🛠️ Backdoor SSH Access: A Secure Gateway to the IRC Network

At TransIRC, our mission is to provide a secure, inclusive, and accessible space for trans and questioning individuals. Today, we're introducing a unique feature that embodies our commitment to flexibility and privacy: backdoor SSH access to our IRC server.

🔑 What is it?

The backdoor is a special login method available to our community members, allowing direct terminal access to IRC clients hosted on our infrastructure.

When a user types !backdoor in any channel, the bot responds with credentials for a shared system user account: ircuser. This account provides SSH access to a locked-down environment where users can securely run clients like irssi or weechat.

Example:

ssh ircuser@transirc.chat

Once logged in, you’ll be prompted to enter your NickServ username and password, just like on any part of our site — including our web-based IRC, blog, social network, wiki and more.

🔐 How Authentication Works

Behind the scenes, this SSH system is powered by our own Ergo IRC server and an internal authentication API.

• When you enter your NickServ credentials, we verify them against the running IRC server.
• This means your IRC account becomes your universal identity across all our services.

🧪 Why This Exists

We created the backdoor for several important reasons:

• ✅ Privacy & Security: Some users prefer to connect without a web browser, directly from a secure terminal.
• 🔌 Reliability: If our web-based IRC or The Lounge frontend is ever offline, the backdoor provides a robust alternative.
• 🌐 Access Options: Not everyone in every country or location can access our web UI or IRC ports, this give us an alternative option for access.

💻 What You Get

Once authenticated, you’re dropped into a secure, sandboxed environment where you can choose your preferred IRC client:

• irssi – Lightweight
• weechat – Feature-rich

All configurations are temporary and scoped to your session, ensuring privacy and system cleanliness.

🧭 Getting Started

1. Join our IRC network via The Lounge or your preferred client.

2. In any public channel (after 48 hours of being registered), type:

   !backdoor

3. Use the provided password to SSH into:

   ssh ircuser@transirc.chat

4. Enter your NickServ credentials when prompted.

5. Choose your client and chat away!

🚨 Safety First

• All sessions are sandboxed with temporary home directories.
• Users are restricted to IRC-related binaries.
• SSH is monitored and rate-limited to prevent abuse.

This backdoor is an intentional, thoughtful tool built to empower our users with more ways to connect, safely and securely.

Stay safe, stay proud, and keep chatting. 💖

— The TransIRC Team