So you’ve decided you want to be a part of the file-sharing
revolution, moral consequences be darned. Well, good for you. However, the road
to file-sharing bliss has become blocked with all types of malicious bugs.
Files downloaded other users can contain
spyware that can track your online activity or control your computer. They can
also contain computer trojans, worms, or viruses that can potentially damage
your computer. Also, the viruses can be sent from you to other users once you
have downloaded files and begun sharing them. Keeping your anti-virus program
updated and checking your computer often for viruses and spyware is
recommended.
Also, P2P programs normally allow users
to view the contents of each others' shared folders, i.e., give another person
access to your computer. If you have personal information in your shared
folder, anyone else using the same P2P software has access to it, opening the
door for identity theft.
The New Contender
The new buzzword for file sharing these days is BitTorrent.
Peer-to-peer in nature, the BitTorrent program encourages users to upload and
download files simultaneously to utilize bandwidth efficiently.
In network like FastTrack, a downloader receives a file from
a single source, however the newest version of some clients allow downloading a
single file from multiple sources for higher speeds. With these networks,
popular files become harder to access. With BitTorrents technology, popular
files would actually become easier to use. The BitTorrent technology allows
file-sharing transactions to be tracked anonymously, removing the need for a
larger program and network.