VPN
Image Source: The Conversation
Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the tunnel infrastructure between two messages that make sure that they’re safe from the ISP (man in the middle) and are exchanged as encrypted messages with an end server that connects to the global network. A VPN essentially gives you a different IP address from the one you’re using. It enables you to make it look like you are surfing from a different geographical location. This is particularly useful for accessing censored or unavailable sites in certain countries. Most VPNs are designed to provide security and privacy yet there still exists centralised issues to combat when using traditional VPN services.
Centralised VPN
Traditional VPN servers are hosted by a specific centralised company through which each digital transaction passes. These centralized governance servers are often controlled by a commercial entity that charges for subscriptions and sells data and bandwidth. Local regulations allow disclosure of subscriber data. Meaning, there is a high chance that these companies are keeping and storing your personal data.
No central server is safe and may be vulnerable to hackers. They’re effectively counterintuitive when it comes to meeting the needs of users for a VPN in the first place.
Decentralised blockchain-based VPN
A decentralised blockchain-based VPN network does not rely on a central point of control. With no single authority, the system is naturally made fairer and more secure. The way in which data is recorded onto a blockchain encapsulates the very value of decentralisation.
(Image showing centralized vs distributed ledger. Image Source: Tradeix)
In simple terms, a decentralised VPN combines the traffic of many computers and communicate using a peer to peer system. So, each computer acts as a server. Additional help from blockchain technology allows the nodes to make decisions that impact the VPN. This means that decentralised VPNs cannot be hacked because, in order to do so, each and every computer node would have to be hacked to access the system.
If the future of private communication really does rest with decentralised blockchain-based VPNs, it would be sensible to get started immediately. Some of the most secure VPN servers can be found in ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Private Internet Access, PureVPN and Perfect Privacy.
We now are seeing the rise of private communications startups who offer an all-inclusive solution aimed at preserving the confidentiality of phone calls and internet connection in the GSM system.
Some of the services offered include:
Banning geodata transfer
- Random routing
- Offering replacement outgoing numbers
- Anonymous communication with subscribers
- Modification voice features
- Virtual phone number rental for incoming calls
- Anonymous subscriber connection
However, you shouldn’t be expecting to pay the standard cell network rate we’re all used to that includes unlimited data and calls. Private communication networks can get pretty pricey.
Future of private communication
Other than totally disappearing from the face of the digital world (virtually impossible) there isn’t much you can do to avoid being tracked by digital giants.
Given the fact that almost half of Americans think that NSA’s phone surveillance is unacceptable, there’s no better time to think about your privacy.
Image Source: Statista
To avoid your personal data being compromised, a decentralised blockchain-based VPN is the smartest avenue for private communication and here’s why.
Let’s reiterate the point and highlight the magnitude of the potential security available with a decentralised VPN on the blockchain. With no information being stored in one central location, it becomes virtually impossible for cybercriminals to hack. This is because when information is recorded in a blockchain’s distributed ledger, it can’t be changed, removed or tampered with. The network improves transparency and security within the network you operate.
Currently, “Modern telecom is far from saturation, the global penetration according to GSMA reaches 63%”, says Maxim Ploskonosov, CFO and Co-Founder of Irbis Network (SafeCalls).
Traditional communication networks are based on centralised servers. They all function with an information packet that contains the exchange of meta information to establish the communication and the central server then mediates that communication. By cutting out the centralised server, private communication becomes truly private.
The oligopoly of a select few centralised VPN servers works against the principles of Blockchain economy; equality, fairness and sound logic. In combination with a decentralised VPN network, fair prices are expected to be set due to perfect competition.
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