Almonit has released the first version of its decentralized, private search engine for the decentralized web (dWeb). It is accessible to those with a decentralized browser or plugin at almonit.eth, and to all others at almonit.eth.link.
Focus On Privacy
The first thing to know is that the search engine itself is decentralized. It is served via IPFS and accessed using ENS (more later). This means that users can access and carry out searches without Almonit’s knowledge, help or involvement.
The search engine is totally private, as searches are done on the client end, meaning nobody knows what you searched for.
It currently only searches through the 106 (and growing) known decentralized websites (dWebsites), listed in its directory.
These websites use ENS and IPFS technologies.
Anatomy Of A Decentralized Website
The decentralized web has two core technologies. Ethereum Name Server (ENS), is as it sounds, the decentralized domain name service, replacing DNS in the traditional web.
The ambitiously named InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), is a peer-to-peer protocol for storing and sharing data in a distributed file system. It is a replacement for HTTP, and incorporates elements of peer-to-peer sharing platforms such as BitTorrent.
The benefits of these technologies include an ungoverned web which is more robust, censorship resistant, efficient and permanent. So now you can rest safe in the knowledge that all of your hilarious cat memes will last forever.
How to Add Your Site
If you want your site to be decentralized then all you need to do is upload the files into IPFS, and attach the resulting hash to your ENS name (assuming you already have one).
The files are then accessible through a decentralized browser (or extension) at the .eth address. Users of standard browsers must simply add .link to the end of this address to make it load like normal websites.
dWebsites are particularly suited to front ends for dApps, but can be used for anything. The number of dWebsites is likely to grow as dApps have. As Bitcoinist reported, 6 months ago dApps were struggling to find (human) users. However Ethereum has since made great strides in growing its user base and expanding, particularly into Decentralized Finance (DeFi).
Do you think you will ever use this new decentralized browser? Let us know in the comment section below!
Images via Shutterstock