Definition
Multi-authority steered targets (MAST) is a technique that VPN protocols use to enhance privacy and security. It works by allowing selective disclosure of the routing path.
This enables the VPN user to decide which authorities can access certain routing information, enhancing the connection’s overall privacy.
MAST Examples
- The Tor network: MAST helps to hide the path of the user’s internet traffic in the Tor network, disclosing only the appropriate segment to each node.
- VPN connections: MAST can incorporated into VPN protocols to improve user privacy by limiting the exposure of routing paths.
Pros and Cons of MAST
Pros
- Enhanced privacy: MAST enhances user privacy by hiding the full routing path from any single authority.
- Minimized surveillance: MAST minimizes the potential for surveillance by any compromised node since it discloses routing information selectively.
Cons
- Complexity: MAST adds complexity to the VPN protocol, which might increase the processing power.