This paper aims at analyzing the performance of an anonymous communication system 3-Mode Net with respect to the number of relay nodes required for communication and sender anonymity. As for the number of relay nodes, we give explicit formulas of the probability distribution, the expectation, and the variance. Considering sender anonymity, we quantify the degree of sender anonymity under a situation where some relay nodes collude with each other. The above analyses use random walk theory, a probability generating function, and their properties. From obtained formulas, we show several conditions for avoiding a situation where the number of relay nodes becomes large, and for providing high sender anonymity. Furthermore, we investigate the relationship between the number of relay nodes and sender anonymity, and give a condition for providing a better performance of 3 MN.

Compared with traditional static anonymous communication networks, the P2P architecture can provide higher anonymity in communication. However, the P2P architecture also leads to more challenges, such as route, stability, trust and so on. In this paper, we present WindTalker, a P2P-based low-latency anonymous communication network. It is a pure decentralized mix network and can provide low-latency services which help users hide their real identity in communication. In order to ensure stability and reliability, WindTalker imports "seed nodes" to help a peer join in the P2P network and the peer nodes can use gossip-based protocol to exchange active information. Moreover, WindTalker uses layer encryption to ensure the information of relayed messages cannot be leaked. In addition, malicious nodes in the network are the major threat to anonymity of P2P anonymous communication, so WindTalker imports a trust mechanism which can help the P2P network exclude malicious nodes and optimize the strategy of peer discovery, tunnel construction, and relaying etc. in anonymous communications. We deploy peer nodes of WindTalker in our campus network to test reliability and analyze anonymity in theory. The network measurement and simulation analysis shows that WindTalker can provide low-latency and reliable anonymous communication services.

Anonymous communication essentially involves two difficulties; 1) How does the sender send a message anonymously? 2) How does the receiver send a reply to the anonymous sender? In this paper, we propose an anonymous communication method named Rivulet that overcomes both of the difficulties by using group communication. Moreover, anonymous communication holds two dilemmas; 1) Strong anonymity or good performance? 2) Protect the privacy or promote the crime? Rivulet provides a solution for the former dilemma. The latter one is hard and important problem for all privacy protection schemes, therefore, we have to keep discussing this dilemma.