Frequently asked questions

What is DabbaFlow?

DabbaFlow is a way to share files in a secure, decentralised and web3 way. It combines an encryption layer (powered by proxy re-encryption) with a data transfer layer to give you a secure way to share files and data streams. It is part of the CoLearn ecosystem. This will be an ecosystem of products around machine learning and AI which will enable secure data monetization, selling of machine learning models and training of AI.

How does DabbaFlow work?

See our explainer video here or the tech deep-dive here

What is end-to-end encrypted file sharing?

End-to-end-encrypted file transfer is the most secure way to exchange files and documents. Your file is encrypted before it leaves your computer using a unique, randomly generated encryption key. The file can only be decrypted by a person with the correct key. DabbaFlow handles making a key for the person you have approved to access the file, and they decrypt it on their computer. The file is never stored in plain text, so only data owners and the intended recipients can access the data stored in DabbaFlow. This means that you can share files with trusted recipients in full confidence.

How do I use DabbaFlow?

See the tutorial here.

How can DabbaFlow transfer data without storing it?

The data is stored across a network of servers using a distributed file system (IPFS). No node of this network assumes a central role, and multiple copies of the encrypted files are created to increase robustness and availability.

How does it involve blockchain?

The proxy-reencryption is co-ordinated by a "smart contract". This is a piece of computer code that runs on the blockchain. The smart contract acts as a register of file-sharing tasks, and it also handles giving the proxies rewards when they complete a task.

Also, the person sharing and the person being shared with need an address on the blockchain. Having a blockchain address means that all the participants have a secret key that can be used for encryption.

Am I only able to share my files with people who have a DabbaFlow account?

You and the person that you are sharing with need to have a Fetch network account. This just requires adding the Fetch wallet to your browser and following the setup instructions. Creating a DabbaFlow account is not required; just connect your wallet.

Why do we need DabbaFlow?

Data transfers are essential to running a business in the digital age, however this has led to new challenges. There has been an exponential increase in data shared online, arising from remote collaboration and an unprecedented surge in emerging startups. All of which has posed significant data breach risks to individuals and companies where valuable data is constantly being exposed to security and privacy threats. The results have been devastating for business reputation. Research has shown that up to a third of customers in retail, finance and healthcare will stop doing business with organisations that have been breached.

How can DabbaFlow prevent corporate espionage and government surveillance?

Security and privacy are key principles of how we operate. Our decentralised end-to-end encryption provides the highest level of security and privacy for sensitive individual and company data. DabbaFlow’s client-side encryption means that we cannot decrypt your files to hand them over to law enforcement because we don’t hold the encryption keys or your passwords.

What is its unique selling point compared with existing data sharing tools?

One advantage of DabbaFlow is that it is decentralised, so it does not have centralised points of failure. In a centralised system if the main server is compromised then this affects the whole system. DabbaFlow runs on the fetch.ai blockchain which is spread over many nodes so there is no single point of failure. The storage layer that underpins DabbaFlow, IPFS, is similarly decentralised.

Another advantage is that there is a publicly verifiable record of data having been shared. Because the data sharing is recorded on the blockchain the sender cannot claim to have sent something that they haven't, and the receiver cannot claim they haven't received something when they have.

Is DabbaFlow a data storage platform?

DabbaFlow has an encryption layer (powered by proxy-re-encryption) and a data storage layer. The encryption layer could be used separately from the data storage layer. For version one the only supported data storage layer is IPFS, but version two will support other storage layers such as Filecoin and Arweave.

Is DabbaFlow open source?

DabbaFlow is not currently open source; watch this space for future versions!