About ImgSquid

ImgSquid is an image hosting site, much like other similar sites. What makes it different is that the distribution of the images is handled by the visitors to the site using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) connections.

This allows the costs for bandwidth associated with viewing the images to be reduced, as the image only needs to be downloaded from ImgSquid's servers if nobody else has a copy already. The more popular an image, the more people will have a copy they can send to other vistors.

With a reduction in hosting costs, ImgSquid can afford to provide higher quality images and fewer advertisements than other services.

How does it work?

ImgSquid uses a web standard technology called WebRTC. It provides the ability to make direct connections between two visitors to a website, and can be used to make video calls and exchange real time messages, such as in chat apps.

ImgSquid uses this second capability to exhange image files between users. The ImgSquid servers keep track of who has which files and coordinates this exchange.

Is it secure?

Each image is checked against a secure hash of the file contents before it is shown. This prevents any tampering with the image data, and ensures that the image is the one you expected and has not been modified or replaced.

No executable code or scripts are passed between users, so using the website is as secure as any other public website.

I don't want to use up all my bandwidth!

What about adult or illegal content?

Why are there still adverts if you're saving so much money on bandwidth?

While there is a large reduction in bandwidth costs, the servers providing the fallback copies of each image and the centralised coordination of the P2P exchange still cost money to run. The adverts also support development and maintenance of the service

We will introduce pro accounts with no advertising in future, if there is enoguh interest

Can I use this technology on my own website?

We are intending to provide a P2P CDN service in future. Please contact us if you would be interested in using it.