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Bitcoin => Project Development => Topic started by: fleshproperty on July 11, 2011, 12:11:29 PM



Title: Lets build VPN
Post by: fleshproperty on July 11, 2011, 12:11:29 PM
Lets build VPN
- VPN service for Bitcoins

Dear Bitcoin community

Here goes:

We are a small group working out of Copenhagen, Denmark. Our plan is to construct a VPN service provider that will enable its users a fully encrypted access to the Internet.

What a VPN can do
A VPN has several benefits, where anonymity is the main one. It basically exchanges your public IP-number to an anonymous IP-number, rendering your identity invisible, unless you identify yourself. This way everyone who uses the VPN retain better control of when and where they want to identify themselves, and when they don't.

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9636/simplehowworksavpnblue.jpg

A VPN can also be described like a proxy or substitute computer, in the way that all your internet traffic is channelled through the VPN-server (that exchanges your IP-number in the process). A second benefit of this is that national censorship and blocks will become unworkable. Say you are a turkish citizen and want to read a valuable piece of information on a website, but find that the state blocked access to it. Using the VPN, all your traffic will go through a server that is located in a country, that do not have these restrictive blocks of the internet (in our case we have decided for Iceland).

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/1108/proxyvpn.jpg

Read more about VPN-technology on Wikipedia (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Virtual_private_network)

A VPN combined with Bitcoins provides double encryption
We plan to have Bitcoins as the primary currency, in two ways: (1) In terms of buying the services we need in Bitcoin, (2) but also by accepting Bitcoin as payment for the VPN.
Combining a VPN with Bitcoin therefore adds encryption in two similar ways: (1) Purchasing the service of the VPN with Bitcoins means you will not have any record in your bank recording a purchase of an anonymizing technology (2) Your future purchases of Bitcoins will be encrypted, so no one will be able to even see you trading other currencies for Bitcoins, and vice versa.

A copyable company
We are setting up an LLC company in Iceland which will be running the VPN.
An important issue for us is making the infrastructure of the VPN copyable, so that others might set up similar services. For that to happen we need to keep the operation transparent and lay forth our business plan as well as strategic, political and economic questions. We  will need to cover operating cost, but the idea is to keep it to a  minimum. Beyond that, we are aiming at following a business model inspired by Humble Bundle (a series of indie games) where the motto is  "Pay what you like".

Non-profit at its foundations
At its foundation the VPN will run as a non-profit. Hence, the necessary operation costs will not include any pay for us working and maintaining the VPN. As individuals though, we are dependent on an income to live. We will rely on donations to keep us out of other work. If  we reach a point where operation costs are easily covered by the users,  while still maintaining a minimum cost pr. user, the VPN might evolve into a stabile workers-owned firm and service. All this means is that we who will work and maintain the VPN will include a salary for  ourselves in the operation costs. At no point, though, should the VPN  turn into a  proprietary firm, in which case a profit would go into the  hands of a shareholder or other similar entity. The strenght of a  workers-owned  cooperative is that profits will go directly to the  people developing  and maintaining the service.

What  we need to setup the service

Right now we are in a building phase, getting the group together. We are primarily looking for these things:

1. Support. Tell us what you think of our idea!

2. We will be running the service out of Copenhagen, but are setting up a company in Iceland. Do you know someone who can be our contact in Iceland?
  
3. Advice as how to integrate BTC as the primary currency of a company.

4. Advice from someone with concrete experience with setting up a VPN server.

5. Funding. BTC can be donated here: 18xvpTePnJtCDJiQGsMgUbD4TTheH3znVa

Please comment here or write us at: letsbuildvpn@gmail.com

EDIT: Updated with a description of what a VPN is and some explanatory graphics.


Title: Re: Lets build VPN
Post by: kokjo on July 11, 2011, 12:25:03 PM
i can't see the idea og making a bitcoin specific VPN.
you are just using bitcoins as a currency, which is very good.

1. good! i like to buy things with bitcoins, more merchants.
2. why copenhagen/denmark? it just sucks that we got censored our internet (piratebay...)
3. run bitcoind. generate an address per customer, let them pay.
4. have none.
5. also try https://www.glbse.com/


er i fra danmark? FEDT!
prøv også at kigge over i http://www.nordcoin.org/


Title: Re: Lets build VPN
Post by: fleshproperty on July 11, 2011, 12:41:35 PM
Its not that we are building an BTC exclusive VPN provider, just that we want to integrate the company with BTC as much as we can.

Copenhagen because thats where we live. Iceland because thats where we can find good data safety.

I havent got much experience with GLBSE, but I will give it a go.

@kokjo: Ja vi er fra danmark. Leder efter folk der har lyst til at blive en del af gruppen og som har programmeringsskills. Hvis du kender nogen eller kender et godt forum at poste i må du sige til.


Title: Re: Lets build VPN
Post by: Fireball on July 11, 2011, 02:26:37 PM
Lets build VPN
- VPN service for Bitcoins

Any similarity to tor project?

Coincidentally I'm just driving through Denmark/Kobenhavn right now writing these lines :)


Title: Re: Lets build VPN
Post by: film2240 on August 06, 2011, 04:53:54 PM
I like this idea.At last a VPN service that lets me be totally anonymous without giving my:name,address,debit card details,DOB (to be allowed to use credit cards on some services).make sure that personally identifiable info is not a requirement.

if this service lets me use P2P/torrent and truly never logs my internet activity or sells this information on,then I'm in.

What kind of prices can I expect to pay on this service?monthly or yearly?


Title: Re: Lets build VPN
Post by: JeffK on August 07, 2011, 06:36:08 AM
I like this idea.At last a VPN service that lets me be totally anonymous without giving my:name,address,debit card details,DOB (to be allowed to use credit cards on some services).make sure that personally identifiable info is not a requirement.

if this service lets me use P2P/torrent and truly never logs my internet activity or sells this information on,then I'm in.

What kind of prices can I expect to pay on this service?monthly or yearly?

They would still have your IP logged at the VPN provider's office, and I'm sure the feds could pressure them into handing that over. This isn't as anonymous as you think.


Title: Re: Lets build VPN
Post by: JoelKatz on August 07, 2011, 06:53:22 AM
They would still have your IP logged at the VPN provider's office, and I'm sure the feds could pressure them into handing that over. This isn't as anonymous as you think.
Worse, they could intercept and log any traffic that wasn't encrypted.


Title: Re: Lets build VPN
Post by: sergio on August 07, 2011, 08:30:30 AM
There is already a bitcoin company doing this, and the rates are very low.
Check out this site:

http://www.vpn3000.com