[Niely]

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Hello

In times where governments, TLAs, big internet-companies, and criminals are trying to break your privacy; people have hard times securing their connection.
And a lot of people connect to Hack Forums with their standard IP, and with an unencrypted connection going through their ISP.

THAT'S INSANE!

And because I saw people struggling with using anonymity tools (Proxy, VPN, (Tor), i2P,...) I decided there needed to be a 'tutorial' on how to encrypt your connection and change your IP on HF.

So, in this tutorial I'll show you a way, and give you a few 'tips' on how to use HF more anonymously.

We will cover:

• Basic tips
  
• Change your IP and encrypt connection on HF
  
• FAQ
  
• Conclusion
  

But before you move on reading, you also might take a look at these threads:
https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=4321958 - Showing you how easy your IP can get compromised.
https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=4178212 - Basic information about staying anonymous.

Human Errors, this are the most for common ways people get compromised.
Most simple example: If you've routed your connection through Tor, and chained 5 VPNs before it, with other words, you're almost impossible to track. But you place your address on the website you're using that connection for. People don't even need trying to compromise your connection because YOU already gave them the right outcome.

You see? You should always make sure, you do not post any personal information about yourself. Because, this is the way a lot of people (whistle-blowers, cyber-criminals, freedom-fighters,...) get compromised. Their connection is secure, but they gave their information free (and keeping your information hidden, is the point of being anonymously).
Remind it like this: Anonymity tools do not protect you from stupidity.

And there are a few basic things you could do to prevent being compromised.

The most easiest way to prevent this human error, is by communicate only on HF (if you're talking to HF-people of course). But if you still use other services to communicate (e.g mail) make sure the mails are encrypted using something like PGP, and make sure that your mail service (Thunderbird, or browser) is routed through Tor clearly.

Same for chat-programs, make sure it's a save service (OTR, OnionChat,...) - Please, for the sake of your own security, DO NOT USE SKYPE.
And of course, make sure that it again is routed through Tor.

If you do transactions, use a anonymous crypto currency (like Bitcoin) and route your wallet through Tor. Also make sure you haven't shared your address somewhere else where you have personal information shared.

You can route applications easily through Tor by edit their settings/options. You have to set it's proxy settings to IP: 127.0.0.1 port: 9050 type: SOCKS. I won't go too deep on this, but if you have any problems routing applications through Tor, ask help here/in PM immediately!

Okay, now you've seen that you always have to make sure your IP can't get compromised, and you shouldn't be sharing your personal information. We can move on to the next and most important chapter. Changing and encrypting your IP on Hack Forums.

The last thing you want to have on this forum, is that your IP will get compromised by governments when you brag about your latest deface. Or that someone with bad intentions is able to grab your IP.
To prevent that, we use Tor, a VPN, or a proxy. Those three methods (where you can read about in the thread posted above) will change your IP and VPNs and Tor will even encrypt your connection.

The only problem, those three methods are blocked on HF.
So, how do we make our connection anonymous if we can't use one of the methods above?

For that, I'll introduce you to a method which is very similar to Tor, i2P.
i2P is a bit less secure then Tor, but it's the best alternative right now.
But before we jump into that I have to tell you, that not all proxies and VPN servers are blocked on HF. If you search really good, you'll find OpenVPN server and proxies who are working fine on HF.

Anyway, moving on.
I'll cover the following things in this chapter:

• How to install and use i2P
  
• How to chain a VPN to i2P
  

Let's start with the begin, installing i2P.
You can download i2P here:
https://geti2p.net/download

The installation for the three different operating systems are very similar, so I'll show how to do it for Linux.
When you've downloaded the .jar file, you've to install it using Java. This can easily be done using the following command:

Code

java -jar i2pinstall_VERSION.jar

(Edit VERSION)

A GUI will open, the only thing you could edit is the name of the folder (i2p > .i2p - So it's a hidden folder). But that's it. For the rest you just have to click Okay, Next, and done.

When you've successfully installed it, you have to launch i2P.
Windows users just have to click the icon, Linux users have to browse to their i2P-folder and run this command there:

Code

./i2prouter start

A Chromium window will open, with the URL localhost:7657. You can copy/paste that address to a more trusted browser called Firefox.

To make I2P work on the outer now as well, we have to make it use the outer proxy. Do this by going to the page here:
http://localhost:7657/i2ptunnel/edit?tunnel=0

Set outgoing proxies and outgoing SSL to: false.i2p.
And save that using the save-button which is located at the bottom of that page.
Restart everything.

Now, we need to configure Firefox to use i2P, this can be done easily by editing it's Proxy-settings:
Firefox > Preferences > Advanced > Network > Settings > Edit your setting like this:
Spoiler (Click to View)



Now, let i2P run a few minutes (10 - 15 minutes), then it should be fast enough.
Go to a website like http://check.torproject.org to check your IP, if it's changed: Congratulations!

You know now use Hack Forums with a changed IP and an encrypted connection!

USING I2P WITH VPN:

But maybe there are people who also want the reliability of a VPN, to achieve that we could chain a VPN before i2P (You > VPN > i2P > hackforums.net).

Chaining a VPN to i2P/Tor isn't really something hard to do, you just have to start your VPN up, and start i2P with it after it. No problem.

But the problem is (and maybe especially for Linux-users) is to find a good free trusted VPN. That's the reason I've already found it for you guys: OpenVPN.
Windows users can install it here:
https://openvpn.net/

Linux (Ubuntu-based) users just have to run this command:

Code

sudo apt-get install openvpn

But, how do you connect to a VPN server now?
First of all, you have to download configuration files of a specific server. You can find some servers here: http://www.vpngate.net/ (Scroll down).

It's very easy, download the configuration file you can find in the seventh column.
When the example.ovpn file is successfully downloaded, you just have to run this command (Linux):

Code

openvpn --config /Exact/Path/To/File/example.ovpn

Sometimes you have to give in an username and password if the server requires authentication, and sometimes you don't.

Now just restart i2P, and you have your VPN chained to i2P.

Was using anonymity tools not against the rules on HF?
Nope! HF does block some proxies, VPNs, and networks, but that does not mean it's disallowed to use here.

Can I multi-account and break the HF-rules now?
Nope! HF does not search for multi-accounts purely on the IP-address, so they can still find out if you're multi-accounting by using other ways. Using i2P or not, if you break the rules you'll get banned anyway.

What is the use for using anonymity tools on HF?
More freedom, you can share things you've done (which are still allowed here of course) or say things which are disallowed in your country (Net Neutrality).

Also a lot more secure for your own security.

Are there other things as i2P I could use?
There are alternatives as FreeNet is such an alternative.

Are all VPNs and proxies banned?
No. There are VPNs/proxies who ain't banned from HF. You only have to search deeper, longer, and further.

Why is this tutorial more Linux based?
Linux has the best privacy and security (do not start discussing this here), I want to encourage people to use Linux. Linux has the best support for anonymity tools and because of it's transparency the best to use if you want to stay anonymous, secure, and private. Windows/Mac are in the PRISM program.

Can I ask any question related to this here?
Yes, you can ask questions regarding this tutorial here or in PM. If you've got any questions regarding staying anonymous on the internet, feel free to PM me.

Interesting Links:
https://torproject.org
https://check.torproject.org
http://www.vpngate.net
https://startpage.com
https://openvpn.net/
https://geti2p.net

Do not share any personal information,
route everything you use (Chats, Mails, Bitcoin Wallets) you use for HF through Tor,
use i2P for Hack Forums.

geti2p.net > Install > http://localhost:7657/i2ptunnel/edit?tunnel=0 > Outgoing proxy & outgoing SSL = false.i2p > Save > Restart > Wait 15 minutes > Use HF.

Just wanted to show you guys, that you can use anonymity tools on HF.

Thanks for reading,
Niely

[Repentant]

Very good HQ tutorial.
I'm sure this will help a lot of people !
Thank you 🤝

[Silver Fang]

I thought proxies was disallowed. And every thread about changing it so you can discguise it here will be removed. I might be wrong though

[How bout using your brain]

Just remember:
It's useless to use something like Tor with HF if you have already once logged in before without using it...

[Niely]

Very good HQ tutorial.
I'm sure this will help a lot of people !
Thank you 🤝

No problem! That's why I made it. ;)

---

I thought proxies was disallowed. And every thread about changing it so you can discguise it here will be removed. I might be wrong though

Proxies ain't disallowed. ;)
They're just blocked (see FAQ).

---

Just remember:
It's useless to use something like Tor with HF if you have already once logged in before without using it...

Better as always having the same IP though. :)
The IP you login with isn't logged forever as well anyway.

[How bout using your brain]

Better as always having the same IP though. :)
The IP you login with isn't logged forever as well anyway.

How do you know? My login IPs are displayed in the control center.

[w34k]

I don't really see how this will keep you anonymous. Not posting personal info, yeah. There are other ways to track you, other than just IP. Which I'm sure you already logged into HF with your original IP anyway. (Which will always be logged.)

[Niely]

How do you know your IP is logged for always here?

[How bout using your brain]

How do you know your IP is logged for always here?

Why should they delete it?
But anyway, they log your IP, for how long doesn't really matter. I mean you even warn from this in your tutorial 😝 :

You see? You should always make sure, you do not post any personal information about yourself. Because, this is the way a lot of people (whistle-blowers, cyber-criminals, freedom-fighters,...) get compromised. Their connection is secure, but they gave their information free (and keeping your information hidden, is the point of being anonymously).
Remind it like this: Anonymity tools do not protect you from stupidity.

You probably gave HF your real IP the first time you logged in. So your Tor/i2p IP can be easily correlated to that one. It's false security, and you warned from this yourself in the tutorial 🙂

[Raz3r]

Op, as the others said; it's kinda of useless.
The day you register, your IP is logged. It doesn't matter if you've got a VPN or a proxy, they've still got your backend.
Anyways, it's a good VPN setup guide.

[Puddlefoot]

very informative tutorial nice work

[Niely]

Thanks for the nice reactions all! :)

[Pi the Omn_scient]

I honestly thought proxies were against the rules on here, thanks for clearing that up!

[Niely]

It ain't against the rules to use proxies or anything like that. Most of them are just blocked.

[Revenαnt]

Very helpful thread. However, like other members stated, if you've logged in with your real IP address even once, it will be logged. The only way this will work is if you've logged in securely every single time.