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macgyvr64 · Oct 1, 2004, 01:05 AM

I wonder why there's been no news of ISP's or other agencies cracking down on BitTorrent. It's one of the most widely used P2P systems, yet no one's done anything about it. I ran across a CacheLogic presentation, and it shows how much more traffic BitTorrent generates. You'd think the RIAA would drop Kazaa and go after BitTorrent users.

Not that I want them to, of course. Just wondering what's holding them up.
Nudge nudge wink wink.

storer · Oct 1, 2004, 01:09 AM

Kazaa is less popular now because there is no Kazaa Lite. Im not paying for P2P, and I don't want spyware, so now i use limewire.

Xeo · Oct 1, 2004, 01:19 AM

Originally posted by storer:
Kazaa is less popular now because there is no Kazaa Lite. Im not paying for P2P, and I don't want spyware, so now i use limewire.

There's another kazaa out there for windows that's like lite.

storer · Oct 1, 2004, 01:20 AM

any details?

macgyvr64 · Oct 1, 2004, 01:42 AM

Originally posted by storer:
...I'm not paying for P2P...

I bought Acquisition a while ago because I think it's one of the nicest OS X apps out there, not to mention that it's a P2P app. It just works. And it's good for finding singles* (mp3s) here and there, and getting them from multiple sources very quickly.

*that I have on CD, of course..

spatterson · Oct 1, 2004, 01:53 AM

I wish they had a good eMule program for Mac...

storer · Oct 1, 2004, 02:02 AM

I only have 9.2 and Windoze though, so bit stuck.

demograph68 · Oct 1, 2004, 02:12 AM

Wouldn't it be safer just to use NetShade and Little Snitch while downloading with BitTorrent?

Xeo · Oct 1, 2004, 02:15 AM

Originally posted by storer:
any details?

I believe it's called Kazaa Resurrection or something like that.

dtriska · Oct 1, 2004, 02:52 AM

The main obstacle for cracking down on BitTorrent is finding the networks that are trading copyrighted material. Of course, it seems easy enough considering the popularity of ******** and other such sites, but remember that people can easily run private trackers (invite only, etc.) that prevent the RIAA/MPAA from getting downloaders' IP addresses.

With other P2P networks, you simply download client software and track users' IP addresses. It's not that simple with BitTorrent.

Add the fact that people tend to close torrents after they've downloaded the files, and collecting IP addresses becomes a timing issue. Other networks' clients share everything in a download folder, so even if you're looking for only one song, you're offering a ton of other stuff for download. With BitTorrent, you are only offering what you're currently downloading, so the RIAA/MPAA has to first find the particular tracker you're using and then the particular torrent you're using before they can get your IP address. It's not impossible, but it is harder.

Anyway, I think the RIAA/MPAA is turning its sights on BitTorrent. I recently read an article about the groups considering legal action against the developer, even though he has nothing to do with how the software is used.

macgyvr64 · Oct 1, 2004, 02:57 AM

My fear is that ISP's will start blocking either

a) the BitTorrents ports, although it's easily configured in the tracker
b) high upload traffic users

Both of those have flaws..so there's some hope.

dtriska · Oct 1, 2004, 03:08 AM

Well, I don't know what the situation is for you, but I know my ISP won't do either of those. Blocking ports won't work, since, as you mentioned, they can be easily changed. Further, my ISP doesn't really care how much I download or upload, as long as I don't either hurt the performance of the overall network (I'm on cable), or generate extremely high traffic. I download and upload 20 GB each in a month with no problem, and I know of people who didn't get a warning (yes, a warning) until they downloaded roughly 100 GB in a month.

ISP policies are obviously going to differ in places, but I'm not too worried.

macgyvr64 · Oct 1, 2004, 03:11 AM

Wow, okay. I'm sure I've pulled down 30 or so GB one or two months with no issue. I thought the "hidden limits" were lower than that.

Ratm · Oct 1, 2004, 04:13 AM

Originally posted by storer:
Kazaa is less popular now because there is no Kazaa Lite. Im not paying for P2P, and I don't want spyware, so now i use limewire.

hahahaha... limewire? Silly boy limewire is for kids.

Use a real mans P2p app

storer · Oct 1, 2004, 04:16 AM

klite resurrection is quite good.

macgyvr64 · Oct 1, 2004, 04:37 AM

On an unrelated note..why do a lot of the P2P networks have stupid names? eDonkey... eMule... BearShare... Grokster...

Busemann · Oct 1, 2004, 05:32 AM

Originally posted by storer:
Im not paying for P2P, and I don't want spyware, so now i use limewire.

Unfortunately, LimeWire has spyware and costs money

macgyvr64 · Oct 1, 2004, 05:39 AM

Direct Connect is a great network, and the oDC client is spectacular. Direct Connect has a Mac port but it really sucks compared to others. I just run oDC on my Windows box, control it with RDC, and grab files via smb shares.

Lancer409 · Oct 1, 2004, 06:01 AM

Originally posted by demograph68:
Wouldn't it be safer just to use NetShade and Little Snitch while downloading with BitTorrent?

elaborate please...

Lancer409 · Oct 1, 2004, 06:03 AM

Originally posted by Ratm:
hahahaha... limewire? Silly boy limewire is for kids.

Use a real mans P2p app

anyone else heaping praise on xfactor? cool icon .. what else?

Lancer409 · Oct 1, 2004, 06:03 AM

Originally posted by Busemann:
Unfortunately, LimeWire has spyware and costs money

Mac's have spyware?

Busemann · Oct 1, 2004, 06:08 AM

Originally posted by Lancer409:
Mac's have spyware?

LimeWire installed a spyware-like application some time ago, but I think they dropped it in the latest releases. Its a shitty app nonetheless.

storer · Oct 1, 2004, 07:10 AM

Originally posted by Busemann:
Unfortunately, LimeWire has spyware and costs money

I doubt EXTREMELY much that LimeWire has spyware, because on their website they tell you that there is none, and that's got to be false advertising if it does.

i do believe that on Windows a few years ago Limewire had spyware, and unfortunately the tag has stuck. I think it's quite useful, and more effective than kazaa, except for the library.

george68 · Oct 1, 2004, 07:22 AM

Shutup people. This is how the dumb uninformed gov. types find out about stuff.

- Rob

Mastrap · Oct 1, 2004, 07:26 AM

Originally posted by Lancer409:
Mac's

Macs

djohnson · Oct 1, 2004, 08:23 AM

How do you tell the difference between someone downloading linux via a .torrent versus a commercial application?

cold_reality · Oct 1, 2004, 09:20 AM

Originally posted by george68:
Shutup people. This is how the dumb uninformed gov. types find out about stuff.

- Rob

Probably...who knows I could be an FBI agent...

the_glassman · Oct 1, 2004, 10:00 AM

Use MUTE and nobody can touch you!

macaddict0001 · Oct 1, 2004, 12:41 PM

Originally posted by djohnson:
How do you tell the difference between someone downloading linux via a .torrent versus a commercial application?

they can tell if someone is downloading from a major linux mirror or if its from joe somebody's home computer can't they?

djohnson · Oct 1, 2004, 01:03 PM

Originally posted by macaddict0001:
they can tell if someone is downloading from a major linux mirror or if its from joe somebody's home computer can't they?

But the entire point of the .torrent is to download is direct from people that are uploading/downloading it as well. Since it is much more difficult to even tell who is downloading/uploading, it is a much more protected way to distribute any type of software.

macaddict0001 · Oct 1, 2004, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by djohnson:
But the entire point of the .torrent is to download is direct from people that are uploading/downloading it as well. Since it is much more difficult to even tell who is downloading/uploading, it is a much more protected way to distribute any type of software.

I didn't say it would be easy to detect.

dcolton · Oct 1, 2004, 02:29 PM

What is the difference between bit torrent and IRC? Why does everyone say IRC is 'safe'?

Oneota · Oct 1, 2004, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by dcolton:
What is the difference between bit torrent and IRC? Why does everyone say IRC is 'safe'?

Whoever said IRC was safe? Your IP usually shows up in the list of users, and there's nothing stopping the authorities from running a DCC server to nab people (except entrapment concerns, I suppose). IRC is about the least-safe way to be a naughty little netizen, IMO.

Xeo · Oct 1, 2004, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by Oneota:
Whoever said IRC was safe? Your IP usually shows up in the list of users, and there's nothing stopping the authorities from running a DCC server to nab people (except entrapment concerns, I suppose). IRC is about the least-safe way to be a naughty little netizen, IMO.

I'm assuming people have told him that it's "safe" because of security-through-obscurity. Using IRC is something the masses never have, and never will, pick up on, whether it be for chat or for file transfer. I doubt authorities go searching for copyright infringement on IRC. But you are right, it is definitely not a safe way to do that kind of stuff. You are wide out in the open on there. Definitely a place built by geeks-for geeks.

storer · Oct 1, 2004, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by cold_reality:
Probably...who knows I could be an FBI agent...

I sincerely doubt it.

nredman · Oct 1, 2004, 07:10 PM

i have gotten a few episodes of Alias on bitTorrent but thats about it, just episodes i missed because the local abc channel f'ed me over. it tends to be really slow and crappy for me

storer · Oct 1, 2004, 07:12 PM

mmmm, i have used limewire to get some movies but I hear BitTorrent is a lot faster. The movies I have got have all been low quality, taped in cinema, but thats ok because they are ones I would not usually pay to see.

dtriska · Oct 1, 2004, 07:14 PM

Originally posted by storer:
I doubt EXTREMELY much that LimeWire has spyware, because on their website they tell you that there is none, and that's got to be false advertising if it does.

I don't know about current versions, but LimeWire did have an app that redirected all online purchases through a referral program that generated money for the developers. Basically, the app would notice you were on Amazon, and it would redirect your browser to its affiliate/referral program to get a cut of the action.

Or something like that. I stopped using LimeWire before this happened, so I never read about the issue in detail.

the_glassman · Oct 1, 2004, 07:15 PM

There needs to be more programs like MUTE.

storer · Oct 1, 2004, 07:17 PM

Originally posted by dtriska:
I don't know about current versions.
Or something like that. I stopped using LimeWire before this happened, so I never read about the issue in detail.

From what I have noticed so far, nothing, and adaware and spybot have not noticed.

Beewee · Oct 1, 2004, 07:43 PM

I use Poisoned which is ok...edonkey is really good. Anyone still use "Hotline"

Hopefully the RIAA will keep its attention toward Kazza and leave the other P2P alone.

coolmacdude · Oct 1, 2004, 08:35 PM

It's just as easy to get caught with BitTorrent.

I downloaded an episode of Enterprise, and got a letter from my ISP (forwarded from a Paramount attorney) that said I was liable for copyright infringement.

Ultimately nothing came of it, but I'm more careful about what I dl now.

Never download anything from Paramount!

coolmacdude · Oct 1, 2004, 08:36 PM

Originally posted by Beewee:
[B]Anyone still use "Hotline"

Oh yeah I still use that.

Most of the admins are bitches though. Hardly any will give you an account for uploading anymore. They all want money.

demograph68 · Oct 1, 2004, 08:41 PM

Originally posted by Lancer409:
elaborate please...

Netshade redirects you connection through various secure proxies and can switch between them every few seconds.

storer · Oct 1, 2004, 08:43 PM

Originally posted by coolmacdude:
It's just as easy to get caught with BitTorrent.
I downloaded an episode of Enterprise, and got a letter from my ISP (forwarded from a Paramount attorney) that said I was liable for copyright infringement.
Ultimately nothing came of it, but I'm more careful about what I dl now.
Never download anything from Paramount!

Ooh, that would be an interesting letter to see. It seems that downloading movies is not popular here yet (or maybe just where i am in mildura) but it is accessible. DVD Burners aren't as popular here yet, either.

djohnson · Oct 1, 2004, 09:35 PM

Originally posted by storer:
Ooh, that would be an interesting letter to see. It seems that downloading movies is not popular here yet (or maybe just where i am in mildura) but it is accessible. DVD Burners aren't as popular here yet, either.

Yes, can you post this letter please?

macgyvr64 · Oct 1, 2004, 09:42 PM

What ISP?

demograph68 · Oct 1, 2004, 09:53 PM

nevermind

storer · Oct 1, 2004, 10:05 PM

avoiding the question!

deej5871 · Oct 1, 2004, 10:20 PM

I'll second the recommendation of XFactor. I've been using it for a while and it is awesome. Good stuff.