More Anonymious then Gnutella
 

If you want more anonymity then Gnutella, but can't figure out how to use Freenet, try using ELFnet. http://www.projectelf.com/

ELFnet is the easiest program to use that also has anonymity. Check out the future of P2P.

ELFnet is still just getting started and needs our support.

Looks Good
 

Looks like a great program. I have been looking for something with more anonymity. But like you said it is still just getting started ie slow downloades and not much content.

But I think it would be worth trying to support it. Anonymity is definitely the future of file sharing.

Great Program
 

Great program, hope it becomes more popular.

New Build
 

ELFnet came out with a new build.

tried elfnet
 

well been running it for over 24 hrs it still needs more work but at least when it crashed it didnt take windows with it looks to be a very viable alternative to gnuttella i can share more files on there than here look forward to more progress

Easy to use!
 

This is way easier to use then freenet.

More Stable
 

The new version seems to be a lot more stable.

A bump to the top of the forum.

is it only available for win?
where can I find the souce code?
and where the protocol specs?

(what's anonymity without freedom?)

souce code
 

So far it is only for window.
They were talking about releasing the souce code in the forums.

If you ask me, there's only 1 or 2 people sharing files on ELFnet.
I always get the same search results.

ELFnet is still new
 

Ya, users range about 1-10. But that is not the point, it is a new network and it is a given that it won't have any files yet.

The point is that if you have used Gnutella to share files and got one of the nasty email for you ISP saying that they are going to shut you off if you don't stop sharing copyrighted files, or if you are just concerned in general about the lack of anonymity in Gnutella, or if you think that all file sharing programs might follow Napster down the drain hole.

Then you might be like me and want to support any program with some anonymity even if it doesn't have a lot of files yet.

Thanks!
 

Thanks, this is just what I have been looking for.

CAUTION!!
 

I am alarmed by a couple features of the ELFnet...
First, it's closed-source. They say the reason is to prevent "malicious download corruption" (maridun, ELF forum admin), presumably by a misbehaving servent or user.

Strong encryption algorithms are open source, and they are so because they can withstand the ultimate scrutiny and lose none of their effectiveness in protecting their users. CSS could not withstand such scrutiny; DeCSS destroyed it.

I worry that ELF could not stand up to a determined attack by an industry with lots of money. The encryption they use, although decent (and rather novel, I think), is not absolute like strong encryption should be (and is!)

Also, I am beginning to design a program which acts as a framework that I can snap-in modules to support new protocols as they emerge. Although I intent to include a Gnutella module (called "Deez Gnuts!" :D ) and a FreeNet module, I will not (obviously) be able to include an ELF module until they Provide the promised APIs...

And whatever shall happen when I add another computer to my home network, a Linux computer amongst the Wintels?

I'm afraid that, while ELF improves on Gnutella's lack of security (at the expense of horrendous ELFnet bandwidth expenditure OMG!!), it isn't strong enough to warrant the switch...

I'm still reading up on FreeNet...

FreeNet
 

ELFnet was talking about trying to do something about the bandwidth expenditure. I don't really know if they will be able to.

Let me know what you think of FreeNet.

A little off subject, but jumping back to zeroshadow's earlier comment... Nasty e-mails for downloading copyrighted files... How do they monitor your music collection? How are they to know whether you do or do not actually own the music? Are they spying on you or something? Some people actually use the service legally ya know.

If you ax'd me, it jus doesn't seem like they know what they're talkin about.
_______________________
"I just hate stupid people..."

How they find you
 

They know who you are by identifying the IP address that their computer is sending the file to. That's right, their computer!! That's the only way to obtain absolute proof that someone is DLing the file, to be the one sending it!

Once they have that IP, they simply resolve the first sets of numbers into the service provider's network ID. Then, with the last numbers (along with the time and day), the ISP can identify the user. They can be subpoenaed or bullied into providing this service to a sufficiently influential industry.

That wasn't the question. I've known that for as long as I knew what an IP was.

Can they tell what music you actually own?
(are they psychics or something?)

If you really own certain songs- it's not illegal to download them is it?... and if so, since when?
How are they allowed to haggle you for something that you may be doing completely legally?

Spelling
 

Interesting spelling "Anonymious"

How they know
 

They perform a sting operation, simply downloading the content from you (much as undercover cops would buy a bag of weed)...

Once they establish the precedents with Napster that any "space-shifting" is presumed copyright infringement (and that is a precedent they seem to want quite badly), they will then apply that precedent (any any others set in Napster) to the prosecution of identified sharers...
(Such is the problem with being identifiable)...

Future of Gnutella protocol
 

With lack of annonymous sharing capabilities in its current incarnation, is there any hope of the gnutella protocol evolving toward a more anonymous protocol? It would be a sad thing to see gnut fall prey to the same jackals that have slain the mighty Napster...

gnutella protocol evolving
 

As far as I know the Gnutella protocol will not be able to do that. They will most likely have to build a new protocol. But then I don't really know that much about the protocal.

HydroPhonic do you know if I am right about Gnutella not being able to evolve?

I believe
 

very much that Gnutella cannot evolve. It's capabilities are only for searching... the regular Internet is used to download...

Gnutella would have to make such a radical change as to no longer be compatible with the current incarnation... that means it will become a new protocol (and therefore, no longer be Gnutella).

There are two new protocols in the works (and surely more to follow!)
www.projectelf.com
www.freenetproject.org

Although I wouldn't advise moving immediately to one of these, they're certainly important to watch...

My website
members.aol.com/VbHydroPhonic/index.html
will have much info on it... (under construction... "Future of Gnutella section's up tho :) )

HydroPhonic, Gnutella is more than for 'just searching' and I have dozens of cd's crammed with files to prove it. I cannot speak for the longevity of gnutella, but right now, it works great for me.

Gnutella for more than searching??
 

All Gnutella does is search. Once the results have been found and the sharer's IP address has been acquired, your servent then:
1) Establishes a direct TCP/IP connection withh the sharer.
2) Sends (directly to sharer) an HTTP request that looks like:
GET /get/<File Index>/<File Name>/HTTP/1.0\r\n
Connection: Keep-Alive\r\n
Range: bytes=0-\r\n
User-Agent: Gnutella\r\n
\r\n

Note that this request does not go through the Gnutella network. Note also that the resulting file transfer is direct to you through the regular internet, not through Gnutella. Gnutella is just a means to find a filename you want and an IP address who has it.

(Firewalled servents are a little different, but the file transfer still happens on the regular internet without passing through anyone else's computer)

Thanks for the explanation HydroPhonic it makes a lot more sence to me know. Thanks for you web page address too. :D

That sounds pretty good. :D

The Gnutella protocol is a SEARCH protocol. This is whole purpose. The filetransfers are all done with http puts and gets.

You can download a pdf of the Gnutella Protocol at the clip 2 site.
http://www.clip2.com/GnutellaProtocol04.pdf

File transfers do NOT take place on the gnutella net....ever:cool:

Good idea...
 

An excellent document; I have a copy already... The only other thing I could want from it (besides for it to write itself into a client :) ) would be an explanation of BearShare's proprietary packets/ descriptor trailers. What the hell is proprietary doing on an Open network?!?

lol:D

Good question. Someone sniff one of those packets from a bearshare and lets have a look.....

Know any good no-NT sniffers.......???? does RedHat 7.1 come with a sniffer??

If anyone cracks one of the Bearshare packets please post the results right here....Please
:cool:

Now that we have a new topic on anonimous filesharing, I thought it would be intresting to dig up this old one :D
The ELF network is still up and running

Ummm yeah well I thought this would happen great a network which could route packets through up to an infinite number of hosts unless it has a TTL field which then allows for fake clients to catch all copyright violators on nodes next their own. Who wants to route other peoples downloads I don't want to use all my bandwidth and my data transfer limit for some sico's downloads so they can jack off over exploited little naked children.

Use a open source client and change the TTL to look like it's not coming from you.
I don't think thats how they are busting people though.
Those sickos have feelings too, we must be tolerant, or so says the government and media.

In my opinion, OpenFT is the future of P2P. That system definately looks like it'll kick Gnutella's slow butt out of the place.

Semi-centralisation is a stroke of genius.

You mean you used it and it didn't crash?

Any degree of centralization is a lawyers dream.
Think about it.

No it's not. Centralization up to a certain degree (if the central servers appear and disappear dynamically) doesn't make any difference.

The centralization of OpenFT resembles Fasttrack's Supernodes and Gnutella's Ultrapeers.

We always count of duplication of files on the gnutella network to make the network work better. If this is basicly what OpenFT does, then we already have it due to the numbers of nodes on Gnutella.
In other words, it's not needed on gnutella.