gHacks technology news » gnutella http://www.ghacks.net A technology blog covering software, mobile phones, gadgets, security, the Internet and other relevant areas. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:38:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 FrostWire, free and fast Gnutella http://www.ghacks.net/2008/11/10/frostwire-free-and-fast-gnutella/ http://www.ghacks.net/2008/11/10/frostwire-free-and-fast-gnutella/#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:52:53 +0000 Joe http://www.ghacks.net/?p=8202 LimeWire is a popular P2P client which uses the Gnutella network. Unfortunately, it limits the amount of ultrapeers to whom connections can be made, in effect reducing the amount of search results and the number of people from whom downloads can be made. LimeWire only removes these limitations if its Pro version is bought at the cost of $35.

As LimeWire is open-source, several forks of it exist. One of these forks is called FrostWire, a client which appears and works in a similar fashion but removes many limitations of the free version of LimeWire. FrostWire also has some features which LimeWire Pro lacks, such as BitTorrent support.

Unlike LimeWire Pro, FrostWire is completely free to use and download. FrostWire is based on LimeWire’s Java engine and as such, it works on OS X, Linux and Windows, providing Java 1.5 or above is installed.

FrostWire can identify files tagged as Creative Commons in searches, much like LimeWire does, it can filter out junk results like LimeWire, supports proxies, works well with iTunes and there’s no viruses or spyware with it. A more in-depth review is on my weblog, Webby’s World.

FrostWire is an easy way to save $35 if you really wanted to buy LimeWire Pro. It is also a way to ensure people do not profit from tools which mainly facilitate piracy!

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]]> http://www.ghacks.net/2008/11/10/frostwire-free-and-fast-gnutella/feed/ 5 How Logistep catches file sharers http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/15/how-logistep-catches-file-sharers/ http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/15/how-logistep-catches-file-sharers/#comments Sun, 15 Apr 2007 06:57:08 +0000 Martin http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/15/how-logistep-catches-file-sharers/ It is no secret that companies like Logistep are monitoring p2p networks to sue file sharers who are offering software from clients like Zuxxez, a German company who recently sued 500 British p2p users claiming that they illegally distributed the game Dream Pinball 3D. The website Torrentfreak got their hands on a copy of one of those letters that have been send out which details the process of how Logistep determines which users are illegally distributing the game.

Logistep uses a software called File Sharing Monitor that targets E-Donkey and Gnutella users. Here is how it works:

  • The software connects to a p2p server and requests a filename recording all IP addresses that offer that name
  • They request to download the file and if the download is permitted record the following information into a database
  • Filename, file size, IP of the distributor, P2P protocol, P2P application, the time and the username
  • When this is inserted the application does a automatic whois and is able to send an infringement letter to the ISP

I think it is interesting to note that this is almost an automatic process which leads to some questions. How do they know which archive has the correct size and is actually their product and not a broken archive ? Is not it only possible to know the exact file size if they downloaded it at least once to verify that is is indeed their product ?

Let us assume that they are not stupid and that they filter out every file below a certain size to prevent that users who do share mods or patches get sued. Let us further assume that a file that is labeled a certain way (with group tags) and shared among many users is the right program. Does this mean that the user that they are suing is responsible ? They will always sue the account holder which could or could not be the person who shared the files.

What possible solutions can I think of that make the Logistep file monitor useless ? Please note that this is hypothetic, I’m not advising anyone to actually use the methods listed below.

  • don’t share files
  • share only files with no plausible filename (3dpd)
  • use encryption to share the files
  • use vpns like Relakks
    to share them
  • switch to Usenet
  • buy the game ;)

Can you think of anything else left to say ?

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