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Show HN: Privacy-Focused Alternative to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

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Re: Show HN: Privacy-Focused Alternative to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

#41

Post by vorpalhex »

craze3 wrote: post #17

I'm surprised of the amount of blockchain hate in the comments from people who haven't even checked out the product...

There are some reasons to be skeptical of Blockstack in particular. They make a lot of claims, pump cash into apps without disclosing it's actual source (they claim it's from sales of a subtoken, but aside from a blog post, I can't actually find any evidence of that) and in general have built a JS heavy library that is setup for easy code injection.

None of these apps need a blockchain. None of these apps gain any benefit from a blockchain. Just, I dunno, don't use a giant universally observable blockchain that suffers from the majority issue in order to store private data? Seems easy enough.

Re: Show HN: Privacy-Focused Alternative to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

#42

Post by concert-gilled »

Walterion wrote: post #35
progval wrote: post #15

Title text says "Blockchain-based alternative for Google Docs". GDPR mandates "right to be forgotten", which afaik isn't very compatible with how blockchains work. How do you deal with it?

The encryption key is on the blockchain, but not your files, and you can choose whatever storage provider you want when you sign up. So you are free to remove all your fills, and they will be erased entirely, although they are heavily encrypted and you are the only person that have the keys.

> you can choose whatever storage provider you want when you sign up

How do you do this? I just went through the sign up and I did not see any such option.

Re: Show HN: Privacy-Focused Alternative to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

#43

Post by asynchrony »

Walterion wrote: post #21
asynchrony wrote: post #11

Can you provide any details as to how it will be free, scalable, and decentralized? The word blockchain doesn’t inspire my confidence.

Sure! We are using Blockstack for authentication; it is a platform to have your identity safe with the help of blockchain. Scalable? It is easier as all the works are done in the client-side, so no server pressure there, and your data will be stored on the storage provider of choice although we have a default one with 10GB free storage for all the news users. (Always encrypted!) In the future, we will provide extende…

So the only decentralized/blockchain part is authentication?

Re: Show HN: Privacy-Focused Alternative to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

#44

Post by russdpale »

SkyMarshal wrote: post #38
russdpale wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

blockchain and silicon valley don't really play too nice together, which is why you see so much chain dev done outside of the valley in places like Seattle, NYC or Switzerland. SV is stuck in its silo's, content to be spymasters of their peers for the five eyes.

Silicon Valley is one of the major hubs of blockchain development. And not everyone on HN is from SV.

No, its really not compared to other places. What projects are you thinking of?

There aren't as many SV people here as there used to be, but the community is still skewed that way.

Re: Show HN: Privacy-Focused Alternative to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

#45

Post by Walterion »

vorpalhex wrote: post #40
Walterion wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We use Blockstack for authentication. It is made on Bitcoin blockchain to store your private key that will be used to encrypt all of your stuff. Making the master key will be done just the first time, and after that, every file gets a new password from the master one. No matter what, all the files will be encrypted, so you always have control over your data — something like ProtonMail but for Office.

Why are you storing a private key on a blockchain, where the primary purpose of a blockchain is universal visibility?

Surly they are encrypted. But I invite you to check Blockstack authentication and how it works.

Re: Show HN: Privacy-Focused Alternative to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

#47

Post by Walterion »

asynchrony wrote: post #43
Walterion wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure! We are using Blockstack for authentication; it is a platform to have your identity safe with the help of blockchain. Scalable? It is easier as all the works are done in the client-side, so no server pressure there, and your data will be stored on the storage provider of choice although we have a default one with 10GB free storage for all the news users. (Always encrypted!) In the future, we will provide extende…

So the only decentralized/blockchain part is authentication?

Yes. But it gives us the power of making sure everything is encrypted and accessible from anyway, and no one beside you can access your data! As for storage, it is configurable, and you can move it anywhere. But you have 10GB free plan if you join us now.

Re: Show HN: Privacy-Focused Alternative to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

#48

Post by Walterion »

joeyrideout wrote: post #8
jammygit wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does blockchain promote privacy? Doesn’t it just store the data in a decentralized, permanent way?

To piggyback on this question, does Arcane provide any forward secrecy?

Each of your documents has a different key generated from your private key and are encrypted in your private hub with ECDSA encryption. So no server can compromise your data.

Re: Show HN: Privacy-Focused Alternative to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

#49

Post by Walterion »

russdpale wrote: post #32
jammygit wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does blockchain promote privacy? Doesn’t it just store the data in a decentralized, permanent way?

Well for one no one can just query your Gaia data for anyone who wants to purchase your data..

Yes your private key is needed for that, and that is encrypted and will not leave your browser at all without that.

Re: Show HN: Privacy-Focused Alternative to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

#50

Post by Walterion »

russdpale wrote: post #30

I click the login with blockstack button and nothing happens. TypeError: "e is undefined" a base64url.js:17 o base64url.js:14 mounted Redirect.vue:69 VueJS 11 cd49 main.ts:9 Webpack 6

Can I ask what is your browser and its version?
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