August 04, 2020
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0The Backbone of the Internet: What Is a P2P Network?
It is difficult to find a person who does not use the internet daily. But how many people know how it works? All information that is transmitted via the World Wide Web passes through a specific network. There are two types of networks: client-server model and peer-to-peer network. This division is based on the different models of network management.
The first one is managed by one or more servers. What is a peer? Here, the management is performed by transferring certain functions between stations. This network doesn’t have a single server for that.
As a rule, decentralized systems are built on a peer-to-peer architecture, allowing you to use the Internet connection safely. Read about The Clear Advantages of Decentralization in our article.
The client-server model is the traditional network structure and is still the backbone of the internet. Many people still use it since it has been around a long time, and many apps and services are based on this network structure. Big corporations and agencies choose such networks to protect their data from an invasion of privacy.
We’ve spoken about business threats on the net in the article The Biggest Data Privacy Risks For Any Business In 2020. If you’re interested in this topic, you can always read it.
However, what is a P2P network? What does P2P mean? Is peer-to-peer file sharing more effective and safer than a client-server network?
We have long promised to look into this topic. Today, we’ll tell you all about it in this article.
What is a P2P network?
What is P2P? It is a specific IT infrastructure that connects two or more computers to share resources directly without a server. In other words, each user performs both a client and server role. Since each user has the same role, they are called “peers.” You can configure this type of network physically by connecting all devices for virtual network creation. Or such a network may be built-in and you can use it automatically.
Decentralized Email — A New Age of Data Security! It is based on a peer-to-peer network that guarantees secure Internet usage.
How do P2P network work? It is simple. Here, each computer is treated as a separate node. They share certain types of data and resources among themselves to create an individual architecture. For instance, peers may share computing power, space for storage or system bandwidth with other items in the net.
The main difference between them is the specific approach to data transfer. If we speak about client-server, it provides clients with the specific information using a single server.
On the other hand, a peer-to-peer method of file sharing does not use the main server for transmitting and storing information. In terms of security, it offers more guarantees than a client-server model.
More features of the peer-to-peer network:
- Each peer in the network both provides and consumes the resources of the whole network.
- Any files are shared between multiple computers.
- P2P clients can share any hardware resources between them.
- Some peer-to-peer networks are formed by overlapping a virtual network with a physical one. In this case, the physical network is necessary for data transfer, and the virtual network is necessary for computers to interact with each other.
Why do you need to use this network?
Most often, this system is used for data transfer via the internet. The method is more secure since it does not have drawbacks in the tech side. In addition, such a network is almost impossible to hack, so the risk of data leakage is minimized.
Do you have any idea Why Do Cybercriminals Want To Get Into Your Inbox? The reasons are interesting. So, learn them well to protect your data from any third parties.
For a clear understanding of how p2p system works, let’s imagine that you open the needed site using any browser for that. Schematically, the browser – is a server, and the website is a client that receives information. So, data from A – computer goes to B – client.
If you upload the same data using the specific network, each transfer process will occur differently. The uploaded data will be divided into parts and distributed among several devices connected to the specific network. A file can be sent from one computer to another.
P2P software advantage
Now, let’s talk about the apparent benefits of this type of network.
- Handy data transfer. P2P network can send and receive any files and information over long distances.
- Low costs. No funds required for creating and supporting a central server.
- Flexibility. Such a network is user-friendly. So, it is easily expanded to add new users.
- Safety. P2P network will continue to work through any system failure, while the client-server will stop working if the central server fails.
- Performance. More clients mean higher performance.
- Productivity. The system shows a high efficiency rate when all users work together.
For more information about various ways to use a secure and anonymous Internet connection, read the article Protected Internet: Stay Save Online!
In addition, peer-to-peer networks are easily scalable. The process of adding new peers is simple and convenient. You don’t need to configure with the central service. Just several clicks of the mouse, and everything is good to go.
There is another myth: peer-to-peer networks are slower than client-server networks. In fact, this is partly true. A peer-to-peer network is slower when it is small. But it will work faster when it becomes bigger. That is, when information is stored on multiple equal nodes, it loads faster and, most importantly, it is more difficult to track and hack.
Where are P2P networks used?
So, if you have already become interested in a P2P network as a main file sharing system, then let’s talk about examples of such systems.
Have you heard about Utopia? It is an up-to-date decentralized ecosystem that is built on a peer-to-peer architecture. There is no central server for data transfer and storage. Instead, the ecosystem creates an individual server for each user.
If you forget what decentralization means and why it is more secure than a centralized system, read our instructive article Centralized VS Decentralized Network: What’s Better For Your Security?
Utopia will generate a private key when a person starts using the ecosystem. A key opens access to the ecosystem usage and individual server with data. If you are afraid of a hacking attack or data leakage, don’t worry. Such a key consists of an infinite number of characters. So, the risks are minimal.
For reliable and stable data protection, Utopia uses Elliptic Curve and 256-bit AES encryption. This is a sophisticated method of encryption that is used for data storage and security.
Moreover, Utopia has a strong line of built-in functional tools, such as instant messenger, email, crypto wallet, anonymous network, and more.How do I connect to a P2P network? It’s easy. The first step is to download the ecosystem. Don’t hesitate about it. Utopia has a user-friendly interface and you will not have some problems with that. The ecosystem works well on Windows, IOS and Linux. Everything goes fast and easy.
