4 ms·

Show HN: Mastinator. Disposable public anonymous no-login Fediverse accounts

3 points by boyter 4y ago

itake 4y ago
This project has been added to a block list: https://github.com/chaossocial/meta/commit/af9abd9043fe20a947f44f00438f9247edfdc50e https://github.com/chaossocial/meta/commit/af9abd9043fe20a94...
- boyter 4y ago
  Which is amusing because it does none of the things that Aral (the linked post) or the comment suggests. It did provide me with a lot of activity to respond to in the morning when I woke up however, and caused me to re-assess how much people understand about ActivityPub and the fediverse in general. Also blocked here https://fba.ryona.agency/?domain=mastinator.com https://fba.ryona.agency/?domain=mastinator.com
  - itake 4y ago
    I am curious how Mastodon solves the spam problem? Like how difficult is it to create a new instance? Do they need a fresh domain?
    - boyter 4y ago
      Domain, sub-domain, either works. Mastodon and indeed ActivityPub do not solve the spam problem. I think they were counting on rate limiting of user creation, and blocks of servers to solve it. However I have shown there is no rate limit on users, and blocks can be circumvented with a simple domain switch, or subdomain in many cases. In short the current solutions do not scale. My guess is the best option at this point is a proof of work system similar to bitmessage or what Microsoft proposed for email. Turn this on for any unsolicited request could solve it, or make it so expensive that its no longer worth it. Other option would be to use the public/private keys that are required for signing for encryption as well. That would slow spammers down a bit.
- xercon 4y ago
  Hopefully it will get added to more given the lack of acknowledgement of what they are promoting.
gardenfelder 4y ago
Read only - for following while remaining anonymous.
- altairprime 4y ago
  Anonymous followers are still a potential vector for abusive behavior, and the Internet is pretty threatening these days.
  - gardenfelder 4y ago
    How so?
    - boyter 4y ago
      I’d like to know this as well. Consider that creating an account elsewhere or running your own is trivial I don’t see how this is a problem.

3 points by boyter 4y ago

This project has been added to a block list: https://github.com/chaossocial/meta/commit/af9abd9043fe20a947f44f00438f9247edfdc50e https://github.com/chaossocial/meta/commit/af9abd9043fe20a94...

boyter 4y ago
Which is amusing because it does none of the things that Aral (the linked post) or the comment suggests. It did provide me with a lot of activity to respond to in the morning when I woke up however, and caused me to re-assess how much people understand about ActivityPub and the fediverse in general. Also blocked here https://fba.ryona.agency/?domain=mastinator.com https://fba.ryona.agency/?domain=mastinator.com
- itake 4y ago
  I am curious how Mastodon solves the spam problem? Like how difficult is it to create a new instance? Do they need a fresh domain?
  - boyter 4y ago
    Domain, sub-domain, either works. Mastodon and indeed ActivityPub do not solve the spam problem. I think they were counting on rate limiting of user creation, and blocks of servers to solve it. However I have shown there is no rate limit on users, and blocks can be circumvented with a simple domain switch, or subdomain in many cases. In short the current solutions do not scale. My guess is the best option at this point is a proof of work system similar to bitmessage or what Microsoft proposed for email. Turn this on for any unsolicited request could solve it, or make it so expensive that its no longer worth it. Other option would be to use the public/private keys that are required for signing for encryption as well. That would slow spammers down a bit.
xercon 4y ago
Hopefully it will get added to more given the lack of acknowledgement of what they are promoting.

gardenfelder 4y ago

Read only - for following while remaining anonymous.

altairprime 4y ago
Anonymous followers are still a potential vector for abusive behavior, and the Internet is pretty threatening these days.
- gardenfelder 4y ago
  How so?
  - boyter 4y ago
    I’d like to know this as well. Consider that creating an account elsewhere or running your own is trivial I don’t see how this is a problem.