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User:Neustradamus/Retroshare Instant Messenger

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RetroShare
Developer(s)RetroShare Team
Initial release2007
Preview release
0.3.52a / October 2, 2007
Written inC++
Operating systemWindows, Unix-like, OS X
PlatformCross-platform
Available inGerman, English, Finnish, French, Polish, Swedish, Slovenian, Serbian
TypeInstant messaging, online chat, file sharing
LicenseGPL
Websiteretroshare.sf.net

RetroShare is a friend-to-friend protocol and software application developed in 2007 that features instant messaging, chat rooms & file browsing/sharing capabilities. RetroShare gives reliable identification and authentication of trusted friends (using RSA keys). It is a decentralised (serverless), open source, social sharing network designed for friends with no dependencies on any corporate server system.

Description

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An introduction scheme to bootstrap to friends over a distributed hash table (DHT), which connects to the friends and facilitates network growth by easy connecting.

Because a direct connection is made with encryption, it is a fast and safe transfer of files.

It uses a modified version of OpenSSL, which is described in detail for its changes on the homepage of the application and by articles of modern computer magazines.

A communication platform which can potentially support services such as secure email to all of the friends, file sharing, video or VOIP.

RetroShare is not strictly friend-to-friend

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The official FAQ states that "The friends of your peers also know of your existence, and can attempt to connect to you through the Auto-Discovery system.". This means that some people that you don't know can use RetroShare to get your IP address and use it to connect to your computer.

Strengths

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Serverless Instant Messenger with Encryption.

Shortcomings

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Video and Voip Chat feature.

See also

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References

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