Research Article
Securing pseudo identities in an anonymous peer-to-peer file-sharing network
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1109/SECCOM.2007.4550344, author={Tom Chothia}, title={Securing pseudo identities in an anonymous peer-to-peer file-sharing network}, proceedings={3rd International ICST Conference on Security and Privacy in Communication Networks}, publisher={IEEE}, proceedings_a={SECURECOMM}, year={2008}, month={6}, keywords={Ant colony optimization Authentication Computer crime Counting circuits Helium Monitoring Peer to peer computing Public key Routing protocols Testing}, doi={10.1109/SECCOM.2007.4550344} }- Tom Chothia
Year: 2008
Securing pseudo identities in an anonymous peer-to-peer file-sharing network
SECURECOMM
IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/SECCOM.2007.4550344
Abstract
MUTE is an anonymous peer-to-peer network that is used by hundreds of thousands of people to share files. Peers in this network are identified by randomly chosen pseudo identities and a probabilistic time-to-live counter is used to stop an attacker from being able to tell how far a search has come or has to go. The aim of the system is to hide the IP addresses of the file-sharers from an attacker that is acting as one or more peers inside the network. This paper describes the MUTE system, and then goes on to outline an attack on the anonymity of a peer based on “stealing” pseudo identities. We then show how using an authentication key as a pseudo identity can stop this attack and we describe the implementation of this solution as part of the MUTE system.