P2P file sharing
Peer-to-peer (P2P) services can be a great way to share music, software and movies, but if the owner of that media does not want them to be shared, you could be breaching copyright laws, and liable for a large fine. Also, many files available from file-sharing sites are deliberately mislabelled, so you could end up getting more than you bargained for, like viruses, trojans or offensive and illegal material.
Most files on P2P are not very good quality, so it’s worth checking out services that you can purchase stuff from so that you can be sure that what you’re getting is legit.
Tips
-
Check that the content is legally available. Some content is licensed to be available for free, but much of what is available on P2P networks is not.
-
Try the legal file-sharing/download sites—you’ll get better quality files this way, even if they aren’t free.
-
Check your settings. You may be sharing everything on your hard drive, including personal files!
-
Be wary. Many files on P2P networks are infected with viruses or are mislabelled, and they can contain offensive or illegal material.