A separate “internet” site that cannot be hacked or destroyed or blocked by regimes? Which also causes hardly any costs, is something like that even possible?
What one can only dream of in WEB2, our usual Internet, has long been state of the art in the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) of WEB3. And the IPFS is a completely new design and not an Internet with a few improvements.
A few comparisons should make this clear: WEB2 has developed over a long time into today's central network, which meets many needs but also increasingly shows weaknesses. Static websites that are created with HTML knowledge are disappearing in favor of dynamic presences using complex CMS (content management systems), which can better attract and capture the attention of visitors with their effects and functions. For comparison, the first websites I created consisted of maybe 10 files. The Tenckhoff photo archive is currently presented on the Internet using the CMS Drupal and currently contains 74,660 files that are hosted centrally on a server and can be accessed under a fixed IP address. Even though the professional Drupal CMS is one of the most secure systems, centralization is a weak point, as shown by around 100 attacks per day on my server from different countries around the world, and the Tenckhoff photo archive is of course of less importance than, for example, the large company websites Companies and Institutions. In addition, regimes around the world have an easy time blocking the central websites of inconvenient citizens or entire countries, etc.
Web3 and IPFS: Decentralization as the Future of the Internet
Web3, built on the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), offers a revolutionary solution to one of the biggest problems in Web2: centralized data storage.
Traditional websites rely on a single server or a cloud provider, making them vulnerable to downtime, cyberattacks, or censorship. In contrast, IPFS distributes files across a decentralized network of nodes, ensuring availability even if individual nodes go offline due to hacks, server failures, or government restrictions.
This is made possible through a cryptographic structure called a Merkle Tree, which uniquely identifies and verifies data integrity. Instead of being stored under traditional filenames, files on IPFS are addressed by their content hash, a mathematical fingerprint generated from their exact contents.
Key benefits of this approach:
✅ Tamper-proof storage – Any modification to a file changes its hash, making unauthorized alterations impossible.
✅ Redundancy and resilience – Files are available on multiple nodes, ensuring uninterrupted access.
✅ Censorship resistance – No single entity can control or take down content.
Web3 Websites – Secure, Immutable, and Censorship-Resistant
Because HTML, CSS, images, videos, and scripts can all be stored in IPFS, entire websites can be hosted without relying on traditional web servers.
Advantages over traditional hosting:
🌍 Truly decentralized – No need for central servers.
🔒 Secure from attacks – No single point of failure.
🕵️♂️ No takedowns – Governments and corporations cannot block IPFS-based sites.
For example, a simple Web3 site consists of:
- HTML and CSS files for structure and styling.
- Images and icons for visual elements.
- Scripts and metadata to enhance functionality.
Once uploaded, these files receive unique hashes and can be accessed through an IPFS gateway like:
👉 https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmexsSbrW4PxV4Vp2W55Zq1dZCvtgPNArYe2hTLYYqwZ6c/
However, this approach has a major limitation:
- If a file is updated or new files are added, the folder hash changes, meaning the website would have a new, unknown address each time.
To address this, IPNS (InterPlanetary Name System) was developed.
IPNS: The Solution for Dynamic Content
Just like DNS in Web2, IPNS provides a stable, human-readable address that always points to the latest version of a site.
- Instead of changing with every update, the IPNS address remains constant.
- It always redirects to the latest content version.
- Example of an IPNS address:
👉 https://ipfs.io/ipns/k2k4r8nhjfot9nkidj6vdj09lvv2y47t1bzoyr83vybhg2fl2okw2205/
Since these addresses are hard to remember, you can link an easy-to-use Web2 domain or subdomain:
🔹 https://web3.tenckhoff.de redirects to the IPNS address.
ENS: A User-Friendly Name for Web3
An even better solution is the Ethereum Name Service (ENS). Similar to traditional domain names (like tenckhoff.de), users can register a .eth domain such as:
👉 tenckhoff.eth
This domain can be linked directly to an IPFS website, making Web3 as user-friendly as the traditional web.
IPFS: The Foundation for NFTs and Digital Permanence
IPFS is already widely used, especially in the NFT ecosystem. Many NFT platforms store not only the tokens themselves but also their images and metadata on IPFS to ensure decentralization.
Other use cases include censorship-resistant mirrors of Wikipedia, providing unrestricted access to information in authoritarian regimes.
The Future of IPFS
Currently, Web3 is mainly suited for static websites, decentralized apps (dApps), and NFT storage. However, given its cryptographic foundation and evolving ecosystem, it could eventually replace traditional cloud storage.
For perspective:
- In the 1980s, the first online service in Germany, BTX, was limited to ASCII graphics and a 1200 bit/s download speed.
- Today, the internet is millions of times faster and more advanced.
Considering the mathematical potential of IPFS, we are likely at the beginning of a major transformation.
Conclusion: Why IPFS is Reshaping the Internet
🌎 IPFS enables a decentralized, secure, and censorship-resistant web.
🔗 ENS provides readable names like tenckhoff.eth for easy access.
🛡️ Data integrity is ensured through cryptographic hashing.
⚡ The future of Web3 is just beginning, with IPFS at its core.
🚀 For those looking to future-proof their online presence, IPFS is a game-changer.
0009-0008-1422-7931