How to become a customer
In this section you will read about how to become a customer of BitDust. We have developed an easy-to-use application for Windows, Mac and Linux. We provide maximum flexibility to customers within the settings section in the application.
Step 1: Download the application
You can download the application from the homepage or directly from GitHub. Choose the correct application for your operating system and install it.
Step 2: Choosing an identity
Once you have installed BitDust on your local machine you need to choose an identity. You can pick any identity, but it must consist of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 20 characters. Only use numbers and lowercase letters. There is no need to provide any kind of private information when you set up an identity. Once you have chosen an identity you will go through the onboarding process.
Step 3: Backing up your private key
The BitDust application will encrypt all data you store on the network using your private key. This also applies when you chat with other trusted contacts/friends. All data is encrypted using your private key and nobody can access your files but you or the contacts you shared data with. This includes your suppliers. It is therefore important to back up your private key. If you forgot to back up your private key, you can also go to the settings menu and click "Backup key". STORE YOUR PRIVATE KEY IN A SECURE AND SAFE PLACE. Your private key and your identity name enable you to recover your identity and with it the access to your data.
Step 4: Uploading your first file
When you have gone through the onboarding process, you land on the file management section. This section within the BitDust application enables you to upload, download, delete and share files. Since data is encrypted, compressed and placed with your suppliers, uploading a file can take longer than you are used to with other centralized solutions. However, it is still within reasonable limits.
Step 5: Search and add friends
When you click on the "Chat" item in the upper section of the BitDust application, you can search for friends and add them. Once they are added, you can start chatting with each other fully encrypted and secure. NOTE: You must both be online in order to send and receive messages. We are working on the ability for offline chat.
Step 6: Share your first file
Once you have added a friend, you can share files with them. NOTE: When you share a file with a friend it is required that you are both online. Your friend must receive the location of the file and the key that is used to encrypt the file you want to share. We believe that a direct handover of keys between contacts is the safest way of making sure your files are protected. We are working on the ability for offline sharing. In addition, the key that you share is a separate Additional Key, not your Master Key (the private key you backed up). BitDust will never share your Master Key - see File Sharing.
Step 7: Download your first file
If you have uploaded files or a friend has shared files with you, you will be able to download them. By default, the downloaded files are stored in the "Users.bitdust" folder. In the settings section of the application you can change the folder where your downloaded files are stored.
Step 8: Setting your required space
In the settings page you can see the space in MB you have available within BitDust. Since we are still in an alpha version, we have limited the space that is available for every customer. At our discretion we can increase the available space per customer. We envision that BitDust coins will enable you to rent more space from your suppliers in the form of gigabyte-hours. Storage contracts and payments with BitDust coins already exist in the software, but at the moment do not affect anything and can be disabled in the settings, see Blockchain and storage contracts. For now, bear with us - new updates will come.
Congratulations! You have run through the necessary steps to become a customer and join the BitDust network.