Famous People using Limewire Pro

LimeWire is a file sharing program developed as an Internet service for sharing and acquiring music files.  It functions as a peer-to-peer network allowing subscribers to acquire from and share files with other users on the network.  The system is hosted on the Gnutella network and so it continues to exist and operate even though its developer was closed down by a court injunction in 2010. LimeWire came in two versions – a free download with limited functionality and a purchased version with enhanced functionality.  The purchased version was called LimeWire Pro.  The system is billed as easy to install and easy to use.  Music searches are quick and effective because of the search filters and also because of the massive library of music available on the network.  Users are able to browse hosts through firewalls (this was the first peer-to-peer network with this feature) and the system articulates seamlessly with iTunes.  Local searches are treated separately and are lightning fast.  A huge strength of the system is the efficiency and economy with which downloads are handled.  Power requirements are minimised and speed is maximised. The media and users have had a lot to say over the years regarding LimeWire Pro.  Most of the comments confirm the above points.  Reviewers enjoyed features such as the “Browse Host” tool which allows you to find more files that a particular person is sharing.  The interactivity between users makes it possible to find others with similar interests to your own and the browse host feature lets you share more effectively with these people.  Another useful strength admired by reviewers is the swarm feature which allows for the download of many small pieces of a file from multiple sources.  This speeds up downloads significantly. Gripes about the system include a concern that viruses are easily imported when you are sharing files with hundreds of people on the net.  Reviewers advise you to mouse over a selection list before selecting one to download.  If a file gives a description tag, the chances are that it is not infected or illegal.  Items with no description tag are often evil.  The Gnutella network itself is criticised for generating unwanted ads and pop-ups when a search is being conducted on LimeWire Pro.  The feeling is that if you contract a virus or malware in the course of your searches, the chances are that some of these will have come from Gnutella.  This is unfortunate but since it is part of the LimeWire experience, it needs to be noted.  A really significant concern revolves around how the program is used.  An account was given by a web contributor who relates the story of an acquaintance being jailed after the FBI found child pornography on his machine.  He claims to have downloaded this erroneously from a peer on the network.  This highlights an important reality regarding peer-to-peer networks.  The system allows remote users to monitor what you are downloading and if you are involved in illegal actions then you can be caught without even knowing about it.  Illegal downloads can land you in big trouble and claiming that you made a mistake is no defence.  This is not really a fault of the system but can be a major concern for anyone involved in copyrighted downloads.   LimeWire is a file sharing program developed as an Internet service for sharing and acquiring music files.  It functions as a peer-to-peer (P2P) network allowing subscribers to acquire from and share files with other users on the network.  Music was the main theme in the development of the service but many types of file can be shared and acquired by users of the program.  The program was launched in 2000 by its developer and over the years became one of the most popular peer-to-peer file sharing sites in the history of the Internet.  Concern has been expressed about whether the private information of users is used by the administrators for any shady purposes.  If this was the intention, then with millions of users, there would appear to be scope for really wide scale abuse. The Internet contains very little about LimeWire itself misusing personal data so it is reasonably safe to assume that this was never their intention and they are probably innocent of any major leaks in this area.  That being said, the buying and selling of user data-bases has always been a dark area of Internet commerce.  Very few details regarding these sales ever come to light but everyone knows that all sorts of people acquire user lists and they get them from somewhere.  Someone is selling some sort of list to a marketing company every hour of every day so it is difficult to rule out the possibility that the data LimeWire has of its users is not being distributed in some form. A much more sinister threat though, comes from other users of the system and this is where users need to be vigilant and sensible.   The system works by accessing the computers of all members and searching designated files in those computers.  This function gives the program its power as a music search machine but also constitutes a serious threat to the privacy of users.  The technology which is able to enter your computer and access music files is also able to access other types of file as well and this includes sensitive personal data.   LimeWire was used to commit identity theft in 2006.  A man called Gregory Thomas Kopiloff was arrested in Seattle in 2007 for committing identity theft using LimeWire to access data on remote computers.  He used personal information thus gained to obtain credit cards which he used to shop online.       Here are some common sense measures you need to employ to lessen the threat of someone accessing your private information if you are a LimeWire subscriber: ·        Install a good security program with anti-virus and anti-spyware.  Malware designed to access other files (bank details etc) can be introduced into your machine via the network.  ·        Ensure that this security software updates automatically.  Scan all incoming files. ·        If an incoming file is flagged by your security system, delete it immediately. ·        Use a sound back up regimen.  If things crash you must be able to recover your programs and data 100%. ·        When you install a P2P program it will ask you to designate the files you want to share.  Be absolutely sure about what you have given permission to share.  Never store personal details in shared locations. ·        Most P2P systems remain active even when you think you have exited them.  You need to physically exit the program from the file menu or you risk leaving your system wide open for unwelcome attention. ·        Most P2P systems open automatically when you turn your computer on.  You need to disable this function to ensure that your system is open to the P2P network only when you want it to be. ·        If you have active and enthusiastic children in your home who use the computer to download and share games and music ensure that you are up to date with everything that has been downloaded.  You may even consider getting a separate machine on which to store your important files and do your important work (this issue really is that important).