ZeroNet

Decentralized websites using Bitcoin crypto and BitTorrent network

Why?

• We believe in open, free and uncensored network and communication.
• No single point of failure: Site goes on until at least 1 peer serving it.
• No hosting costs: Site served by visitors.
• Impossible to shut down: It's nowhere because it's everywhere.
• Fast and works offline: You can access the site even if your internet is gone.

How does it work?

• After starting zeronet.py you will be able to visit zeronet sites using http://127.0.0.1:43110/{zeronet_address} (eg. http://127.0.0.1:43110/1EU1tbG9oC1A8jz2ouVwGZyQ5asrNsE4Vr).
• When you visit a new zeronet site, it's trying to find peers using BitTorrent network and download the site files (html, css, js...) from them.
• Each visited sites become also served by You.
• Every site containing a site.json which holds all other files sha1 hash and a sign generated using site's private key.
• If the site owner (who has the private key for the site address) modifies the site, then he/she signs the new content.json and publish it to the peers. After the peers have verified the content.json integrity (using the sign), they download the modified files and publish the new content to other peers.

Screenshot

How to join?

Windows:

• Install Python 2.7
• Install Python ZeroMQ
• Install Python Greenlet
• Install Python Gevent
• Install Python MsgPack
• start start.py

Linux (Debian):

• apt-get install python-pip
• pip install pyzmq (if it drops a compile error then run apt-get install python-dev and try again)
• pip install gevent
• pip install msgpack-python
• start using python zeronet.py

Linux (Without root access):

• wget https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py
• python get-pip.py --user pyzmq gevent msgpack-python
• start using python zeronet.py

Current limitations

• No torrent-like, file splitting big file support
• Just as anonymous as the bittorrent
• File transactions not compressed or encrypted yet
• No private sites
• You must have an open port to publish new changes
• Timeout problems on slow connections

How can I create a ZeroNet site?

Shut down zeronet if you are running it already

$ zeronet.py siteCreate
...
- Site private key: 23DKQpzxhbVBrAtvLEc2uvk7DZweh4qL3fn3jpM3LgHDczMK2TtYUq
- Site address: 13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2
...
- Site created!
$ zeronet.py
...

Congratulations, you are done! Now anyone can access your site using http://localhost:43110/13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2

Next steps: ZeroNet Developer Documentation

How can I modify a ZeroNet site?

• Modify files located in data/13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2 directory. After you done:

$ zeronet.py siteSign 13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2
- Signing site: 13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2...
Private key (input hidden):

• Enter your private key you got when created the site, then:

$ zeronet.py sitePublish 13DNDkMUExRf9Xa9ogwPKqp7zyHFEqbhC2
...
Site:13DNDk..bhC2 Publishing to 3/10 peers...
Site:13DNDk..bhC2 Successfuly published to 3 peers
- Serving files....

• That's it! You successfuly signed and published your modifications.

If you want to help keep this project alive

Bitcoin: 1QDhxQ6PraUZa21ET5fYUCPgdrwBomnFgX

Thank you!

• More info, help, changelog, zeronet sites: http://www.reddit.com/r/zeronet/
• Come, chat with us: #zeronet @ FreeNode