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When the Internet dies, meet the meshnet that survives

newscientist.com

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Re: When the Internet dies, meet the meshnet that survives

#3

Post by sentientmachine »

Perhaps it's a good idea to have random take downs of the internet in large areas for extended periods of time so that there is more motivation for people to create a second, non-centralized single-point-of-failure single-point-of-control internet.

We have to prepare for the inevitable future reality where many layers of government can terminate the internet connection of any person based on what content they are providing, or what service they are serving.

When an evil agent discovers the power to shut down my internet connection, or the internet connection of an entire area based on what people are doing on it, it is only a matter of days or weeks before that power is wielded to expand their power and create money from thin air through it. If the internet is to become a medium through which people think through, it must be as reliable and un-stoppable as two people talking and listening in a private room.

Re: When the Internet dies, meet the meshnet that survives

#4

Post by krapp »

sentientmachine wrote: post #3

Perhaps it's a good idea to have random take downs of the internet in large areas for extended periods of time so that there is more motivation for people to create a second, non-centralized single-point-of-failure single-point-of-control internet. We have to prepare for the inevitable future reality where many layers of government can terminate the internet connection of any person based on what content they are pro…

>Perhaps it's a good idea to have random take downs of the internet in large areas for extended periods of time so that there is more motivation for people to create a second, non-centralized single-point-of-failure single-point-of-control internet.

That's not a good idea. That's a very bad idea, considering how much critical infrastructure, globally, depends on the internet working -- what you're suggesting, to even work as "motivation", would be akin to randomly poisoning pharmaceuticals to discourage overdependence on antibiotics.

That said though, if such a change could be pulled off without essentially destroying the economies of whole countries, I would be all for it.

Re: When the Internet dies, meet the meshnet that survives

#5

Post by pessimizer »

krapp wrote: post #4
sentientmachine wrote: post #3

Perhaps it's a good idea to have random take downs of the internet in large areas for extended periods of time so that there is more motivation for people to create a second, non-centralized single-point-of-failure single-point-of-control internet. We have to prepare for the inevitable future reality where many layers of government can terminate the internet connection of any person based on what content they are pro…

>Perhaps it's a good idea to have random take downs of the internet in large areas for extended periods of time so that there is more motivation for people to create a second, non-centralized single-point-of-failure single-point-of-control internet. That's not a good idea. That's a very bad idea, considering how much critical infrastructure, globally, depends on the internet working -- what you're suggesting, to even…

>considering how much critical infrastructure, globally, depends on the internet working

This is the very bad idea.

Re: When the Internet dies, meet the meshnet that survives

#6

Post by wcummings »

What on Earth makes people think a finnicky meshnet that requires a high density of nodes will survive a Sandy-like disaster? Doesn't seem like the most obvious use-case for meshnets, wouldn't people be better served getting ham licenses and learning how to improvise antennas in an emergency?

Re: When the Internet dies, meet the meshnet that survives

#8

Post by lbruder »

sentientmachine wrote: post #3

Perhaps it's a good idea to have random take downs of the internet in large areas for extended periods of time so that there is more motivation for people to create a second, non-centralized single-point-of-failure single-point-of-control internet. We have to prepare for the inevitable future reality where many layers of government can terminate the internet connection of any person based on what content they are pro…

Already done: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FidoNet

It's just a memory of its former self, but still in use today.

Re: When the Internet dies, meet the meshnet that survives

#9

Post by jpasmore »

Not to say that what happens with the military will impact those watching Netflix, but the infrastructure of the Web is vulnerable...

Article from Foreign Policy magazine

The Best Defense The future of war: You better be ready to fight like it's a pre-electronic age

http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/04/18/the_future_o...

"...Major battles in the 21st century will be confusing and disorganized affairs more similar to the clashes of a pre-digital age than the ‘network-centric' combat we've become accustomed to. A new generation of offensive technology targeting the electromagnetic spectrum -- systems such as cyberweapons, electronic jammers, anti-satellite missiles, and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) munitions -- will deprive militaries of the sensor and communications links they rely on. Forget 24-hour streaming video from a Predator drone. Armies of the future may struggle just to use their radios.....

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