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Security Model

Distributed Knowledge implements a comprehensive security model to ensure the integrity, privacy, and authenticity of all interactions within the network. This document outlines the security principles and mechanisms employed by the system.

Core Security Principles

The security model of Distributed Knowledge is built on several key principles:

  1. End-to-End Encryption: All communications are encrypted to prevent unauthorized access
  2. Identity Verification: Cryptographic methods confirm the identity of network participants
  3. Data Privacy: Users maintain control over what information they share
  4. Message Integrity: Cryptographic signatures guarantee messages cannot be altered
  5. Access Control: Permissions systems restrict who can perform sensitive operations

Authentication System

Public/Private Key Infrastructure

The system uses asymmetric cryptography (Ed25519) for identity verification:

  • Key Generation: Each node generates a unique Ed25519 key pair
  • Public Key Distribution: Public keys are shared with the network for verification
  • Private Key Security: Private keys never leave the local system
  • Key Rotation: Support for regular key updates to enhance security

User Identity

Each user in the network is identified by:

  • A unique user ID (e.g., "alice", "research_team")
  • Their public key, which serves as a cryptographic identity
  • Optional profile information for human-readable identification

Message Security

Digital Signatures

All messages in the system are digitally signed:

  • The sender creates a hash of the message content
  • The hash is encrypted with the sender's private key to create a signature
  • Recipients verify the signature using the sender's public key
  • This proves the message's authenticity and integrity

Encryption

Sensitive messages use end-to-end encryption:

  • Messages are encrypted with the recipient's public key
  • Only the intended recipient can decrypt using their private key
  • This ensures confidentiality even if the server is compromised

Network Security

TLS/SSL

All WebSocket connections use TLS/SSL encryption:

  • Server authentication via certificates
  • Encrypted data transport
  • Protection against eavesdropping and tampering

Connection Verification

The system employs additional verification steps:

  • Certificate pinning to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks
  • Secure key exchange protocols
  • Connection integrity monitoring

Privacy Controls

Selective Sharing

Users control what information they share:

  • Questions can be directed to specific peers rather than broadcasted
  • Local knowledge bases can include private and shared sections
  • Automatic rules determine what information is shared with whom

Data Minimization

The system follows data minimization principles:

  • Only necessary information is transmitted
  • Metadata is limited to reduce fingerprinting
  • Historical data is pruned according to retention policies

Approval System

Query Approval

Incoming queries go through an approval process:

  • Automatic Approval: Rules define what queries are automatically accepted
  • Manual Review: Queries that don't meet automatic criteria require user approval
  • Rejection: Unwanted queries can be explicitly rejected

Response Validation

Responses are validated for:

  • Compliance with content policies
  • Factual accuracy (when possible)
  • Quality standards

Implementation Details

Key Management

Keys are managed securely:

// Generate new Ed25519 key pair
publicKey, privateKey, err := ed25519.GenerateKey(rand.Reader)

// Save private key (typically done once during setup)
privateKeyBytes, err := x509.MarshalPKCS8PrivateKey(privateKey)
err = os.WriteFile("private.pem", privateKeyBytes, 0600)

// Extract public key
publicKeyBytes, err := x509.MarshalPKIXPublicKey(publicKey)

Message Signing

Messages are signed before transmission:

// Create message hash
hash := sha256.Sum256([]byte(message))

// Sign with private key
signature := ed25519.Sign(privateKey, hash[:])
// The signature is sent alongside the message

Signature Verification

Recipients verify signatures upon receipt:

// Verify signature using sender's public key
valid := ed25519.Verify(senderPublicKey, []byte(receivedMessage), receivedSignature)
if !valid {
    // Signature verification failed
}

Security Best Practices

When working with Distributed Knowledge:

  1. Protect Private Keys: Store private keys securely, never share them
  2. Verify Signatures: Always check message signatures before trusting content
  3. Review Automatic Rules: Regularly audit automatic approval conditions
  4. Update Regularly: Keep the software updated with the latest security patches
  5. Monitor Connections: Watch for unusual connection patterns or requests

Security Limitations

While the system is designed to be secure, users should be aware of certain limitations:

  • The system cannot protect against compromised endpoints
  • Social engineering may bypass some security measures
  • Metadata analysis could potentially reveal communication patterns
  • Side-channel attacks remain a theoretical concern