Enhanced Anonymity

Anonymity score

Whenever you make a deposit or withdraw in HYC you are going to see a "Pool Anonymity" score (for deposits) and a "Transaction Anonymity" score for withdrawals.

These scores are a representation of the level of privacy that is currently being delivered by the protocol. More users interacting with the protocol using larger volumes of funds mean better anonymity guarantees.

The score is designed as a user-friendly way to understand the current guarantees provided by the protocol.

Pool anonymity scores are informing you regarding the volume of the pool. The larger the volume of deposits into the pool the higher its score. Normally, pools with smaller fixed amounts have a higher anonymity score. Therefor, its an indication of the pool's transaction volume - your deposit into the pool might have stronger or weaker anonymity guarantees based on the transaction anonymity score.

Transaction anonymity scores are informing you of how many deposits and withdrawals happened in the pool after your initial deposit. This score is the most relevant to assess whether you should withdraw your funds or wait longer for greater privacy.

Anonymity score meaning

Each score showcases the protection against different classes of observers:

1. Level one - protects your transactions from normal user looking through explorer or simple association bots (no AI or hardcore graph analysis software)

2. Level two - protects your transactions against AI-powered and heavy analytics bots

3. Level three - protects your transactions against spy-grade analytics software

Besides looking at the anonymity scores, you should also implement the techniques we highlighted below to increase your anonymity when using the protocol:

Tips to increase your anonymity when using hideyour.cash

Wait before withdrawing

When using hideyour.cash, it's wise to wait for some time before withdrawing your funds. This can help ensure that your transactions are properly mixed with those of other users and that your identity remains hidden. By waiting, you increase the likelihood that your transaction will be mixed with a larger pool of other transactions, making it harder to trace back to you. So, if you want to get the most out of using a mixer, be patient and give it some time before withdrawing your funds. We recommend at least 30 minutes, but the more you wait, the more anonymous you'll be.

Create a new address that hasn't received any funds

When you create a new wallet on Near Protocol, you need to send at least 0.1 $NEAR to activate it. If you send this funds from a known wallet, you'll loose your privacy. What you should do instead is creating a completely new wallet and fund it with a transaction that comes straightly from hideyour.cash, it means, withdrawing from hideyour.cash to your new wallet address using the relayer service. That way, your new wallet is completely private.

Use different account addresses

Using the same deposit and withdrawal addresses when using a mixer can make it easier for someone to track your transactions. If someone knows the address you used to deposit funds into a mixer, and then sees the same address associated with a withdrawal, they can assume that you withdrew the same funds that were deposited.

To avoid this, it's recommended to use different addresses each time you use the mixer. For example, you can generate a new deposit address for each transaction, and then use a new withdrawal address when you want to retrieve your funds. This way, it becomes more difficult for someone to connect your deposit and withdrawal transactions, which enhances your privacy.

Make small transactions

When you mix a large amount of cryptocurrency, it can be easier for someone to trace the origin of the funds and track the transactions. By mixing smaller amounts over time, you can make it more difficult for someone to follow the flow of the funds and connect them to your identity.

For example, if you were to mix a large amount of cryptocurrency at once, it would be more noticeable and potentially suspicious to an observer. Mixing smaller amounts over time can help you avoid this kind of attention and make it more difficult for someone to link your transactions together.

Use a VPN

When you use a mixer, your internet traffic may contain information that can be used to link your identity with your cryptocurrency transactions. This includes your IP address, which can be used to identify your location and potentially link you to your transactions. By using a virtual private network (VPN), you can mask your IP address and add an additional layer of privacy to your mixer transactions.

A VPN works by routing your internet traffic through a remote server, which can be located in a different country or region. This server acts as an intermediary between your device and the websites or services you access, making it more difficult to trace your internet activity back to your physical location. This can help protect your identity and provide an extra layer of privacy for your mixer transactions.

Consider a Tor Browser

A Tor browser, such as Tor or Brave, is a web browser that helps to anonymize your internet activity by routing your internet traffic through a series of servers before reaching its destination. This can help to hide your IP address, making it more difficult for anyone to track your online activity, including your use of a mixer.

When you use a Tor browser to access the mixer website, your internet traffic is encrypted and routed through a series of random servers, making it more difficult for anyone to trace your activity back to your device or location. This can help to protect your privacy and increase your anonymity when using a mixer.

Use Multiple Mixers

Using multiple mixers in sequence is another tip to increase your privacy when using a mixer. By using different mixers, it becomes more difficult for anyone to trace your transactions and link them back to you. When you use multiple mixers in sequence, it creates a web of transactions that is difficult to untangle, making it much harder for anyone to figure out the original source of the funds.

However, using multiple mixers also comes with some risks. For example, each mixer may charge a fee for their services, and using multiple mixers can quickly add up and become expensive. Additionally, using multiple mixers can increase the risk of losing your cryptocurrency or falling victim to scams, as there are more opportunities for something to go wrong. It's essential to research and use reputable mixers and exercise caution when using multiple mixers.