Avoiding Whitewashing in Unstructured Peer-to-Peer Resource Sharing Network

Abstract

In peer-to-peer file sharing network, it is hard to distinguish between a legitimate newcomer and a whitewasher. This makes whitewashing a big problem in peer-to-peer networks. Although the problem of whitewashing can be solved using permanent identities, it may take away the right of anonymity for users. In this paper, we a have proposed a novel algorithm to avoid this problem when network uses free temporary identities. In this algorithm, the initial reputation is adjusted according to the level of whitewashing in the network.