5 ms·

I saw this a few days in the DARPA SBIR/STTR release. My understanding is that they do not want to use a public blockchain, instead just utilize blockchain tech

by manav 10y ago

I saw this a few days in the DARPA SBIR/STTR release. My understanding is that they do not want to use a public blockchain, instead just utilize blockchain technology across DoD servers to make them less susceptible to a attack, while also giving clear transaction logs for certain military requests that have compliance needs. The private blockchain will give them state machine replication, some kind of method of encrypted authentication, and a platform for transaction verification across military/dod (or whatever the specific use cases are). The communication bit could work as well since they don't have to store the messages themselves in the blockchain. Since the blockchain is private, this also somewhat solves the problem of transaction speed. There would probably be some lag, but probably just a few seconds or even less if optimized. Something like Ethereum (with whisper and and swarm) could work if they were looking to use a public blockchain, but they specifically reference Hyperledger.org in their publication.

paavokoya 10y ago
If the source code to this encrypted database were to be released publicly (say by "leakers") what would stop them from accessing and writing to said database (err excuse me, "blockchain")
- dogma1138 10y ago
  Network access and presumably some centralized key hierarchy. Same thing that would prevent some one from writing to the private blockchains banks are setting up for clearinghouse purposes. If your the security of your cryptographic system is dependent on anything but the secret keys being secret it's time to go back to the drawing board. Bitcoin works because it uses proof of work as a gating mechanism to prevent abuse, closed blockchains usually rely on other mechanisms as the parties involved in them can negotiate the terms via other means.
  - paavokoya 10y ago
    >Network access and presumably some centralized key hierarchy. How is that different from what is used currently?

by manav 10y ago

paavokoya 10y ago

If the source code to this encrypted database were to be released publicly (say by "leakers") what would stop them from accessing and writing to said database (err excuse me, "blockchain")

dogma1138 10y ago
Network access and presumably some centralized key hierarchy. Same thing that would prevent some one from writing to the private blockchains banks are setting up for clearinghouse purposes. If your the security of your cryptographic system is dependent on anything but the secret keys being secret it's time to go back to the drawing board. Bitcoin works because it uses proof of work as a gating mechanism to prevent abuse, closed blockchains usually rely on other mechanisms as the parties involved in them can negotiate the terms via other means.
- paavokoya 10y ago
  >Network access and presumably some centralized key hierarchy. How is that different from what is used currently?