(P2P) File Sharing: Be Ready for Hidden Dangers!

P2P is the providing and receiving of digital files over a network following the peer-to-peer (P2P) model, where files are stored on and exchanged by different users. Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing offers you the possibility to share public-domain music, audio, images, documents, and software programs over the Internet.

Also, file sharing allows you to keep files on your computer and go online to search for and share files with others using the same software, programs much like BitTorrent, Morpheus, Kazaa, LimeWire, iMesh and others.

But before downloading your first file you should know and understand the risks of P2P file sharing:

• Exposing your computer to unwanted software

Shared files could hold security risks such as viruses, spyware, and other unwanted software. For instance a legitimate file may have a hidden virus and careless file sharers could possibly download useful software along with concealed spyware.

You can reduce these risks by:

1. Using a firewall;
2. Updating your operating system;
3. Installing antivirus software and keeping it active and current;
4. Installing antispyware software and keeping it active and current.

• Breaking copyright laws

Notable P2P software is legal to use. On the other hand, if you choose to do so, you should understand and differentiate between copyrighted and public domain material.

• Exposing Your Hard Disk to Others

In general, many peer-to-peer file sharing programs do not apply good security or access control. So if users are new to the programs or mis-configure the settings, it will be risky for all the content kept on the user's hard disk to be exposed to other users.

As there are a number of risks associated with using file sharing software, when you are not sure about the security of a given file, don't share or download it.

Take a look at the following tips which will help lower the risks and show you how to legally use file sharing:

• Monitor family P2P use and don't think that using an Internet filter will protect your family from accessing or downloading unwanted or illegal material.
• Consider all downloaded files as suspicious and use updated industry standard antivirus software to scan each new file before you click it. Further, set your antivirus software to automatically scan your hard disk regularly, or do it yourself, manually.
• Remove any pirated material detected on a family computer, digital audio player, CD-R disc, or other storage device and then disable the P2P software's downloading option or close outside access to the program by changing your computer's Internet firewall settings.
• Find out all you can about your P2P software and be very mindful about which files you make accessible to others. Most P2P shared files are stored in a single folder on your computer.
• Do not store copies of copyrighted files you have legally bought, like songs from a CD or a licensed retail music site in your P2P file-sharing folder.
• Before sharing or downloading files back up significant files on an external storage device or a CD-ROM disc.

In other words, sharing content files containing audio, video, data or anything in digital format is very common, and real time data, such as telephony traffic, is also passed using P2P technology. But nowadays you should be very careful when using peer-to-peer file sharing as there are many unexpected risks waiting for you.

Resources:
Wikipedia: File sharing
Risks of (P2P)
Revealing the dangers of Peer-to-peer