RetroShare

Retroshare is a free computer program that allows different encrypted communication and serverless file sharing between friends ( friend -to -friend ). There is no strict darknet program because the exchange of information and files not directly connected friends on the second, third, fourth ... level is possible. Friends are identified in the friends list using RSA keys reliably as a trusted and authenticated. Retroshare offers multiple instant messaging options, an e -mail client, Voice over IP, web crawling, feed reader and internal Internet forums and channels to which messages can be sent publicly or anonymously to friends. The exchange of all information and data is distributed basis and by the OpenSSL encryption.

Properties

Authentication and connection

When you first start Retroshare generates an OpenPGP key, the exchange friends with each other and confirm ( see also: key signing party ). This key is needed to establish a connection by distributed hash IP table (DHT ) in the Retroshare network.

Once the GPG / PGP key has been published and recognized by both sides, the friends are connected to each other. However, the possibility would be that possibly the key exchange can be manipulated by third parties by these third parties as an attacker " between the friends turn " as a so-called " man-in -the -middle attack ". To prevent this, the CPC provides the ability to authenticate the key. Thus, the so-called web of trust is established. Care should be taken to ensure that the keys are only authenticated, the authenticity of which you can confirm (for example, people that we know ).

Configure the network connections between the friends is encrypted and serverless. For encryption Retroshare used a modified version of OpenSSL.

File transfer

Friends of Friends can not connect directly among themselves. However, there is the possibility of their shares anonymously and access encrypted, if enabled by the user. Search, access, and uploading and downloading of these files, or other information made ​​by " routing " on the friends. This means that the source of the data ( Uploading ) and the destination of the data ( the downloader ) not directly, but only through common friends communicate indirectly. This anonymous tunnels are built currently a maximum of six knots. So you can share information and files across a network without being directly connected to all the participants. Since all data and communications network OpenSSL to encrypt the sender transmitted to the receiver, no one can ( none of the participants who pass the communication packets or files) to monitor, control, or censor the exchange. Friends with whom one is directly connected and the data is passed, can not determine whether you request a file itself also ( downloads ) or forward them to other friends ( uploads ). This can be demonstrated that participants in the true original uploader or downloader of a file. Each Retroshare user can select whether the traffic from the anonymous file sharing, the contributions of the internal forums and channels as well as the discovery may be conducted via its own IP address of friends. This function can be adjusted individually and individually for each connected friend as well as any time changed.

Sharing files

The shares of all files can be similarly manage such as eMule. Each user can determine whether it frees individual files, directories, or entire hard drives.

It can be selected whether all related friends or only certain friends can directly access specific files. For each friend you can thus represent other files, folders or hard drives available. There is also the option of accepting all shared files to the complete network ( friends of friends, etc. ), or just directly connected friends, where appropriate, to provide two anonymous available. The files can then be found to protect anonymity only by the internal search or by published hyperlink, for example, in the internal or external forums. Direct access to the shares is then no longer possible. Due to the routing function in Retroshare can not be clearly demonstrated with this option which user is the real downloader or uploader of a file.

When selecting the direct access to files or directories that friends can browse the shares via tree view or list view. The shared files can do so according to the age, size and name sorted view. With this option, directly connected friends can see which files are shared by a friend.

All functions of the data release is possible to modify and change if necessary, change any time.

Communication

Retroshare contains an e- mail clients, Instant Messaging, Broadcast, forums, newsgroups, chat lobbies, remote chat, VoIP and web crawling. All communications are encrypted and function without the use of a server.

The e- mail client makes it possible to send offline messages to friends. He has a folder for incoming, outgoing and sent messages as well as designs and a wastebasket to restore deleted messages. Messages can be sorted and managed according to their importance. For predefined Tags are already available, can be extended to words by their own individually created. Additional options to the email client are: On the incoming e -mail print directly answers, e- mails and e- mails to add attachments. To this can be used as well as in most other Retroshare communication options different fonts and sizes, colors, and icons.

Using the Instant Messaging Chat it is possible to chat with friends directly associated private, without the other connected friends are involved or hear a thing. For a better overview or recognition, it is possible to create your own avatars for the private chat. Drag and Drop you can quickly and easily send files to the private chat when needed. This works in all communication options in Retroshare.

The round ends makes it possible to write all directly Connected friend at a time. Friends that are not directly linked, but can only read the posts of your friend directly connected or respond.

The internal forums are accessible directly from Retroshare, they are stored and encrypted in the distributed cache of Retroshare users. Thus, the Retroshare forums are independent of external services such as servers. The forums in Retroshare can manage how the external Internet forums similar. It can main themes and sub-themes are created publicly or anonymously. Whether on the Forum area, the complete Retroshare network has access or only selected friends or groups, the creator can select when you create the forums. Also determined the creator, whether in his public forum area ( with nickname ) or anonymously (without names) a comment may be published. Once a forum area is public, the contributions can be published only if the authenticated user Retroshare his comment with his password. Following his contributions with his Retroshare account nickname will be published. The main -. , And sub-topics in the forums can be searched even after several keywords. The popularity of the forums is evaluated based on the number of subscriptions and displayed by chart next to each forum. Subscribed Forums can unsubscribe at any time again.

The internal Retroshare newsgroup can be created as well as the forums themselves. Compared to the forums, but the newsgroup can be changed at any time by the creator. The newsgroup directly associated with selected friends can be shared. These friends have then, as well as the creator, and full write access rights to the created newsgroup. Another option is to determine whether each Retroshare users may view and download the contents of the newsgroup or only chosen friends. The contents of the various Retroshare newsgroup can also request download automatically if they have subscribed to. Once of the / the creator (s ) new information or files in his / her newsgroup were made available, starts the download of these files to publish. The newsgroup will be divided, " subscribed channels ", " popular channels" as well as other channels in " My Channels ". The popularity of the newsgroup is evaluated based on the number of subscriptions and displayed by chart next to each public newsgroup. The subscribed newsgroup can unsubscribe at any time again.

With the chat lobbies of Retroshare etc. user can chat anonymously with other unaffiliated Retroshare users on the IP addresses of direct friends and their friends in turn. To the identity in the chat lobbies also against direct connected to disguise friends, there is the option to change his Retroshare Account Username in the chat lobbies at any time to another pseudonymous nickname. To avoid spam and trolls, all Retroshare users can disable the chat lobbies the incoming messages of each individual nicknames, which pose spam or a troll, simple and fast. It is possible to create your own chat lobbies and to determine whether to allow access the complete Retroshare network on these lobbies or only selected friends.

The remote allows you to chat option on the IP addresses of the directly connected friends, with other unaffiliated Retroshare participants to conduct private, anonymous and encrypted instant messaging. To this end, the creator of the remote Chat elect its remote communication partner, secures the remote chat with his created Retroshare password and publishes the remote chat via URL link in one of the various chat lobbies. The desired communication partner can then enter the chat lobbies from the remote chat with its individual password you created. All other participants in the chat lobby do not have access to the created remote chat. The creator of the remote chat can determine in minutes, hours or days how long this remote Chat is valid.

Per plug- in encrypted VoIP with the directly connected friends is possible, it can be selected whether the transfers continuously, voices enabled or manually by pressing a button is done.

The serverless and encrypted communication platform provides the technical basis to plug- in to implement more easily or to remove. So there is the possibility to assess and evaluate publicly or anonymously posted hyperlinks, URLs or other information from other retro Share users with the plug- in " web crawling. '" With a photography plug- in to transfer pictures or photo albums to create and manage as with social networks to directly connected friends.

There are group chats with friends or work colleagues possible to prevent, for example, joint meetings. The Retroshare friends directly related can be divided into self- designated or specified groups such as family, friends or favorites if necessary etc. sort and manage. There is also the possibility that defined groups of users to collaborate on documents and these can then be synchronized directly and with easy access securely via Retroshare.

Skills

• Internal Search for friends, posts and files
• Files and information can be exchanged to more than six anonymous node
• Encrypted chats, newsgroups, e-mail, forums or data transfer without using a server
• Chat messages can be sent to friends, even if they are offline
• Newsgroups can be shared with friends and their content are provided to the public or only to selected friends available
• Chat via private chat, group chat, or chat lobbies
• Creation of chat lobbies possible; to this can be private (by invitation only ) will be participated publicly or anonymously, using the IP addresses of friends
• Anonymous is connected directly chat with friends possible through the creation of pseudonymous nickname in the chat lobbies
• All communication and exchange of data is OpenSSL Encrypted
• Integration of server and VPN possible
• Qt4 interface whose appearance make itself diverse and can adapt
• Multilingual support ( currently supports nine languages ​​, with more to come )
• Plug -in support
• UPnP / NAT - PMP port forwarding
• Anonymous (not searchable ) or public ( searchable ) data release to a friend
• Searchable (possibly different ) data sharing can lead to various friends or ( self-created ) groups are limited
• Simultaneous downloads from multiple sources
• Swarming ( Redistributing files, even before it was fully charged )
• Support for resuming downloads after closing the program
• Adding downloads from website links
• Collection of files can be created, which in many individual files of its advantage can
• Integrated encrypted forums and channels
• Direct friends can be informed by internal Invitation recommended to other friends and assumed direct
• The authentication of a key can also be done internally indirectly through friends and their friends etc.
• Overview of the internal router statistics
• Quick Start Wizard via direct e -mail support
• IP localization by distributed hash IP table
• Free selection of the port configuration
• Support of relay, this function similarly to a proxy way to a tight firewall to get around.
• Friends get into predetermined or individual self- named groups sort and manage (eg family, friends, work colleagues, etc.)
• Integration into the operating system taskbar
• Support of encrypted Voice over IP via plug- in
• Individual and customizable determining which of your friends about your own IP address, file sharing, chat, forum or channels may operate
• Private and anonymous instant message using the IP addresses of the friends are not directly connected Retroshare user possible

Related Projects

• I2P
• GNUnet