WebRTC connections are inherently temporary and cannot be serialized for future use. This limitation is actually a security advantage.
RTCPeerConnection is a live object in browser memory containing active network sockets, state information, and encryption keys. These components are bound to the current network configuration and cannot be restored later.
A WebRTC connection exists only in browser memory during an active session. After closing the page or refreshing, a new connection must be established.
RTCPeerConnection contains components that are inherently temporary:
WebRTC uses UDP/TCP sockets bound to the current IP address and NAT configuration. These sockets are destroyed when the network changes or the browser restarts.
Encryption keys are generated during each handshake and are unique to that session. Exporting them would compromise WebRTC's security model.
NAT traversal information is only valid for the current network configuration. When the network changes, ICE negotiation must be performed again.
Even if it were technically possible to save connections, it would be a serious security risk:
DTLS keys are generated during each handshake. Saving them would mean an attacker with access to stored data could decrypt all past communications.
Stored credentials could be stolen by malware or physical device access and used for eavesdropping or communication spoofing.
An attacker could reuse captured data to replay communications or gain unauthorized access.
Channels in InstDrop have a maximum lifetime of 1 hour and are automatically deleted. Stored connections would be invalid anyway.
InstDrop's current design is secure precisely because of the temporary nature of connections:
While connections cannot be saved, there are alternatives for easier reconnection:
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