RetroShare

RetroShare creates encrypted connections to your friends. Nobody can spy on you. The software is completely decentralized. This means there are no central servers. It is entirely Open-Source and free. There are no costs, no ads, and no Terms of Service.

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RetroShare is a network of computers. These computers we call nodes and every user has its own node. The exact location (the IP-address) of nodes is only known to neighbors. You invite someone to become a neighbor by sending your public key to them. Forums use pseudonymous nicknames to identify people. The nickname system uses cryptographical keys to verify messages that come from specific authors. The nickname information travels wherever the forum post goes.

If you send a message to a user, the system delivers it to his node by searching for a route by forwarding it via a chain of neighboring nodes. If you want a certain file, your node asks your neighbors and they in turn request it from their neighbors. All in all, RetroShare is a very good alternative to the standard DC++ application.

Features and Highlights

Chat
Send text and images. Discuss with various people in chat rooms. Express your emotions with the rich smiley set. Use distant chat to securely chat with friends-of-friends.

Voice and Video
Make free and secure calls with the VoIP plugin. Catch up face to face with a video call.

Mail
Send encrypted messages to other members of the network. The program can store encrypted messages on friends' nodes to deliver messages while you're offline.

File sharing
Share files with your friends or with the whole network. Use the search to find files. The tool uses swarming similar to BitTorrent, to accelerate the download. This makes it possible to share big files with 1GB or more. Your privacy is protected with anonymous tunnels. Only your direct friends might learn which files you download.

Forums
You can read and write forum posts offline. This is perfect while you're on the go. When you have an Internet connection, the app will automatically sync forums with your friends. Decentralized forums are censorship resistant by design.

Posted
Share your favorite links. See which links others like. Vote and discuss links.

Channels
Publish files in channels. Subscribe to channels and automatically download the latest files. Comment on files and spread them to your friends.

Protect your IP with Tor/I2P
Need to hide from Internet surveillance? Can't connect to your friends because of censorship? Need to bypass nasty firewalls? Use Retro share over Tor to hide the connection between you and your friends.

Also Available: Download RetroShare for Mac