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contact if they Peer-to-peer filewant to complain sharing systems get about a file being round that by grouping shared. That's the computers that are made it much sharing files into an adharder for hoc network. To join the organisations like network, the computers the RIAA have to be running (Recording special software, such as MySpace allows unsigned bands to showcase their Industry Kazaa, Limewire or music online Association of Bittorrent. When you to shut such systems down. America) file, the software finds out access a want to The big name in file sharing right now, which of the currently connected computers however, is Bittorrent. It's popular because have that file, and then your computer fetches it's uniquely suited to downloading large files the file directly from one of them or, in the case - such as video clips, or software installation Of Bittorrent, from several at the same time. packages - and does it quickly. With The first really popular file-sharing system Bittorrent, when you start downloading a file, you don 't do it from just one other computer. Instead, files are divided into segments, and different segments are fetched from different computers . That's especially
was the original version of Napster, which allowed people to share their collections of files - usually music files - with other internet users. When you set up Napster, your computer would send the Napster server a list of the files you had available to share. It would then build up a master index, allowing other people to search for tiles easily, and then connect to your computer .o download things that they wanted. But if you had a really popular file, several people would be trying to fetch it at the same time, and transfers would be slow - just like the old problem with a web server. More worryingly, the Napster index was, essentially, a list of music that was mostly ;opyrighted and eing shared legally. It's no •urprise that n-entually the -lusic companies succeeded in shutting it down. Napster was
useful with a typical broadband connection where you can receive information faster than you can send it. Once a piece of the file arrives on the computer that's requested it, that piece will be shared with anyone else who needs it, so everyone is helping to spread the load around. That 's one of the reasons why it's so interesting to companies like the BBC the Corporation's Interactive Media Player is designed to make recent and
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sharing site is available to buy in the shops, or is currently on TV or at the cinema, it's more than likely illegal to download it. Remember that it is an offence and could result in prosecution. Although there haven't yet been many cases in Ireland, record companies will attempt to find out from internet service providers the identity of people sharing copyrighted files; and by its nature, file sharing can't be completely anonymous. But there are other things to watch out for, besides viruses. Earlier versions of the Kazaa software, for example, are notorious for containing adware and spyware, while some Bittorrent software may crash the computer. Before downloading any file-sharing software, check the Web for advice and information, and keep adware detection software up to date. That's not all, either. You may find plenty of things to download, but don't forget that many broadband accounts either have a download limit, or a fair-usage policy. Service providers can detect which users are using file-sharing software, and those are often the first ones singled out for attention. Heavy users of filesharing systems could find their connections blocked at peak hours to prevent them from slowing the service for others, or even disconnected completely. While you can sometimes change the settings on a PC and router to avoid these measures (see www.portforward . com), it 's not foolproof. Most of the material linked to on file-sharing sites is illegal, and we do not recommend you break the law. But file-sharing technology has a bright future and we hope the entertainment industry fully
archive material available over the Internet. By using Bittorrent technology, T., «. .e ^r.... .ew ^.....e.v «. m...me y..^.ar ..a.ae.m sq,.w a. e..emy ^,. ^^ ^ •N^ .+ ^^ 8 w.ewe mve a .w. w+, aee q..wmm ^^..• oN..w .io...r that can be done without the need for •acceeded by servers which could \azaa, and a The Port Forward website has plenty of tips to help optimise cope with tens of ,etwork called the BitTorrent connection thousands of people all Jnutella wanting to download the latest Eastenders or .imewire is just the name of one of the Little Britain. Instead, everyone who takes part 'rograms compatible with the Gnutella in a download also contributes. etwork. To avoid Napster's problem, there's There are plenty of files on Bittorrent that no central index. Instead, when you look for a can be shared without breaking the law. For file, the request is passed from one computer example, when we visited www. bittorrent.com, 'o another, a bit like asking a friend who says, pop group The Cardigans were offering the \o, I can't help you, but I'll ask my video of their latest single, and there were -.eighbour." Your request is passed on, and any hundreds of free games available for download. positive answers are passed back, supplying the It's best to start out by downloading the -iternet address of the computer from which original Bittorrent (usually referred to in filethe file can be downloaded. It's slower than sharing circles as a client). Don't get a client \apster, and there's still the same problem of r.,
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from elsewhere - some clients try to charge money for downloads, or infect your PC with adware or viruses.
s a rule of thumb, if the content you find on a file-
harnesses it for legitimate use. Once downloaded, follow the instructions to make a default installation of the software. Once complete, go back to Bittorrent.com and find the file you want. Click on the green download link, and choose the `Open with' option, selecting Bittorent from the dropdown menu. If you can't find the downloaded file, select it in the Bittorrent window, click on the blue Info button, and select the Open Folder button on the right-hand side.
Reasons to be careful Whether it's the BBC sharing licence-fee funded material, a software company sending out test files, or just friends sharing a home movie, file sharing can be a really useful tool. But it's as well to remember that there are problems too. While the BBC will be using customised software and you can be fairly sure of what you're getting, in many cases there's nothing to stop someone sharing a file that isn't what it says. It could be a virus instead of a music file, or a message from Madonna telling you that ■ you shouldn't be trying to rip off her songs. january 2007 • 51