When it comes to browsing with privacy and anonymity, almost every arrow points toward Tor. However, Tor is far from a perfect tool, and it isn't the only solution available. One of the most interesting alternatives is I2P, a peer-to-peer, encrypted, and censorship-resistant network layer. The main goal of I2P is to offer a communication path for users whose freedoms have been curtailed, but as with Tor, you'll most likely find all sorts of things there, good and bad..
Algorithms that study our browsing patterns, geographically restricted content, social platforms that absorb data, services that threaten their users... it's not hard to tire of all that. The feeling that something is broken in the surface web is growing stronger, and that leads us to explore other resources, other paths. The most popular is Tor, with twenty years of development behind it and a special pack that reduces its installation to a couple of clicks.
However, Tor isn't alone in this story. There's also I2P, a project of similar age and common goals despite its technical differences. I2P uses peer-to-peer technology, and there are no exit nodes like in Tor. From a certain point of view, every I2P user is a router, sharing bandwidth to improve their own performance and help others.
How to browse anonymously with I2P
Initially, I2P was known for its complex setup process, but that's all in the past. The official page offers a build compatible with Windows that requires few steps, and it also eliminates the classic Java requirement. All I2P asks before you begin is an installation of Firefox, or alternatively, a copy of the Tor Bundle to use its browser.
Once configured and the percentage of bandwidth you want to share is assigned, I2P should open a console at the localhost address. This section not only lets you know the general state of the network, but also lets you receive the latest news and access special applications. For example, you can manage contacts, set up an email account, and download BitTorrent files thanks to the built-in I2PSnark client.
Obviously, the main challenge is finding sites inside I2P. One of the first stops for any user is "I2P Planet" (planet.i2p), which acts as an aggregator focused on trackers, blogs, and other similar feeds. "eepstatus" (identiguy.i2p) is a sort of hybrid between an index and a status checker for a wide number of sites. From here on, you must tread carefully: the content of these sites can take anyone by surprise. Finally, "Legwork" (legwork.i2p) is the closest thing to a traditional search engine.
Even so, you'll most likely find many sites that appear to be down, or I2P will simply say the site wasn't saved in your address book. In reality, what you should do is use one of the "jump services" to get the updated b32 address.
If that sounds too complex, well... it's the price to pay. The I2P installer simplifies things a lot, but when it comes to navigating this darknet, you have to get your hands dirty.
Official site and download: Click here
