PirateBox

PirateBox is a Linux based software package that runs local web and file sharing servers. The portability of Linux allows PirateBox to be installed on a myriad of devices such as phones, routers, live USB's, and single board computers. All that a device needs to be a PirateBox is a wireless interface. PirateBox acts as a local area network, cut off from the rest of the internet, basically like a mini internet in a bubble where the only things accessible are other members of the network, and primarily the network host, the PirateBox itself.

PirateBox is comprised of a chatroom, file sharing service, and image based discussion board all accessible through a browser by navigating to piratebox.local. Everything is completely anonymous allowing for safe communication knowing that there is very limited chance of being found out. The file sharing surface alos allows for the sharing of files without having to ever physically meet or even know the person. One downside to this is the difficulty in verifying the identity of others and the files they are sharing, though with the right technical expertise, a PGP like system could be implemented to help be able to verify the people, and files they are sharing.

PirateBox has some very nice features and advantages over other similar software packages, and other approaches to problems that PirateBox solves. PirateBox is expandable with the use of wireless repeaters, and this approach to deploying the service can help mitigate the possibility of hostile agents triangulating your position. There have also been concepts of building mesh networks of PirateBoxes with multiple base stations which would allow for some boxes to go down but the network to still be up as a whole. The worry of being located can also be reduced with the fact the PirateBox is highly portable, allowing you to constantly move. The fact that it is so easy to set up also allows for the device to easily be passed off to others who may not be as technologically inclined. Finally, PirateBox is free and open source under the GNU GPLv3 public license.

PirateBox does have some limitations. As stated above, there is the concern about the source being triangulated, and this is a concern as triangulating a wireless signal is trivial using three receivers. While PirateBox does provide communication in the event of normal channels being turned off or taken down, because it operates on the same wireless basis as those other channels, it is susceptible to blocking using a frequency jammer like the one pictured to the left.