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Re: OT - Unbelievable Truth

Messages in this topic: 17 View All
nylon netMay 5, 2012
 

 
A word or two of warning before you embark on a voyage into torrents...  it is the cyber wild west, and there are many blackhats and law-enforcers hiding behind rocks ready to shoot you. 

1. There are many fake downloads that require you to get passwords to unlock: they are dangerous and must be rejected. NEVER enter any information to any site that asks you to provide a password to 'unlock' a torrent. They are always evil.

2. Copyright monitors often post torrents and wait for people to download them. When they do, the downloaders' IP addresses can be harvested and copyright violation emails are sent to the downloaders' ISPs. One way to counteract this is with software like Peerblock (www.peerblock.com), which is a database of known copyright-trappers and blocks them from your download sources. Warning - this (like condoms and antivirus software) is an imperfect scheme, but it's better than going in bareback!

3. Be wary of downloads encoded in multiple RAR files. Sometimes, but not always, they are encoded to prevent you seeing what the real file contains.  Since most audio and video downloads are already encoded in compressed formats (MP3, DivX/AVI), further compression with RAR achieves little but to disguise the nature of the file.  Further tip: if the torrent contains a small sample of the downloadable file, it's often a sign of legitimacy.  You can download the sample before going on to download the entire file. This usually applies to big files - such as movies - rather than to audio files.

3. Big Suggestion - never download a torrent that has zero comments posted. It's like drinking from an unlabelled flask in a lab. Wait for a positive comment that it's safe and legitimate. If you later find download a passworded or otherwise incorrect file, be sure to warn others that it is bad.

4. Keep seeding (uploading the file you got) until you upload at least as much as you downloaded (a ratio of 1.0 or above). Files your love (e.g. JAM)  - keep seeding until the cows not only come home, but learn to play chess, and then go to bed.

Having now soiled your pristine underpants, you may be reticent to embark on the path to torrenting. This is understandable, because there are risks of viral infection (be sure to scan all downloads!) or accusations of copyright violation (but  there are many innocent and friendly files being distributed via torrents for free by legitimate sources.)

Be especially scared of downloading commercial software and serial-number-crackers - they are the real dangers, likely to contain viruses or trojan horses.  Again, rely a LOT on good comments from other downloaders, and scan frequently for malware (e.g. with Adaware). 

Beware of bogus malware scanners online - they will more likely infect you instead of protect you. Always give them a thorough online investigation before trying them out.  Some are legit, some are not.

If you are not adept at Googling security risks, or are unable to investigate your firewall to check which programs are allowed to penetrate it, you may choose not to enter the world of torrents. You may not be ready.

It is a lot like leaving the paddling pool and approaching a surf beach.

And, in the end, remember that downloading any copyrighted intellectual property (whether it is so marked or not) is both a civil and criminal offence in most western countries.

Good luck!

-----Original Message-----
From: mat_bagnall@...
Sent: Sat, 05 May 2012 23:01:28 -0000
To: just-a-minute@...
Subject: [just-a-minute] Re: OT - Unbelievable Truth

 

Never been near or used a bit torrent so will have to do some learning. Thanks for the info guys.

--- In just-a-minute@..., badger dance <badger_dance@...> wrote:
>
> Exactly as Don says.
>
> Use uTorrent - read the FAQs and work slowly with care it is easy to just take exactly what you need only.
>
> µTorrent Stable (3.1.3 build 27120) from here: http://www.utorrent.com/downloads
>
> Also KAT does not require membership - although once you see the quality you might consider joining - no fees !
>
> You might consider looking for JAM as well  : - ) 
>

---

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