P2P File Sharing

Problem

The recording industry has brought many lawsuits against people who have downloaded and shared music files on the Internet. This causes parents to worry about any file sharing software their kids may have downloaded onto the home computer.

Resources

To help we have compiled a list of resources, information and suggestions on how you can protect your PC and continue to have a good time online.

What is P2P?

When you want to find specific information, P2P enables you to connect with another user who has that information, through P2P programs that you can freely download off the Internet.  These programs allow the creation of a network, allowing each computer within the network to act as a server.

P2P file sharing is like a library where everyone brings together their collection of favourite music, films, pictures or games etc. You can search through a directory for what you want and if it's listed then you can copy it.

Beware!

• By sharing media files, whether it is intentional or unintentional, you are in violation of the copyright laws, and are putting yourself at risk of prosecution!
• These networks are not secure, as it gives other people access to parts your computer's hard drive in the same way as you can have access to parts of theirs. This means that other people, or the peer-to-peer file sharing program, can acquire and plant files on your hard drive, including Spyware!
• File downloads are typically from unknown sources, meaning computer viruses are easily contracted
• If your PC hosts large numbers of files for other people to download, it will slow down your PC drastically.

Can theNetAngel help?

Yes. theNetAngel allows you to choose to limit or block access to specific or all programs such as P2P file sharing. This is done through its Program Restrictions feature and lets you easily identify and keep a record of programs installed on your PC. You have the option to limit specific programs, such as P2P, by time or even deny access to them altogether.

Recommended Reading

An informative article on P2P software has been published by PC Magazine, which is well worth reading if you have, or suspect you have, a P2P program such as BearShare or Kazaa etc. installed on your PC.  These types of programs purposely install Spyware software on to your PC, which can damage your PC as well as create problems with Internet applications, including theNetAngel. We recommend that you consider downloading a Spyware removal program such as SpyBot Search & Destroy to detect and remove Spyware programs. The SpywareInfo website contains further information on infected and clean Spyware.

What else do you need to know?

The RIAA has announced that it won't pursue those who own up before being caught for past illegal sharing of copyrighted works. Instead, those who want to start fresh will be asked to sign a declaration pledging they will never again digitally distribute or download music illegally, and will delete all illegally obtained music files from their hard drives. Detailed information on how to apply and qualify for this amnesty is available at the web site www.musicunited.org.

The Most Popular P2P Programs

There are many P2P programs available online.  Here is a list of the most popular ones, to help you look out for them on your PC.