We’re rebuilding the internet so that you can say goodbye to your VPN and never again make the tradeoff between the content you want and privacy. Introducing URnetwork, a decentralized network powered by direct connections to people around you.
Hi I'm Brien, the founder and one of the builders at URnetwork. I was one of first 20 engineers at Palantir and have been building global infrastructure for over a decade. I started working on URnetwork out of a WeWork in Palo Alto, exploring the idea that a massively distributed, four-nines reliable network can be built with commodity hardware to be the most private, available, and secure network for everyday people. Along the way we've questioned every assumption and developed key innovations that scale to millions of users. With URnetwork you don't need to trust some company with your data. Instead we use transparency and better protocols to prove it.
Why does it matter?
I believe we all deserve an Internet that is inclusive, expressive, and free.
The commercialization of people of the Internet has been increasing for decades, and people are now targeted for maximum value extraction in every interaction. The incentive of the internet is no longer to be of service to people. People simply haven't had the tools to make a different choice.
I believe an anonymous, unfiltered, secure network will lead to a better Internet for people.
The goal of URnetwork is to make this new network private, available, and secure for everyone, anywhere. We have the power in our devices to create a better internet, we just have to turn it on.
Eliminating reliance on third-party companies for privacy is a powerful idea. If URnetwork delivers on its promise, it could redefine how people access the web.
Took me a little while to understand how it fully works. But understood once I installed the app. Quite an impressive idea. So are you only supposed to share the network with people you know and trust? Also, how does the rewards work? Is part of the earnings of the premium plan used to pay for the participants?
Out of curiosity: how do you make money out of it? Because I see a revenue-sharing feature on the app.
The idea of a decentralized network built on direct connections is fascinating. If URnetwork can deliver both privacy and accessibility at scale, this could change how we think about online security.
Congratulations on launching URnetwork! This innovative approach tackles the common dilemma of balancing access to content with privacy concerns effectively.
How does URnetwork ensure secure connections between users while maintaining a decentralized architecture, particularly against potential security threats?
Congrats on the launch! Have been thinking about this for a long time, glad to see someone take another stab at it
The commercialization of online interactions has become overwhelming. A network that puts users first instead of treating them like data sources is an exciting shift.
This is a bold vision for the future of the internet. Removing the need for VPNs while ensuring privacy and security is a massive step forward. Excited to see where this goes.
Love the site, vibe with the mission, and realllly want to love this. I was a bit sused when I had to download the app but went for it any way. Logged in, and was pleasantly surprised to see I can earn USDC for supporting.
Tried it out for a bit and noticed a couple of things:
Wasn't able to send photos or media via iMessage (on Mac)
The network did slow a bit sometimes (I'm on a network capable of 10GB...)
I wish I got more information about what was happening. How much data am I transferring/supporting, am I getting any packet loss? Why is my media getting caught up, etc.
I reallllyyy think this has legs and am happy to continue testing but as of now cannot have it on 24/7 as I'd wish :/
Congratulations on launching URnetwork! You're tackling a significant pain point in internet privacy by eliminating the performance-vs-security tradeoff that traditional VPNs impose on users.
How does your peer-to-peer network handle connection stability when the number of local nodes is limited in a user's geographic area?
I dig the branding and aesthetic.
I'm highly skeptical of most VPNs. You're trusting them with a ton of data and who knows what backdoors they might not even know about. But I don't think most consumers think about this.
@urbrien is this primarily targeted to the early adopter, tech crowd?
I created a network but it says I'm not live. Is it because I'm using it on the desktop?
