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Ask HN: Is it still conceivable to remain an anonymous developer nowadays?

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Re: Ask HN: Is it still conceivable to remain an anonymous developer nowadays?

#31

Post by raverbashing »

bigiain wrote: post #21
spoonjim wrote: post #7

There are three levels of anonymity: anonymity to the general public, to Apple, and to a state-level actor. Anonymity to the general public is very easy, incorporate a company behind some of the shell corporation mumbo jumbo that any corporate lawyer can prep for you, it will cost $ but it will be easy. Anonymity from Apple could probably be pulled off by incorporating in a country with fairly weak transparency and h…

> Anonymity from a state level actor would be pretty hard. I'd say "totally impractical/impossible for regular individuals". As James Mickens so eloquently put it: If your adversary is the Mossad, YOU’RE GONNA DIE AND THERE’S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. The Mossad is not intimidated by the fact that you employ https:// . If the Mossad wants your data, they’re going to use a drone to replace your cellphone with…

As funny as this is, you (not you, the person in the example) broke the anonimity when you chose to be an antagonist yourself (and drawing attention in the process).

The best way to be anonymous to those agencies is to be irrelevant to them

Re: Ask HN: Is it still conceivable to remain an anonymous developer nowadays?

#32

Post by yieldcrv »

Havoc wrote: post #23
yieldcrv wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't need a nominee director you just need the better jurisdiction. Several US states do not list directors or the names of anyone involved with the company, publicly. Some states don't have that information at all.

Not sure I’d consider anonymous corporate entities “better”…

You're the only one that read that.

The jurisdiction is better because it has more features, and those features are applicable to a broader audience. Additional features = better, less features = worse. You don't have to chose any specific feature of the jurisdiction yourself, like forming an anonymous corporate entity. You can [typically] form one that gives out all of your information in those places too.

Re: Ask HN: Is it still conceivable to remain an anonymous developer nowadays?

#33

Post by supermatt »

yieldcrv wrote: post #11
supermatt wrote: post #4

Does "turning into a real business" mean "making money"? If so, how do you expect to anonymously receive funds from the app store (or any other payment service provider). The only way you could remain (externally) anonymous and comply with all the AML/KYC and other legal, corporate and service requirements (including taxation, etc) would be to have a company with a nominee director.

You don't need a nominee director you just need the better jurisdiction. Several US states do not list directors or the names of anyone involved with the company, publicly. Some states don't have that information at all.

How does that work for AML? Not having to disclose UBOs it seems like you wouldnt be able to even open a bank account.

EDIT: seems you still have to disclose UBOs for IRS, banks, subpoenas, etc with these "anonymous LLCs" - unless you also use a nominee

Re: Ask HN: Is it still conceivable to remain an anonymous developer nowadays?

#34

Post by New_California »

Yes, it is absolutely conceivable to be anon developer, except for officially publishing in the Apple/Google/MS walled gardens.

Then if you would want to accept donations or payments, anonymity is only possible with cryptocurrencies and cash-by-mail. The easiest one (anonymity wise) is Monero and the most popular one is Bitcoin.

Re: Ask HN: Is it still conceivable to remain an anonymous developer nowadays?

#35

Post by New_California »

mathrawka wrote: post #27

If you prefer to use a pseudonym, why not just register an LLC? There are services out there that will register your company and be your registered agent in states that do not require your name ever made public (Wyoming for example). These services also provide a mailbox that would work for anything you need. You can then get a business checking account (Mercury works well) with your newly registered business. You ca…

Anon LLC is US specific. Not available in other countries.

Re: Ask HN: Is it still conceivable to remain an anonymous developer nowadays?

#36

Post by Beltiras »

raverbashing wrote: post #31
bigiain wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Anonymity from a state level actor would be pretty hard. I'd say "totally impractical/impossible for regular individuals". As James Mickens so eloquently put it: If your adversary is the Mossad, YOU’RE GONNA DIE AND THERE’S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. The Mossad is not intimidated by the fact that you employ https:// . If the Mossad wants your data, they’re going to use a drone to replace your cellphone with…

As funny as this is, you (not you, the person in the example) broke the anonimity when you chose to be an antagonist yourself (and drawing attention in the process). The best way to be anonymous to those agencies is to be irrelevant to them

Then you just become training data for their threat algo.

Re: Ask HN: Is it still conceivable to remain an anonymous developer nowadays?

#37

Post by bigiain »

raverbashing wrote: post #31
bigiain wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Anonymity from a state level actor would be pretty hard. I'd say "totally impractical/impossible for regular individuals". As James Mickens so eloquently put it: If your adversary is the Mossad, YOU’RE GONNA DIE AND THERE’S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. The Mossad is not intimidated by the fact that you employ https:// . If the Mossad wants your data, they’re going to use a drone to replace your cellphone with…

As funny as this is, you (not you, the person in the example) broke the anonimity when you chose to be an antagonist yourself (and drawing attention in the process). The best way to be anonymous to those agencies is to be irrelevant to them

> The best way to be anonymous to those agencies is to be irrelevant to them

And to make sure that everybody who has the same name as you also stays irrelevant to them... And that nobody ever uses your name as an alias and does anything "relevant" to them.

"“A senior administration official who spoke on condition he not be identified said Kennedy was stopped because the name ‘T. Kennedy’ has been used as an alias by someone on the list of terrorist suspects.” A number of media outlets carried the same version of the story.

Of course, “Ted” Kennedy’s real first name is Edward, and would appear as such on any ticket or identification documents, so why the senator’s name should set off alarms, even if a ‘T. Kennedy’ appeared on a “no fly” list, is a mystery that has not been explained.

The New York Times reports a different story: “The alias used by the suspected terrorist on the watch list was Edward Kennedy, said David Smith, a spokesman for the senator, who uses his full name, with a middle initial, of Edward M. Kennedy.”"

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2004/08/kenn-a21.html

Re: Ask HN: Is it still conceivable to remain an anonymous developer nowadays?

#38

Post by yieldcrv »

supermatt wrote: post #33
yieldcrv wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't need a nominee director you just need the better jurisdiction. Several US states do not list directors or the names of anyone involved with the company, publicly. Some states don't have that information at all.

How does that work for AML? Not having to disclose UBOs it seems like you wouldnt be able to even open a bank account. EDIT: seems you still have to disclose UBOs for IRS, banks, subpoenas, etc with these "anonymous LLCs" - unless you also use a nominee

It depends on what level of anonymity you want.

There are about 3 or 4 levels

1) anonymity to the public and search engines

2) anonymity to the app store platform and most of the private sector

3) anonymity to the state, banking and legal

4) anonymity to intelligence community

the business entity as I described satisfies 1) and 2).

its not really clear to me that a nominee director legally satisfies 3), AML has always required decision makers and ultimate beneficial owners (UBO) to be the ones that financial institutions have records of, and the IRS requires that the UBO report it on their tax. If your criteria for 3) does not require strict adherence to legal, then there are plenty of other things you can do as well.

and if you aren't needing to list on "App stores" or use financial institutions, then 3) isn't necessary at all

Re: Ask HN: Is it still conceivable to remain an anonymous developer nowadays?

#39

Post by DarthNebo »

New_California wrote: post #35
mathrawka wrote: post #27

If you prefer to use a pseudonym, why not just register an LLC? There are services out there that will register your company and be your registered agent in states that do not require your name ever made public (Wyoming for example). These services also provide a mailbox that would work for anything you need. You can then get a business checking account (Mercury works well) with your newly registered business. You ca…

Anon LLC is US specific. Not available in other countries.

Not limited by LLC, registering a company anywhere can ensure it to an extent
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