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charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable The discussion of UASF got me thinking about whether such a method might le= ad to sybil attacks, with new nodes created purely to inflate the node coun= t for a particular implementation in an attempt at social engineering. I had an idea for an anonymous, opt-in, unique node identification mechanis= m to help counter this. This would give every node the opportunity to create a node =91address=92/u= nique identifier. This could even come in the form of a Bitcoin address. The node on first installation generates and backs up a private key. The co= rresponding public key becomes that node=92s unique identifier. If the node= switches to a new software version or a new IP, the identifier can remain = constant if the node operator chooses. Asking a node for its identifier can be done by sending a message the comma= nd =91identify=92 and a challenge. The node can then respond with its uniqu= e identifier and a signature for the challenge to prove it. The node can al= so include what software it is running and sign this information so it can = be verified as legitimate by third parties. Why would we do this? Well, it adds a small but very useful piece of data when compiling lists of= active nodes. Any register of active nodes can have a record of when a node identifier wa= s =93first seen=94, and how many IPs the same identifier has broadcast from= . Also, crucially, we could see what software the node operator has been se= en running historically. This information would make it easy to identify patterns. For example if a = huge new group of nodes appeared on the network with no history for their i= dentifier they could likely be dismissed as sybil attacks. If a huge number= of nodes that had been reporting as Bitcoin Core for an extended period of= time started switching to a rival implementation, this would add credibili= ty but not certainty (keys could be traded), that the shift was more organi= c. This would be trivial to implement, is (to me?) non-controversial, and woul= d give a way for a node to link itself to a pseudo-anonymous identity, but = with the freedom to opt-out at any time. Keen to hear any thoughts? Thanks, John Hardy john@seebitcoin.com --_000_BL2PR03MB435C5077E69D91D0A8092B6EE2A0BL2PR03MB435namprd_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

The discussion o= f UASF got me thinking about whether such a method might lead to sybil attacks, with new nodes created purely to inf= late the node count for a particular implementation in an attempt at social= engineering.


I had an idea fo= r an anonymous, opt-in, unique node identification mechanism to help counter this.


This would give = every node the opportunity to create a node =91address=92/unique identifier. This could even come in the form of = a Bitcoin address.


The node on firs= t installation generates and backs up a private key. The corresponding public key becomes that node=92s unique i= dentifier. If the node switches to a new software version or a new IP, the = identifier can remain constant if the node operator chooses.


Asking a node fo= r its identifier can be done by sending a message the command =91identify=92 and a challenge. The node can then re= spond with its unique identifier and a signature for the challenge to prove= it. The node can also include what software it is running and sign this in= formation so it can be verified as legitimate by third parties.


Why would we do = this?


Well, it adds a = small but very useful piece of data when compiling lists of active nodes.


Any register of = active nodes can have a record of when a node identifier was =93first seen=94, and how many IPs the same identifi= er has broadcast from. Also, crucially, we could see what software the node= operator has been seen running historically.


This information= would make it easy to identify patterns. For example if a huge new group of nodes appeared on the network with no h= istory for their identifier they could likely be dismissed as sybil attacks= . If a huge number of nodes that had been reporting as Bitcoin Core for an = extended period of time started switching to a rival implementation, this would add credibility but not ce= rtainty (keys could be traded), that the shift was more organic.


This would be tr= ivial to implement, is (to me?) non-controversial, and would give a way for a node to link itself to a pseudo-anonymous ident= ity, but with the freedom to opt-out at any time.


Keen to hear any= thoughts?


Thanks,

John Hardy

john@seebitcoin.= com

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