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LifeStuff is a file hosting and file sharing product operated by MaidSafe.net.^[1]

LifeStuff sits on the LifeStuff network, a peer to peer storage platform that enables users to store data free of charge in exchange for storing an equal portion of network data on their hard drive or connected storage device. Data contained in the network is accessible anywhere, however the data is broken into chunks and encrypted so that only users with the correct credentials can access it.^[2]

LifeStuff and the client software are both written in C++, with the client providing both the authentication and encryption capabilities for securing and accessing data. From a user perspective, the encrypted files appear as a virtual file system accessed by the users operating system. Using the LifeStuff client, users can upload and store files of any format, message their contacts and send them files.

Data encryption within the LifeStuff network is a blend of cryptographically secure hashing and AES256 symmetric encryption. Files are split into chunks, hashed, and then the hash of each chunk is joined with the hashes of the preceding two chunks of data (cyclically). This produces keying material which is used to to encrypt the file chunk. This process conceals common file fragments and the resulting encrypted chunk is what LifeStuff stores on the network. By encrypting the data at source in this way, the network entities (or vaults) which store the data are unable to access the contents as anything other than scrambled fragments.^[3]

LifeStuff operates without servers and files are not stored at a single point. Network data is stored in vaults, secure portions of users’ hard drives or storage devices, and rather than using a traditional model of authenticating users onto the network through a centralised server, LifeStuff users authenticate themselves onto the network.^[4] This process of self authentication provides LifeStuff users, and their data, with privacy and anonymity as their credentials are not stored on a server or transmitted across the network. Using similar principles users are also able to anonymously and securely gain access to their files.^[5]

The LifeStuff network (through it’s nodes) continuously monitors the location of all data chunks stored on the network, validating their integrity using their hash values and replacing both corrupted and lost chunks such as when a user goes offline. LifeStuff replicates each of the encrypted file chunks several times to ensure user data is never lost and employs deduplication to maximise storage space on the network. LifeStuff also ensures that data chunks are geographically dispersed to ensure robustness. ^[6]

The LifeStuff network operates on reputation and constantly evaluates not only the location of data chunks but also the nodes on which the chunks are stored. Nodes are ranked based on their reputation, such as their availability, reliability and resources, and data is moved between nodes based on their rank.

• Unlimited free storage space: LifeStuff sits on the LifeStuff network, a peer to peer storage platform that enables users to store unlimited amounts of data free of charge in exchange for storing an equal portion of network data on their hard drive or connected storage device.
• Online backup: Users can back up any file type and access it on any network compatible device.
• Instant messaging: LifeStuff users can send messages and files (of any size/type) to their contacts using the internal chat client.
• Store files of any format: Users can store files in any format
• Secure and anonymous: User data is totally secure and anonymous as there is no central point of control and all data is encrypted on the client side.

The LifeStuff technology is protected by a growing patent portfolio. During the course of development the engineering team collaborated with a number of Universities.^[7]

If users wish to use LifeStuff without donating any storage space to the network (one way users), they can purchase network storage. As of November 2012, storage costs $0.20 per gb per annum based on the the 50gb plan.