ZeroNet
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Zeronet landing page | |
Initial release | 2015 |
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Repository |
github |
Development status | Active |
Written in | Python |
Operating system | Windows, Linux, OS X |
Available in | English |
Type | Peer-to-peer web hosting |
License | GNU GPL v2 |
Website |
zeronet |
Part of a series on |
File sharing |
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Technologies |
Networks and protocols |
Development and societal aspects |
Non-public file sharing |
Websites and services |
Clients |
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Academic/scholarly |
By country or region |
Related |
ZeroNet is a decentralized Internet-like network of peer-to-peer users. It is based in Budapest, Hungary; is built in Python; and fully open source.[1] Sites have specific "ZeroNet URL"s which can be accessed through an ordinary webbrowser when using the ZeroNet application, which acts as a local webhost for such pages.[1] ZeroNet is not anonymous by default, but users can hide their IP address by using the built in Tor-functionality.[1] ZeroNet uses bitcoin cryptography and the BitTorrent network.[2][3][4] The BitTorrent website Play hosts a magnet link repository on ZeroNet, which links to copyrighted content.[1] There is a Reddit community which offers support for ZeroNet.[1]
The existence of peer-to-peer online web-sites had been hypothesised for some time, with The Pirate Bay suggesting they would build a network, as well as BitTorrent Inc. which created the closed source Project Maelstrom.[1][5] One other similar project is the SAFE Network by MaidSafe, though it has not yet seen widespread use, and has been said to focus more on file storage.[5]
As of 2016 there is no way to take down a ZeroNet page which still has seeders,[1] thus making such pages immune to DMCA takedown notices.[6] By default, sites operate with a max-filesize of 10 megabytes, but this is a soft limit, and some websites go as big as gigabytes.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Play: A P2P Distributed Torrent Site That's Impossible to Shut Down – TorrentFreak". TorrentFreak. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
- ↑ Kysar, Tom (18 March 2015). "ZeroNet Expands Key Distributed And Anonymous Features". bravenewcoin.com. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ↑ Sewell, Chase (15 January 2015). "Can Blockchain Technology Decentralize the Web?". insidebitcoins.com. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ↑ Kumar, Mohit (18 February 2015). "MegaNet — New Decentralized, Non-IP Based and Encrypted Network". The Hacker News. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- 1 2 Prisco, Giulio. "BitTorrent-Powered ZeroNet Decentralized Web Pioneers Peer-To-Peer Internet". Bitcoin Magazine. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
- ↑ "Steal This Show S01E07: Did P2P Break the Law? - TorrentFreak". TorrentFreak. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
- "Kim Dotcom's 'MegaNet' could be a bitcoin-inspired spy-resistant Internet". Upstart Business Journal. 31 March 2015.