Hi Jerm.
Apologies, I’m not quite sure by what you mean by “can’t a AI/ML algorithms just be able to strip out these packets and be left with real packets that are transmitted” in this context. I’ll try to answer your question with an explanation …
As you (and I) said, Nym sends/receives a fixed number of packets per second (200 or so). These packets may be dummy or real packets, but it’s not possible to know because their content is encrypted. Nym also makes all packets the same size [1] so that a ML algorithm cant use this information to classify which communications people are using [2]. Sending dummy packets (or sending a constant flow or them in Nym’s case) along with padding packets (or making them the maximum size) is a common technique done used by both TOR and Mullvad, as well as Nym.
If by “strip out” in this context you mean actually go inside the packet and see if its dummy or real - that’s not currently possible because of encryption (AI/ML cant break encryption). However, if you mean an ML algorithm is able to observe the network and distinguish between the real ones and the dummy ones - Nym makes it very difficult for this to happen because of its mixnet and the techniques they use within the mix nodes e.g. packet-based routing, packet shuffling etc.
They could, but it’d be much easier to view the entry nodes on their publicly available server list server list lol (at least that’s what I’d do if my name were FBI-laracan988 instead). Publicly available entry nodes/server lists with associated IP addresses are also available for TOR and Mullvad on their websites. The way I see it is, if I’m using Nym I assume my government knows I’m using it because I’m connecting to a IP address which is publicly associated with its network.
Yes, I get the “it must stand the test of time” argument along with the Skiff problem. However, Skiff wasn’t some new revolutionary technology which changed the game [3]. On the other hand, Nym provides clear advantages over technologies people have been using for decades i.e. TOR and VPNs. This is through the use of a commercial mixnet and other privacy enhancing technologies e.g. constant cover traffic (which seems like it is super necessary for evading AI/ML systems and not a feature in TOR/other VPNs).
Nym’s founders also seem quite into this whole privacy thing. One of their founders describes himself as a “crypto anarchist” [4] Harry Halpin on “The Hated One”. It doesn’t seem like he’s gonna sell out for some cash like Skiff, but that’s just my opinion. They also have Chelsea Manning and Snowden as partners who have both promoted the product and done talks/promotions on their YouTube channel [5]. If Manning and Snowden were involved in the next “big Skiff sellout”, I’d find that totally wild lol (I’d also loose faith in humanity).
[1] By filling them with some dummy content as I understand it
[2] I would only assume this packet-size content would be a great predictor for a ML model
[3] That being said I dont know too much about Skiff, so maybe it did in some way
[4] Crypto-anarchy, crypto-anarchism, cyberanarchy or cyberanarchism is a political ideology focusing on the protection of privacy, political freedom, and economic freedom, the adherents of which use cryptographic software for confidentiality and security while sending and receiving information over computer networks.
[5] Can’t link the Snowden interview (ran out of links) - you can view a 1 hour interview of Snowden on their YouTube channel (talking about Nym to some extent)