Stop P2P (Peer-to-Peer) Hackers, a Top Security Issue Online, In Just a Few Mouse-clicks

Stop P2P (Peer-to-Peer) Hackers, a Top Security Issue Online

, In Just a Few Mouse-clicks

The Wall Street Journal published in 2007 the story of a Seattle man pleaded guilty to stealing tax forms, credit reports and loan applications from over fifty people through the P2P file-sharing program LimeWire. He then used the information to open credit accounts in those people's name, the usual form identity theft takes. The same year, Citigroup confirmed that the names and security numbers from 5,200 customers were inadvertently leaked by an employee using LimeWire. To avoid sharing personal files accidentally, P2P file-sharing programs must be configured adequately.

Inadvertent file-sharing occurs when users set up P2P file-sharing software and select a folder for downloads, which every P2P software automatically share with other users, containing personal files. A hacker/fraudster can then use the same P2P file-sharing program to search for a keyword, such as "tax return," and be able to download a copy of the file to his computer. Thus, always check there're no folders or files you don't want to share inside the folder you select for your P2P downloads, it doesn't take more than a few mouse-clicks. And if you download a file you don't want to share further, remove it from that folder.

A careless mistake configuring your P2P software can lead to the exposure of your personal data to all other users of that software. So, to prevent that, always configure P2P software as explained above. Inadvertent file-sharing, however, isn't the only threat you should take care from on P2P. Anti-piracy organizations spy on P2P users pursuing pirates and may confuse your live concert recordings with pirate recordings and cause you trouble by complaining with your Internet service provider. While piracy is undoubtedly wrong, that doesn't give anti-piracy organizations the right to spy on everyone's web activities. Some P2P software contains bundled adware and sometimes even spyware. Adware opens annoying ads on your screen out of nowhere, even when not browsing the Internet. Spyware collects information such as passwords and credit card numbers from your computer and transmits them to a third party. There're many online privacy and security threats on P2P and the Internet as you can see, so everyone must learn to protect their computers from such threats, and, most importantly, themselves.

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