Ricochet Refresh Server VPS
Ricochet Refresh is the maintained fork of Ricochet, a peer-to-peer messaging client where each user's identity is a v3 .onion address. Running Ricochet Refresh on a VPS keeps your address online when your laptop is closed, letting contacts reach you 24/7. AnubizHost provides VPS preconfigured for headless Ricochet Refresh operation.
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Why Run Ricochet on a VPS
Ricochet's threat model assumes the user's client is online when contacts try to reach them. Desktop clients fail this assumption every time the laptop closes. A VPS-hosted Ricochet instance stays online continuously, accepting contact requests and queuing messages even when the user is away. The user connects to the VPS over SSH-over-Tor to read messages.
Configuration
Ricochet Refresh runs as a daemon mode on Linux. The config directory holds the v3 onion key (this is the user's permanent identity), the contact list, and message history. We ship the config directory on an encrypted partition that requires SSH-time unlock.
Without the encryption layer, a seized VPS reveals the user's Ricochet identity. With it, a seizure yields ciphertext only.
Use Cases
Activists, journalists, and security researchers who need an always-on messaging identity without exposing their personal laptop to network attacks. Ricochet's lack of metadata (no servers, no group chat, no profiles) makes it ideal for sensitive bilateral communication.
Crypto Billing
BTC and XMR. Low-cost VPS tiers are sufficient since Ricochet uses minimal bandwidth.
Related: Cwtch server, v3 onion Iceland, XMPP over Tor, Tor hosting parent, OnionShare.
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