P2P File Sharing

 

 

Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing can be problematic if is crosses legal boundaries, specifically identity theft, copyright infringements, and piracy. By definition, “P2P systems provide higher storage and access capacity via distribution of resources across peers, improved reliability due to the availability of multiple peer machines and distributed security achieved by distributing partial secrets across peers. Unlike the client-server computing paradigm, where all the computation cycles and data are to be had from a single source, in P2P the participating peers contribute CPU cycles and storage space."  Simply put, files are shared in cyberspace among computers with internet connections with a common suite of software and a folder maintained by the end user.

           P2P file sharing should be subject to a “smell-test” because it is difficult to authenticate a file source. P2P file sharing programs provide a global user base to swap music, video and a variety of files over the Internet. P2P networks include, but are not limited to: Shareaza – a powerful search engine with connectivity to P2P file sharing networks, e.g. BitTorrent andLimeware. A key feature of Shareaza’s file sharing software is the functionality to identify corrupt files; BitTorrent is popular among users who share movies and television programs; Limewire receives high ratings for its search and download performance.