Peer-to-peer software allows direct communication between computers, promoting privacy and reducing legal liability. It can be used for legal file sharing, internet telephony, and remote communication. However, users should be cautious of malware and viruses.
Peer-to-peer software is computer software that allows people to establish peer-to-peer connections, either over the Internet or over a network in a location such as a home, office, or university. Peer to peer communications allow people to communicate directly with each other, with each computer on the network acting as both a client and a server. These systems can be designed to be permanent or transient in nature, depending on the needs of the users and the system.
The highly decentralized communications enabled by peer to peer software can be very useful for a number of situations. Such communication networks are less likely to suffer catastrophic failures, as users are not reliant on a limited number of servers. They can also be designed to promote privacy for users, which can be a problem when sensitive information is being exchanged, and limit the risk of exposure to legal liability, which is why they have become so popular for illegal file sharing.
When illegal materials are stored on the server, the server host is responsible. With peer to peer software, however, people can exchange files directly with each other, with the software only acting as a facilitator for the exchange. Therefore, the legal responsibilities lie solely with the file shares, as they act as hosts for the illegal material. In the wake of growing concerns about piracy of software, movies, and music, many people who engage in such activity have switched to using peer-to-peer software for downloading and uploading for this reason.
There are, of course, many legitimate reasons for people to use peer to peer software. Such software can allow for the legal exchange of a wide variety of file types, ranging from documents distributed among publishers to audio files submitted by musicians working on new tracks. This software can also be used for Internet telephony, allowing two users to videoconference or audioconference with each other. People who live in remote locations may find it cheaper to communicate with distant friends on a regular basis with peer-to-peer software, as opposed to picking up a phone.
P2P, as you know, is freely available from many manufacturers and can also be purchased. When downloading P2P software, people should be very careful, as the software may come with malware attached, and users may be exposed to computer viruses by using peer to peer software, because the system has no safety net. It is important to accompany the use of such software with aggressive anti-virus software and properly report suspected viruses to network administrators. Even if the virus was contracted in the course of an illegal activity, a network administrator is far more interested in protecting other computers on the network than in the actions of an individual user.
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