Mar 29

My previous article gave tips on how to get the best out of your P2P downloading software. This article looks at the safety and privacy issues you need to be aware of. (Note: if you require P2P download software head on over to reviewblaster.com where we review the best available).

Controlling your P2P shared folder

Uploading files across the P2P networks involves you uploading files from other people’s shared folders (just as they can upload files from yours). You therefore need to make sure you have control over your own shared folder and only add files that you want to share. Make sure you move files in and out of the folder appropriately and remember other users can only access your shared folder and not any other files on your computer. You can opt not to share yours by disabling the file-sharing option and this is recommended if you do not want people to share files from your computer.

Controlling your privacy

Remember, other users of P2P networks can view and download the contents of your shared folder so you should ensure that you only upload files to it that you are willing and able to share. If you are not sharing a file no-one else will have access to it.

Choose the right software

When choosing P2P software ensure it has a full money back policy and a good customer support service in case of any issues or problems.

Always run a virus check before downloading

As with any file you download from the internet you should run a virus check on any file downloaded across a P2P network. Pay particular attention to executable or zipped files (right click on your downloaded file and choose to perform a virus scan on it before you open it.) If you don’t have a good virus scanner, get one!

Beware of unsuitable content

Just as everywhere else on the internet ,there is a great deal of unsuitable content freely available over P2P networks if you look for it. You need to ensure the correct controls are in place, particularly if children have access to your computer. Most good P2P download sites come with parental controls anyway but the best control as ever is personal supervision. Always ensure that you are aware what your children are downloading and educate them to the dangers.

Conclusion

Your security and privacy are very important so please follow the advice above when downloading over P2P networks. My next article goes into more detail about protection from viruses, spyware and adware.

PS. If you are interested in downloading movies, games or music I review the best software available at reviewblaster.com

David Brown is a big time movie, games and music fan and welcomes your opinions on the best that’s out there. Please check out my blog Review Reality and post your opinions.

Related posts

Tags: , , , ,

Feb 16

My previous article looked at the basics of Downloading Movies, Games & Music Online and explained what peer-to-peer (or P2P) Networks can do. This article gives tips on how to get the best out of the downloading software. (Note: if you require download software head on over to reviewblaster.com where we review the best available).

No 1. Pick a ‘healthy’ file to download

Perform a search with your downloading software and you will usually get a number of results. Make sure you pick the one with best quality (or health) rating. This is is the best indication of the number of users sharing the file. Your software will then download different parts of the file simultaneously ensuring a much faster download time without interruptions.

No 2. Pick the largest file to download

Larger files are likely to be of a higher quality than the smaller files which can be fragmented. Use both the quality (or health) of the file and its size to determine which one of the search results you should download. They make take longer to download but the results are definitely worth it.

No 3. Download your files overnight

Downloading large files is likely to use up a considerable amount of your computer’s memory, no matter how fast your machine or internet connection. It is a good idea therefore to queue up your downloads overnight. It is possible to download 2-3 movies a night or a hundred or so MP3’s with a broadband internet connection. Don’t forget to turn off your computer’s power or standby mode options to ensure no interruptions.

No 4. Keep trying

When using any kind of P2P software your search results will depend on the contents of the shared folders of the people who are connected to the P2P network at the time and therefore your search results will change. You may be looking for something that is quite unusual or rare, so try your search again at another time.

No 5. You can download more than movies, games & music

If it’s on the Internet you can find a huge amount of great stuff from TV shows, pictures and art, CD/DVD cover images and sleeves to MP3 players and movie players. You can also get applications and software, anti-virus and pop-up blockers, etc.

Conclusion

Using your P2P software, you will find there are endless exiting opportunities to get the best from the internet and if you follow these tips you will get the best experience. In my next article I will look at the important issues of safety and privacy when downloading.

PS. If you are interested in downloading movies, games or music I review the best software available at reviewblaster.com

David Brown is a big time movie, games and music fan and welcomes your opinions on the best that’s out there. Please check out my blog Review Reality and post your opinions.

Related posts

Tags: , , , ,