BitTorrent Sync creates private, peer-to-peer Dropbox, no cloud required

No size limits, no cloud: Hands-on with BitTorrent's new file syncing software.

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[Fritzr]

Azdle[/url]":n7l2q4cs]Actually, on flooey's question, is it possible to sync the encrypted data with a server that doesn't have the key? That would be perfect for syncing to a server that I don't fully trust, such as a server that I can share with a few friends without sharing all my data with them.

From looking at the examples, you can create a "Public Share" folder & assign it a new secret key. Send the new key to the untrusted computer who will create a receiving folder using this key. When the transfer succeeds then you can delete the "Public Share" folder since the secret key for accessing it is compromised for any purpose other than additional transfers to/from the untrusted computer.

One of the examples in the article asks if you want to generate a new key or reused the existing key when adding an additional folder.

 

[Fritzr]

wagnerrp[/url]":qksgcl44]

Maldoror[/url]":qksgcl44]I think many people are missing the point. I share many work-related files with a large number of colleagues. Currently these are stored on a central server. We can't use (variants of) Dropbox for security reasons. If we were to use BTSync I see two immediate benefits: speed (the more users, the faster) and not having to rely on third parties for storage or the IT department for setting up a local cloud.

Edit: I realize that security with P2P is only as good as the least trustworthy peer...

What's wrong with just using rsync on that central server? Seriously, why have people gotten such a distaste of servers?

When the Central Server is offline then all services dependent on it are offlline. With the BT version if 1 computer anywhere in the cloud has a copy of the piece you need, then it is online even if the Central Server is currently involved in an incident that will cause a few days to pass while a new one is installed and backups restored.

A micro-cloud might be the home office computer, your laptop, the wife's laptop, the kitchen computer and the kid's computer(s). It does not matter if most of them spend their time shut down, one of the others will serve the files. The ones that are offline will catch up with the changes the next time they connect and query the P2P private cloud.