The Internet is a great place to gather information. Information can be found static on web pages, news servers, file servers, etc. It can also be found in real time through the use of Chat servers.

If we focus on "real time" we find that today's systems are still somewhat clumsy and targeted at expert users. In a typical scenario, someone wanting to obtain or share real time information would need:

An IRC Client program used to find people who have access to the kind of information (files) we're after.

	A File Server (the one that comes with the IRC Client) and perhaps, additionally, an FTP Server to share files.
	A File Client, normally an FTP Client to retrieve the files.
	Most advanced users also use Lister programs that can compare their collections with others - and in some cases even replace the FTP Client.

The above scenario highlights some of the problems commonly found at present:

1. We need to integrate and learn to use up to 4 different programs to access and share information.
2. All these programs are based on standar protocols, ASCII encoded, with many security problems, inefficient  and too easy to attack.
3. Privacy is an issue not addressed by this technology: the user's IP address is too accessible and the information travels unencrypted.
4. It is hard to configure and fine-tune all that's needed, and even when you do, it is hard to find many users who have compatible technology.

All these problems served as the motivation for the creation of Filetopia.

The Net, using standard technology is an insecure place. It is easy for us to imagine that we are secure - but the reality is that it is too easy for any hacker or law enforcement agency (a.k.a. big brother) to get into our system and keep an eye on what we do while online.

We strongly believe that information - like ideas - should be freely available. This is the original spirit of the Internet, and the driving force behind the Information Age. By the use of State of the Art technology we can attain the freedom which the net strives to achieve ... and that is our goal: a Free, Private and Secure Internet.   

(c) 1999  Filetopia Inc.  All rights reserved