to add to that ...
torrent sites do not hold any content except the .torrent file. this file defines the meta data for the torrent: i.e. the content definition - file names, sizes, etc., trackers, etc. The actual content is downloaded in pieces from all the peers you connect to once you open the .torrent file in whatever program you happen to use. So there is nothing you can download from these sites that can cause you major harm. having said that, the site can infect you with crap by virtue of you needing to
browse the site with your browser, but in this they are no different than any other site. it is important to note that doing this will be against the best interests of the site owners. isohunt.com recently started behaving weirdly (wanting to install something) but it is the first time I have seen this. the torrenting world is oddly a small one. news travels extremely fast and is a site like pirate bay started infecting users, it will have none within a few hours.
some tips that might be useful (not aimed at anyone in particular, just general observations)
1. most sites allow others to comment on torrents. check to see if there are comments. if a file is infected or fake (which is the more common case), someone is almost guaranteed to have left a comment about it
2. most torrents (and I am talking about your usual run of the mill software, games, movies and tv shows, not DIME) are duplicated in many sites and trackers. so if there are no comments on the site you are looking at, try another. if everything looks calm, it probably is
3. always check the files contained within a torrent. most sites will list it but if not, your client program should when you open the file. if you see .zip, .rar or .exe, avoid like the plague. there is no need for anyone to zip or compress a torrent. DIME will ban zipped torrents
4. common sense. if something is too good to be true it probably is. the flawless HD blu ray rip of that blockbuster movie which has just hit the theatres is 99% guaranteed to be fake
5. have some moral/ethical backbone and resist temptation. if you go
around trying to rip off people, guess what? someone cleverer than you will try to get you and will sometimes succeed. get stuff you cannot buy. there won't be a lot of it, so you reduce your risk
I think I am going to have some pasta now :)
Miron
How could people get so unkind?
From: Chris <seeker42@gmail.com>
To: Powderworks <powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au>
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 9:56 AM
Subject: Re: [powderworks] Re: downloading files from dimeadozen?
For what it's worth:
Bittorrent is a communications protocol, not a culture.
Yes, Bittorrent is popularly associated with the distribution of pirated material. That's not something that's inherent in the system, though - avoiding Bittorrent because it's associated with piracy is much like avoiding Italian restaurants for fear of the mob.
Dime is a safe, legal community of people sharing music and video. It's tightly regulated - inappropriate material is swiftly removed. There's no shady ads and no risk of being infected by viruses or spyware.
Long story short: it's sensible to be afraid of shady looking "torrent sites". It's not sensible to be afraid of Dime.
- Chris
