Peer-to-peer programs are not just for illegal sharing of copyrighted material. Legal uses include obtaining software, music released by artists, and freeware. Decentralized programs are recommended for home use, and it’s important to consider the operating system. BitTorrent is popular but has a learning curve, while LimeWire is user-friendly and free of viruses.
When the phrase “peer to peer program” is mentioned, most people think of the illegal sharing of copyrighted material and the resulting lawsuits, such as one involving the popular peer to peer network Napster®. But there’s more to peer-to-peer programs than pirated movies and music albums. Many people use peer to peer file sharing, known as P2P, to obtain software legally. An example of legal peer to peer file sharing is music that has been released by an artist specifically for this purpose. Another example is sharing freeware, which is software designed to be used and distributed for free by anyone.
The software itself works to set up a peer-to-peer network where all computers share a portion of resources, be it bandwidth or processing power. Some peer to peer networks operate as one large network, with everyone able to access all information stored in a centralized hub or node. Other peer-to-peer programs are decentralized, with users placed on different peer-to-peer servers and with nodes accessed as needed via search results. For home use, a decentralized peer-to-peer program is recommended, both for security and for running speed of a personal computer.
It’s also important to consider what operating system a computer uses when selecting a program to use for P2P downloading. Software that works on Windows may not work on a computer running Mac or Linux. BitTorrent, a decentralized file sharing peer to peer program, is ranked among the best programs by users. BitTorrent is limited in its capabilities and has a bit of a learning curve for novice users.
LimeWire® is a free P2P program that can integrate BitTorrent software into a more user-friendly interface. It is widely regarded by users of peer to peer programs as the best choice for personal use. It comes in packages that support Windows, Mac, and Linux, and has a variety of paid upgrade packages. In addition, LimeWire® always ensures that its software is free of viruses, malware, adware and spyware, which some peer to peer programs integrate with their software. LimeWire® has a media player included, if a person doesn’t already have one on their computer, and can handle downloading files from multiple sources so content is delivered faster.
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