Avoiding Whitewashing in Unstructured Peer-to-Peer Resource Sharing Network

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel algorithm to prevent whitewashing in peer-to-peer networks that use temporary identities, by adjusting initial reputation based on detected whitewashing levels, balancing security and user anonymity.

Contribution

It introduces a new algorithm that dynamically adjusts initial reputation to mitigate whitewashing without compromising user anonymity in unstructured P2P networks.

Findings

Effective reduction of whitewashing incidents

Maintains user anonymity with temporary identities

Improves trustworthiness of peer-to-peer sharing

Abstract

In peer-to-peer file sharing network, it is hard to distinguish between a legitimate newcomer and a whitewasher. This makes whitewashing a big problem in peer-to-peer networks. Although the problem of whitewashing can be solved using permanent identities, it may take away the right of anonymity for users. In this paper, we a have proposed a novel algorithm to avoid this problem when network uses free temporary identities. In this algorithm, the initial reputation is adjusted according to the level of whitewashing in the network.