5/6/05 What's safe and legal to download using a file-sharing program?

Thanks to all of you who contributed to this past week's Q&A topic.
Gretchen, I hope this week's members' advice give you some direction to your concerns. Whatever your decisions may be, please take extreme cautions when downloading programs, we really don't want you to return and have to submit another question on how to get rid virus or spyware contracted using a file sharing program. So good luck!

Members, if you have more questions, or additional advice for Gretchen and other members wanting to use a file sharing network, by all means feel free to post them in this thread below. It?s all up to you as a community to contribute and learn from one another. So keep on posting.

Thanks everyone and have a great weekend!
-Lee Koo
CNET Community

Question:

I'm a new user of Kazaa and am looking for some guidance. Is there any reasonable way to know when I'm downloading a file that it's legal and safe for me to download? I'd love to get some good peer-to-peer stuff, but I don't want to break the law or accidentally download any viruses. Thanks.

Submitted by: Gretchen G.

Answer:

Since your question really has two parts: legality and security, I will answer them separately.

Simply put, there is no easy way to know for sure that what you are downloading is legal. You would need some way to determine the owner of the copyright and confirm that they have made it available for download. However, you can determine with reasonable certainty a good portion of that which is illegal to download:

1. Virtually all major software (this excludes open-source software such as Linux). With software, you can check the product homepage to find their licensing conditions. Anything by Adobe, Microsoft, Macromedia, and the other big makers is almost certainly not legal.

2. Motion picture releases. Essentially any motion picture backed by a major film studio is the property of the studio, and they're not likely to let it go on a peer to peer network.

3. Music by "known" artists: This is the area with the most uncertainty.
Known artists generally don't want their music on peer to peer networks.
Unknown artists may actually be trying to use the peer to peer network to gain publicity, so it is POSSIBLE that their music is legal, but I would still be wary. If you'd like to download music legally and free, check out Amazon.com's free downloads:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/468646/ref=m_mh_mn_dd/103-0112
735-7159052

As far as the security of your downloads go, the most important things are the normal mechanisms for securing a computer:

1. Run a well-known anti-virus product and keep its definitions up to date at all times. Scan all files you download immediately.
2. Don't run programs of unknown status.
3. Use a firewall: Windows XP has one built in, and there are a number of other good ones out there.
4. Be careful of what you download and think if it seems reasonable: there are few software programs out there under 100 kilobytes, but plenty of viruses and worms fit the category.

Good luck with your downloads!

Submitted by: David T.

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As far as security goes.....

by duckyguy May 6, 2005 7:03AM PDT

I am relatively new to P2P software too(about 4 months at max). I read up on every P2P thing I could, and I choose Filetopia. Haven't got a virus yet(and doubt I will). I have downloaded at least 15-20 songs, 2 southpark videos, and a banned commercial. I also use norton antivirus, which is very reliable. And a short note, Kazzaa is NOT a safe P2P, I know a lot of people who have it, and it was full of all the junk people hate(spyware, adware, trojans, etc)Two other non-reliable P2P are napster and blubster. Napster crashed my brothers computer(not good security), and kazaa, well, almost crashed my stepbro's first computer, he got rid of it and then went to napster, which turned fatal(for the computer). Good luck with your P2P sharing, but my best advice I can give to you is to NOT use Kazzaa.

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Yes you can...... in Canada

by ayngelwing May 6, 2005 7:21AM PDT

I know that the legality of downloading is embroiled in a huge battle everywhere, but in Canada, within the last year, there was a ruling by the government that it is legal here.

Safety??? Now there is no guarantee of that! lol

glenda w.

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In Canada, That's a fact....

by BigD2004 May 6, 2005 9:07AM PDT

From the days of BBS to this Lee. Where does the time go?

I was aware of the same fact from reading about laws passed in Canada, it is legal there. So I found a site that is based in that country called WinMX. I've never had any problem with it.

I use to think P2P meant Pirating To People. Well I had over 500 albums I had to dump because I couldn't find a record player for sale where I lived 7 years ago. So I feel I've paid all these artists for their music already. Just don't burn and sell. I think that's pirating.

I think Lee answered all your questions about safety. Scan and double check everything. Kazaa is one of the worst for ad and spyware. Another one is famous that I hear about all the time called LimeWire. STAY AWAY from it! If you don't know how to set particular security settings, you could be in for some big trouble.

Which comes back to a point Lee made. Don't be in such a hurry that you just click 'I Accept' to move on with the setup. Read the fine print. If you did, you would see that LimeWire goes through firewalls. So that knocks down another wall of security. If some of you reading don't believe me, do this. Go to LimeWire, click on document and type in Social Security Number. You'll be SHOCKED at how many files the sharing site finds.

Best of luck to you and happy hunting.

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'cause we paid for it already!

by keiffer May 6, 2005 10:41AM PDT

All recordable media (from CD-R to cassette tapes to hard drives) have a tax on them here to compensate artists/creators for the works that will be recorded on them....even if they're not used for copyrighted works. It's a crazy system, but I think it works!

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Did that go through?

by ayngelwing May 6, 2005 1:19PM PDT

Hey, Keiffer!
I remember when they were talking about the tax on tapes and CDs. They were talking about adding major dollars to the price per unit. I haven't noticed any increase, did they revise and lower it? I thought that they must have just scrapped the idea... Would love to hear what you know about it.
glenda

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Hello, Glenda :)

by Glenda May 7, 2005 2:11AM PDT

From the other CNET Glenda C

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Legal download

by vangekkum May 6, 2005 6:03PM PDT

As far as being informed, I know that downloading is legal, but keeping files to be downloaded by others is illegal. So you can download without feeling bad and you can move your files from the subdirectory "Shared" into an other subdirectory. It should not be pretty if everyone does in this way. In that case there will be nothing to be downloaded.
Good luck, Ronald

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that does not make sense

by MichaelF May 6, 2005 6:18PM PDT

Your post does not make sense.

What is illegal is acquiring the use of something you did not purchase, in common parlance that is called theft. What you are saying is that you can knowingly receive stolen goods as long as you only use it yourself and not let other people use it.

The reason that the record companies target the people offering downloads is for 2 reasons, 1 they are easier to find and 2, for shock value to scare other people into not offing downloads, thereby drying up the offerings.

Michael

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Perfect sense..

by AAAA May 8, 2005 1:17AM PDT

Read the thread under "Public Library" above.

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PUBLIC library

by MichaelF May 11, 2005 10:15PM PDT

So from your remarks I assume you are going to listen to the songs for 2 weeks and then delete them, because last time I checked, the library did not let you keep the books.

The efforts people are taking to rationalise theft do not border the ridiculous, they have crossed over.

Michael

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Unethical download

by eric90230 May 7, 2005 6:36AM PDT

>> downloading is legal, but keeping files to be downloaded by others is illegal <<

I'd say stealing is illegal, and receiving stolen goods is illegal too.

Would you say downloading is ethical?

I've downloaded music myself in the past, but I've never claimed it was ethical. Now I pay as I go. "Rhapsody" is a good service. And "I-Tunes" seems pretty good.

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Tch Tch

by res09ojz May 8, 2005 4:36AM PDT

There you go again thinking yours is the only opinion!

And you claim you are a USC Grad? Is that where you also received your Ego?

I am also educated, not only by degree, but by age.

I have found that people who are angry like you seem to die at a young age from stress.

You are fighting a losing battle, but you can't see that over your big head.

When you no longer want people to share or record or download or copy your property, you will take it from the public ear and eye. Otherwise, your Ego will continue to lose as others who do not have your belief system will continue to service theirs.

So, now what, tough luck Person with stress in their life, mind and eyes who graduated from USC?

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Wow

by eric90230 May 8, 2005 5:30AM PDT

Okay, dude, so you don?t want to date me, but I?m fine with that, let?s stick to the subject.

>> You are fighting a losing battle <<

Yet you don?t address the ethics of the question. Can you?

>> When you no longer want people to share or record or download or copy your property, you will take it from the public ear and eye. <<

Um, you?re blaming the victim? Plus, how does one ?take it from the public ear and eye?? Ridiculous.

>> others who do not have your belief system <<

Well, I?m defending capitalism against cheating. What?s your preference?

Substantive answers, please, Mr. Pretending Not To Be Angry.

Pay as you go!

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Wow?

by res09ojz May 10, 2005 12:53AM PDT

You are so busy with your own Egotistical position, you can't see any other position but your own.

You have to call people names because you can't think for yourself and your education is too limited.

You probably wrote every paper at "USC" using "other's words." I won't use the "P" word, but I would bet, if your professors gazed back into the past, they would find you were not too original. That is also cheating and lazy, I might add.

I may have an alternative motive for my response to these posts. Because you are so shallow in your thinking, and your Ego is getting in your way, you will miss that. You think everyone responding to these posts has the same limited thought processes as a USC attendee. But, it is a CA school, so we can expect that!

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Discussing Eric? LOL

by eric90230 May 14, 2005 3:16AM PDT

>> You have to call people names <<

If a person deserves to be called names, then I?m right. Though I VERY rarely call people names. Actually, I rarely stray from the subject, downloading files. Do you ever actually touch on the subject, downloading files? LOL

>> That is also cheating <<

So, you agree that downloading is cheating?

>> I may have an alternative motive for my response to these posts. <<

I'm really not interested in your motive, especially if you don?t even express it. LOL

>> you are so shallow <<

Yet you just can?t resist discussing me! I?m that attractive to you?

By the way, do you have an opinion that?s actually on the subject, downloading files? LOL

Pay as you go!

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Now for substantive

by res09ojz May 10, 2005 1:15AM PDT

If I can motivate 10,000 people per month to take a subscription to my site, at $4.95 per month, over time it becomes quite a nice sum. I will assume you can multiply. But, even small numbers are great numbers.

I don't care which site you join and I won't advertise here, but I will make the suggestion you join one. so, basically, I am on your side. If I can motivate you to go look at different sites, you may come upon mine and it may impress you enough to join.

So, is it unethical, in your mind, for me to sell at this forum? Probably. But, you missed that, and I think it is unethical for a University to give a degree with such a shallow education in reasoning.

I am capitalism, and by the way, also the NRA and do not claim a party affiliation for politics. I believe the best candidate should win, not the party.

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Sort of substantive

by eric90230 May 14, 2005 3:21AM PDT

>> is it unethical, in your mind, for me to sell at this forum? <<

Nope. The reason I?m here is to defend sellers? right to try to sell. That?s why I attack getting free CD?s when the rightful sellers don?t want them to be free.

I?m glad you agree with me.

Pay as you go!

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Many of today's top artists DO allow trading

by marksg May 7, 2005 9:03AM PDT

Your answer has some holes in it. First off many Bit torrent sites exist and any decent one (like bt.etree.org) post a list of non-tradeable artists. What is off limits always is copyrighted material ie: that which is available for sale in the retail store or thru the artists website (studio releases, soundboard recordings etc. Kazaa in my opinion is about the worse peer to peer file sharing app in existence. I would suggest strongly for anyone looking for music to download safely and legally to go to digitalboots.org. this is a large site of links to various fan clubs. There you can determine which sites concentrate on the type of music you are interested in. I also suggest supporting the artists you like that are so generous in allowing us to freely trade their music between us. This means buying commercial releases, attending shows, belonging to their official websites/fanclubs etc. I've been d/l for years w/ great success. No viruses, no spyware/adware in fact it is the largest use of my computer. I have 250 gigs of hard drive and I have to work at keeping 25-30 free, it's a lot of fun and you meet alot of great folks as well. Good luck in your search for what you want!

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Kazaa is loaded with spyware !

by crochow May 7, 2005 2:29PM PDT

DON'T use Kazaa! It's loaded with spyware! They LIE !
I downloaded it..and HAD to use Ad-Aware & Spybot to remove all their crap! 77 items!!!!!!!!!!!
Use WinMx.. it's free..no ads..and NO spyware!

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It is illegal

by ace86 May 8, 2005 8:59AM PDT

If you don't know what you download is legal, then it is more then likely that it is illegal. If it is legal, then you might as well download from other trusted source. You can never tell what has been added to the file you download from kazza until you click on the exe.

Besides, why use kazza, it is very much gone like napster, as people start to use BT (faster, and more reliable, as each seed you download is usually full of other peoples comment/review). And even that, could be gone soon.

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Abandonware & free antivirus software

by Craigwd_2000 May 8, 2005 1:56PM PDT

What about abandonware? That is a very similar issue to the legality of stuff people download off Kazaa. I know for a fact there's plenty of abandonware out there as Mac sites almost never get shut down. Even a Space Quest fan site called SpaceQuest.Net offers all six of the games for download plus the first four Mac games that are available as abandonware as well as the VGA remake of the original Space Quest. For free antivirus software for Linux there's ClamAV, for Windows there's Clam Win Free Antivirus, and for Mac you could use clamXav though I'd recommend compiling ClamAV from source and using it as per the clamXav instructions as the engine available for download is .83 while the latest is .84. Though this is pre-release software it's like Firefox in the sense that it even in its pre-release stage it appears to be very stable. The best thing about ClamAV is it's Open Source software and futhermore Sensory Networks has offered to provide hardware acceleration appearing as soon as .9: http://sourceforge.net/forum/forum.php?forum_id=458047.

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Kazaa v other p2p operators

by superfast May 8, 2005 5:40PM PDT

Excuse my ignorance, but are the virus risks and legality just the same for subscription p2p operators such as FileSharingCentre.com as it appears it is for Kazaa?

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What about Tv Stuff?

by tipramsay May 10, 2005 6:32AM PDT

Movies are a definite no, no...but what about an old favorite south park episode? SNL Skit? Or if you missed an episode of your favorite network show, and you find it on a P2P.

thanks,
~Tip

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You are stealing from the little guy - NOT THE RICH!

by MicahW May 12, 2005 12:55PM PDT

Listen, the big record companies are losing money by all this file sharing. The executives and CEOs have golden parachute clauses in their contracts that state they get paid no matter what is going on with the company. They get paid if the company is losing money. They get paid even if they are fired! All this file STEALING is not hurting them one bit!

Most of us have worked for large companies. Who gets the shaft when the company is losing money? The employees! People living pay check to pay check don?t get a raise now because of your thievery. Their healthcare is cut and their retirement funds aren?t paid into. The record companies don?t have the funds to produce as many new releases. It also makes it harder for new artists to break into the business as fewer contracts are given out.

When you steal from these companies you are only hurting the little guy and you are taking future choices of music away from all of us. If you really care so much about this music that you are willing to steal it - then care so much that you are willing to STOP stealing it!

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By the way...

by MicahW May 12, 2005 1:06PM PDT

the recording artists hardly make ANY money on record sales. Sales of CDs go mainly to the record companies. The musicians and singers make their money by touring! They get rich when they have a hit song and sell more tickets to their concerts. Why do you think they are willing to be on tour for most of the year? Sure if the artist writes their own songs then they get a little bigger slice of the CD sales, but the real money for them is on tour!

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Well, I like your first message, but...

by funkid7 Jul 8, 2005 7:03PM PDT

Bands that I work closely with, make farely, decent royalties, on CD sales, as well.

By the way, I like C-Nets,free MP3 downloads site. THe artists offer there MP3's for free and by listening to these FREE promotional works, I have purchased more CD's this year than ever in my life! I believe that the pirating hype is just that, a bunch of hype.

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