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Nic · Dec 28, 2007, 04:16 PM

Sorry if this is in the wrong section.

Is limewire 100% safe on a mac? Because it crashed my windows twice.

Can it crash my new mac in any way? How safe is it? Any warnings?

seanc · Dec 28, 2007, 04:44 PM

Welcome to the forums.

Limewire or similar software is never safe.
It contains all sorts of suspicious and malicious software.

Since this software is generally used to pirate electronic media, we won't support it here, unless you have an innocent use for it.

If you have any other questions about your new Mac, we'll be happy to help

Chuckit · Dec 28, 2007, 04:59 PM

Limewire itself will not crash a Mac. I'm not vouching for anything you download with it.

peeb · Dec 28, 2007, 05:00 PM

There are legitimate uses for Limewire.

Nic · Dec 28, 2007, 05:05 PM

Thanks guys. I have decided not to download it.

Chuckit · Dec 28, 2007, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by peeb

There are legitimate uses for Limewire.

Like what? I know of lots of legitimate Bittorrent uses, but I haven't found a one for LimeWire.

peeb · Dec 28, 2007, 05:10 PM

So you think there is no content on Limewire that is not in breach of copyright in the location it is being downloaded?

seanc · Dec 28, 2007, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by peeb

So you think there is no content on Limewire that is not in breach of copyright in the location it is being downloaded?

No, but usually it's 'I've downloaded the new Spiderman from Limewire, YEAH!' hence the bad stigma that goes with it.

Chuckit · Dec 28, 2007, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by peeb

So you think there is no content on Limewire that is not in breach of copyright in the location it is being downloaded?

Well, I'm sure there are some countries that hardly recognize copyright laws, but that's a different question. Aside from viruses, I've never seen any content on LimeWire that was meant to go on LimeWire.

peeb · Dec 28, 2007, 06:27 PM

Right, but there are, or could be, legitimate uses for it. We don't ban photocopiers because they could be used for infringement (although it has been tried!)

P · Dec 31, 2007, 07:40 AM

Kind TAN, but we've already gone there I guess. The current US legal status seems to be that software that endorses copyright infringement is a nono and that software that has substantial non-infringing uses is fine. Nothing has been said regarding the area inbetween, but innocent until proven guilty and all that. While I can understand the "safety first" policy of MacNN, we have to make a stand for air use at some point. The copyright lobby would like nothing better than to limit fair use to nothing, as they've recently shown. I don't think we should help them.

wataru · Dec 31, 2007, 08:33 AM

LimeWire itself probably won't cause any problems, but there are better apps out there that are based on the same core. Try Cabos.

Gavin · Jan 4, 2008, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Aside from viruses, I've never seen any content on LimeWire that was meant to go on LimeWire.

To be fair there is also spam, porn marketing, lawsuit bait and free iPod scams.