ricochet-im/ricochet
Ricochet
Ricochet is a decentralized, peer-to-peer anonymous chat client and messaging protocol. It enables the exchange of encrypted text messages and files without relying on central servers, using Tor hidden services to mask the network addresses and identities of all participants.
The project eliminates communication metadata by removing central coordinating authorities, preventing the discovery of contact lists or timing patterns. It utilizes a peer-to-peer connection model where every client acts as both a server and a client, employing public key signatures and cryptographically signed invitations to authorize new communication partners.
The system manages identity through hidden service ownership verification and establishes secure sessions via asymmetric encryption handshakes. It further supports simultaneous data transfers and chat messages through stream-based connection multiplexing.
Features
- Peer-to-Peer Clients - Provides a decentralized messaging client where every participant acts as both a server and a client.
- Anonymous Messaging Tools - Provides a peer-to-peer messaging system using Tor hidden services to mask identities and network addresses.
- Anonymous Chat - Provides a communication tool that masks identities by routing all traffic through the Tor network.
- Decentralized Messaging Protocols - Implements a decentralized protocol for exchanging encrypted messages and files using public key authentication.
- Metadata-Private Messengers - Prevents the discovery of contact lists and communication patterns by eliminating server-side logs.
- Peer-to-Peer Messaging - Enables real-time exchange of text and files between peers without central server mediation.
- Tor-Based P2P Messengers - Combines peer-to-peer messaging with Tor hidden services to ensure direct, serverless, and anonymous connections.
- Peer-to-Peer Messaging - Connects two users directly for real-time communication without a central coordinating authority.
- Peer-to-Peer Tunneling - Establishes direct, encrypted connections between peers via hidden services to ensure anonymity.
- Anonymous Tunnels - Establishes bidirectional encrypted connections between peers using Tor hidden services to mask network addresses and metadata.
- Communication Metadata Masking - Eliminates communication metadata by removing central coordinating authorities to prevent discovery of contact lists.
- Tor Routing - Routes all communication through the Tor network to mask physical IP addresses.
- Public Key Authentication - Verifies peer identity using public-private key pairs associated with Tor onion services.
- Peer Identity Verifications - Establishes unique connection points via Tor hidden services to verify peer identity without central servers.
- Metadata Masking - Eliminates communication metadata by removing central coordinating authorities, preventing the discovery of contact lists or timing patterns.
- Ownership Verification - Proves ownership of a hidden service by demonstrating possession of the corresponding private key.
- Connection Multiplexing - Bundles multiple logical data streams for simultaneous chat and file transfers over a single physical connection.
- Instant Messaging Services - Provides a system for exchanging authenticated text messages and acknowledgments.
- Cryptographically Signed Invitations - Uses cryptographically signed invitations to authorize new communication partners and prevent unauthorized connection attempts.
- Encrypted Handshakes - Implements secure, authenticated handshakes to establish encrypted links between peers.
- Stream Multiplexing - Divides a single connection into independent streams to handle chat and file transfers simultaneously.
- Peer Connection Authorizations - Manages the exchange of invitations and authorizations for new communication partners using public key signatures.
Star history
How this analysis was created: This summary and feature list are AI-generated from collected project material and can contain mistakes. Stars, license and language are imported from GitHub. Inclusion does not mean that we have tested or audited this project. Check the source documentation for any feature you depend on. Learn more on our About page.
