What is IPOP (IP-over-P2P)?
IPOP (IP-over-P2P) is an open-source peer-to-peer virtual private networking tool that enables users to establish private, secure connections between devices using their own IP addresses over a peer-to-peer infrastructure. Unlike traditional VPNs which rely on central servers, IPOP creates a decentralized overlay network enabling devices to directly connect.
Key features and benefits of IPOP include:
- No centralized control or infrastructure needed for networking
- Increased resilience as there is no single point of failure
- Enhanced privacy and security through end-to-end encryption
- Users retain control of their own identities and IPs rather than sharing VPN IPs
- Works through NAT and firewalls
- Open source and customizable
Ideal uses of IPOP include replacing or complementing traditional VPN use cases like remote access, secure file sharing, geo-spoofing, censorship circumvention, and anonymous communication. As it is decentralized and serverless, IPOP can be useful for connecting devices when centralized infrastructure is unavailable.
LogMeIn Hamachi, GameRanger, ZeroTier, Radmin VPN, Windscribe, FreePN, Wippien, P2PVPN, NinjaVPN, OpenVPN Finder, Tinc VPN, VDE: Virtual Distributed Ethernet, Spoolmac are some alternatives to IPOP (IP-over-P2P).