A system and associated protocols for communication between two entities across a computer network operate such that the identities of the two entities remain concealed from each other, while ensuring that no third party is able to trace the existence of a conversation between them. The two entities correspond to each other through pseudonyms. The protocols are designed with an object to distribute trust so that an identity is not revealed by the compromise of any one agent involved in the execution of the protocol. No one agent can establish a correlation between a pseudonym and a physical address.