| P2P file sharing programs are free. Period. | | | | |
| But there are P2P scam sites out there | | | | |
| | | | themselves are not illegal. For example, |
| that want you to pay them instead. P2P scam | | | | it's legal to possess MP3s, to rip your CDs |
| sites are rogue companies that have | | | | |
| | | | to your hard drive, and to burn CDs for your |
| set up shop to fleece unsuspecting music | | | | personal use. But, by sharing and/or |
| downloaders looking for file sharing | | | | |
| | | | downloading these files, you are breaking |
| programs by charging a fee for an otherwise | | | | copyright laws. To my knowledge, P2P |
| free service. | | | | |
| | | | scam sites are not actually breaking any |
| | | | laws. But why pay for something you don't |
| | | | |
| No P2P file sharing software costs money. | | | | have to? |
| Exceptions would be a site asking | | | | |
| | | | |
| members to make a monetary donation to help | | | | |
| pay for bandwidth, hosting costs, | | | | One of the most common techniques these scam |
| | | | artists use is to set up sites that |
| and other administrative costs. | | | | |
| | | | are misspellings or derivations of popular |
| | | | P2P file sharing programs. KaZaA is |
| | | | |
| Some P2P file sharing programs offer "pro" | | | | probably the most hijacked name being used |
| versions of their free software. But again, | | | | these days. |
| | | | |
| their basic service is free to the public. I | | | | |
| want you to fully understand this, because | | | | |
| | | | Other sites may not actually charge you |
| paying a P2P scam site money can not only | | | | anything at all, but they'll "give you the |
| make your wallet a bit lighter, it can also | | | | |
| | | | software for free" if you give them your |
| make your computer vulnerable to dangerous | | | | email address. This too is a scam. |
| spyware. | | | | |
| | | | Because once again, they're just sending you |
| | | | along to a proper P2P program, but |
| | | | |
| That's right. These scam sites are only | | | | after collecting your email address, they're |
| interested in making money off you. As well | | | | selling it to third parties. Don't give |
| | | | |
| as actually taking your money by fooling you | | | | these scammers any of your personal |
| into paying them, they'll make money | | | | information! |
| | | | |
| off you by installing spyware on your PC, so | | | | |
| that they can get paid by sharing your | | | | |
| | | | If you're on a website you trust, even this |
| online habits and personal information with | | | | website, you may see ads by these scam |
| others. | | | | |
| | | | artists, preaching their lies about 100% |
| | | | blah, blah, blah. For your own security, |
| | | | don't |
| For music download beginners, all of this | | | | |
| can be very confusing. Why? Because | | | | click on the links. They're still scams. |
| | | | (Many independent websites rely on ads to |
| these scam sites advertise all over the | | | | |
| Internet. Search engines return results | | | | pay the bills. We don't always have full |
| | | | control over what advertisements appear on |
| chockful of these scams alongside the real | | | | |
| P2P file sharing programs; their banner | | | | our sites. Keep in mind that most online |
| | | | advertisements are arranged and |
| ads riddle the Internet landscape; sites are | | | | |
| promoting these scams to get their piece | | | | distributed by third-party companies who |
| | | | pair up advertisements with appropriate |
| of your money. | | | | |
| | | | keywords. So a page that discusses "music |
| | | | downloads" is likely to have an ad from a |
| | | | |
| Most real P2P programs don't advertise much | | | | scam site singing their own false praises.) |
| on the Internet. The reason is that | | | | |
| | | | |
| they're not money makers. It takes money to | | | | |
| advertise, and who has more money-- | | | | On this note, there are sites all over the |
| | | | Internet that actually promote P2P |
| the free P2P file sharing programs or the | | | | |
| scam artists? You guessed it. P2P relies on | | | | scam sites. Why? I have my opinions. First, |
| | | | these scam sites are paying large sums |
| word of mouth. The scam sites rely primarily | | | | |
| on advertising. | | | | of money to affiliates who promote their |
| | | | sites. For example, a scam site may be |
| | | | |
| | | | charging you $29.95 for their non-service. |
| How Can I Tell a P2P Scam Site? | | | | Well, they're paying affiliates over half |
| | | | |
| This is the easy part, if you know what | | | | (I've seen the pay-out as high as 75%) of |
| you're looking for. P2P scam sites often use | | | | that just for getting you, the visitor, to |
| | | | |
| phrases like 100% Legal, which is absolutely | | | | their scam sites. |
| untrue. This is a trick they use | | | | |
| | | | |
| to prey on people interested in P2P file | | | | |
| sharing programs, but who are worried | | | | I Think I've Used One of these Scam Sites. |
| | | | What Do I Do Now? |
| (rightly) about Recording Industry | | | | |
| Association of America (RIAA) lawsuits. Keep | | | | Stop! Right now, stop using that service. If |
| in | | | | you've got some type of monthly |
| | | | |
| mind that sharing and downloading of | | | | payment with them, stop paying them. Cancel |
| copyrighted files is, at this moment, an | | | | your "membership," contact your |
| | | | |
| illegal activity. | | | | bank or credit card company, and stop paying |
| | | | them immediately! Secondly, your |
| | | | |
| | | | computer has probably have been infected by |
| Another tactic is to use fake endorsements | | | | spyware, and you need to remove it |
| and recommendations from legitimate | | | | |
| | | | right away. I recommend purchasing |
| companies. Other cons are to use phrases | | | | spyware-removal software like Pest Patrol |
| like Direct Downloads!, Get Access | | | | |
| | | | because they do the best job at clearing out |
| Now!, Download Unlimited Free Music!, and | | | | spyware parasites. |
| other phrases that are promising | | | | |
| | | | |
| you things they absolutely CANNOT deliver. | | | | |
| | | | If you've been pulled into a scam site, just |
| | | | rack it up to experience. Their ad copy is |
| | | | |
| How Does It Work & How are They Doing It? | | | | very convincing, and you just wanted to "be |
| | | | legal" while downloading. Take heart in |
| To be honest, I do not know the ins and outs | | | | |
| of P2P scam sites. But I know this: all | | | | knowing that you're not alone. But you're |
| | | | better off now, with this information at |
| P2P file sharing programs are free. Think | | | | |
| about it a moment. It is because music | | | | your disposal. |
| | | | |
| files are being shared free of charge | | | | |
| (without artists receiving royalties) that | | | | |
| | | | In my opinion, this is another reason to |
| organizations like the RIAA are mad and | | | | consider not using P2P file sharing |
| suing. | | | | |
| | | | programs as a means to get your online |
| | | | music. I think that these P2P scam sites will |
| | | | |
| These P2P scam sites are merely taking your | | | | |
| money, downloading a little spyware to | | | | increase in number, and will use more clever |
| | | | tactics to get your money and your |
| your PC, then connecting you to one of the | | | | |
| real P2P file sharing programs. | | | | information. Until the peer-to-peer |
| | | | communities are regulated in some way, I fear |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| This is all convoluted by the nature of P2P, | | | | that these types of activities will get |
| which is a series of servers networking | | | | worse before they improve.A former financial |
| | | | advisor and NYC book editor, Bill Paulk |
| files to one another. Unless you're buying | | | | blends these two |
| your music MP3 downloads from a | | | | |
| | | | experiences by helping people make sound |
| legitimate company, either per song/album or | | | | buying decisions. His passion, building |
| through a monthly subscription, you | | | | |
| | | | digital music collections through MP3 |
| cannot be sure where your music is coming | | | | downloads, is the subject of his first |
| from. | | | | website. |
| | | | |
| | | | reviews and recommends the best in |
| | | | |
| The legal status of P2P file sharing | | | | legal MP3 downloads. |
| programs is confusing. We know that MP3 files | | | | |