ZeroNet could be a solution against censorship and much more
ZeroNet is a new and revolutionary decentralized P2P internet that promise to avoid censorship and improve user privacy on the open web.
ZeroNet is a decentralized and open source web platform. Itās based on BitTorrent(p2p) technology and BitCoin cryptography. These features ensure a decentralized censorship-resistant network.
The contents published by users can never be deleted because theyāre distributed directly to other visitors without any central server. The content remains online so long as at least one user serving it. Itās impossible to shut down websites in the ZeroNet.
āWhen a site is updated by its owner, all nodes serving that site (previous visitors) will receive only the incremental updates done to the site content.ā states the official website of the project.
ZeroNet implements a network whereby users can access and surf websites that are hosted on other userās machines, it doesnāt includeĀ centralized servers.
āItās nowhere because itās everywhere!ā declares ZeroNet site
You can create a free website using ZeroNet. There are no costs forĀ hosting because the website is stored automatically your website. This could be a challenge to web hosting companies. It is always online with no downtime and can be accessible if your internet is unavailableĀ if you have visited the website previously.
The site owner can accept payment directly to theĀ site address.
Is ZeroNet anonymous?
If you want to hide your IP address, ZeroNet supports Tor network. The level of anonymity implemented is the same of the one implemented for BitTorrent, but a combined use with the Tor networkĀ will allow protecting userās anonymity.
ZeroNet is made to work with anonymity networks: you can easily hide your IP using the Tor network.
Furthermore, you donāt need to remember your password, because your account is protected by same cryptography as a Bitcoin wallet.
In order to ensure integrity files, when you visit a site you download a file named ācontent.jsonā, it contains all other file names with relative hashes and cryptographic signature by theĀ site owner. Then you download other files and verify them using hashes included in the ācontent.jsonā. This prevents in some way the diffusion of corrupted files or malicious code.
Another feature is multi-user site for example if you want toĀ post on forum or blog. Sending your auth address to theĀ site owner, it creates a new file and set your auth address as the valid signer. The site owner publishes a new ācontent.jsonā declaring that you can be signed a file.
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Below the list of features implemented by ZeroNet:
- Easy, zero configuration setup.
- Password-less BIP32 based authorization: Your account is protected by the same cryptography as your Bitcoin wallet.
- Real-time updated sites.
- Namecoin .bit domains support.
- SQL Database support: Allows for easier site development and faster page load times.
- Anonymity: Full Tor network support with .onion hidden services instead of ipv4 addresses
- TLS encrypted connections.
- Automatic, uPnP port opening.
- Plugin for multiuser (openproxy) support.
- Works with any browser/OS.
ZeroNet users also have access to
- ZeroBoard: Simple message board demo for dynamic content distribution
- ZeroBlog: Self publishing blog demo
- ZeroTalk: Decentralized, P2P forum demo
- ZeroMail: End-to-end encrypted, distributed, P2P messaging site. To improve privacy it uses a BitMessage-like solution and will not expose the message recipient.
- ZeroChat: The finished site for the tutorial of creating a server-less, SQL backed, real-time updated P2P chat application using ZeroNet in less than 100 lines of code
- ZeroMe: Decentralized, Twitter-like P2P social network.
One of the questions in the FAQĀ session camptured my attention:
What happens when someone hosts malicious content?
The answer is very clear:
The ZeroNet sites are sandboxed, they have the same privileges as any other website you visit over the Internet. You are in full control of what you are hosting. If you find suspicious content you can stop hosting the site at any time.
Gloss