Steal This File Sharing Book - Page 2

The answer is simple: nothing. And that's spelled trouble for the computer industry. Of course, people have been illegally copying music with tape recorders and CD burners for years, but cassette tapes and CDs aren't as easy to distribute as a single file that you can email or post on a file sharing network for millions of people to copy at once.

Wang does a nice job of articulating the various justifications for file sharing (generally, they relate to poor opinions of the copyright holders or the notion that nobody's being hurt by this "victimless crime"). He characterizes this as the "thieves' mindset," and arguably it boils down to this: "It's easy, and chances are they'll never be caught. So if everybody's doing it, why shouldn't they?"

However, the bulk of the book is not concerned with the legalities or ethics associated with file sharing. Instead, it focuses on how to find files, whether through a file sharing network like Morpheus or Kazaa, on a website, via a search engine, or through a newsgroup or instant messenger service. Part two of the book is simply described as "stealing files," but it also delves into the nuts and bolts of such things as protecting your identity (since both the RIAA and MPAA are hot on the heels of those folks who share a sizeable number of files). And there's a chapter about protecting your computer from harmful viruses, something which is arguably more of a threat for most folks than the RIAA (the odds are against the RIAA catching everybody, but there are a lot of viruses floating around out there). Wang writes:

One of the biggest problems with file sharing is keeping your IP address private so organizations like the RIAA can't find and sue you. The second biggest problem with file sharing is keeping your computer safe. Not only do you have to worry about downloading bogus MP3 files that contain static or verbal insults, urging you to buy music legally, but you also have to worry about the more insidious files you might download by mistake: viruses, worms, Trojan horses, pop-up ads, and spyware.

Wang goes through techniques to avoid most of these problems, from the simple (installing antivirus software, spyware detection software, and the like) to more complicated solutions like using separate computers, using removable hard disks, or partitioning your hard drive. And he even offers tips on "destroying the evidence" in case there's ever a concern. From music to movies, from books to software, Wang offers up detailed information on what's being traded, how it's being traded, and how to find virtually whatever you want somewhere online. He also focuses on how "the corporations" are fighting back (including the "next growth industry," anti-P2P services) and what the future may hold. Companies have been using "cuckoo eggs" (i.e., bogus files that appear real) for a while in efforts to trick people into downloading fakes, but they're also looking at other harsh "remedies:"

Article Author: W.E. Wallo

W.E. Wallo is a book and movie junkie whose writings have appeared in a variety of print and online publications.

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