Filesharing

On the Internet the file exchange networks providing access to the chosen popular files to rather wide range of users for the purpose of file sharing are popular. This process is called distribution of the file. Often such networks cause an essential loss to owners of the distributed information.

Types of file exchange networks

• The centralized networks with the server. Such networks are called "file hosting services of first generation". The principle of work of such networks consists in sending files by participants for the server and the subsequent downloading of these files by other participants. So far such networks practically went out of use.

• Local file exchange networks. Torrent trackers and DirectConnect-networks belong to this category (DC ++). Such exchangers also are centralized, but provide existence of a large number of servers. The world's largest network of this kind is the infamous The Pirate Bay torrent tracker. DirectConnect-exchangers are popular among local networks of providers.

• Partially centralized networks with many servers. Such file exchange systems belong to "second generation". In them hybrid circuits using the independent index servers which are constantly synchronizing information among themselves are used. Thus, at failure of one of them, the network continues to function. Partially centralized networks gradually faded into the background, but saved the niche in filesharing. The most popular among this type is eDonkey2000 network.

• The decentralized networks. The file hosting services of third generation functioning without index servers. Differ in high reliability and confidentiality. Such networks are quite often used for information transfer which distribution is forbidden by the legislation (including, pornographies). Gnutella and Overnet networks are most popular.

• Darkneta. The P2P networks of new generation using the special acceptances of anonymization based on restriction of direct couplings with a quantity of the "friends" determined by the user (the principle of F2F: friend-to-friend). The main problem of use of such network is the complexity of obtaining the necessary files from the participants who are not entering a circle of "friends".

Fight against file exchange networks

Logo of the largest international file exchange network The Pirate Bay

As filesharing is regularly used for information exchange, protected by copyright, large human rights organizations regularly try to stop their activity. Both legal, and illegal means are for this purpose used. On the other hand, such fight generates development of file exchange networks, increase in reliability, confidentiality and anonymity in them.

Human rights activists from time to time try to obtain progress, for example 18 aperlya 2009 four founders of The Pirate Bay were found guilty for violation of the law about copyright and are sentenced to one year of imprisonment and to a fine of $3,500,000.

Organizers of file exchange networks do not lag behind and go for the different tricks allowing to discourage at lawyers to prosecution of violators of copyright. So, for example, the condemned co-owner of the The Pirate Bay torrent tracker Gottfried Svartkholm urged net surfers to transfer to accounts of lawyer company Danowsky & Partners on one Swedish krona. Such money transfer taking into account the policy of the bank servicing law firm and laws of Sweden causes material damage to the receiver of payment. Besides, the staff of law firm is very small and all payments are processed manually.

Media Defender

Media Defender is the group of the Californian hackers by request of human rights organizations littering P2P networks and interfering their normal functioning. In February, 2007 Media Defender opened a video hosting of Miivi.com, information on violators of copyright from which was transferred by police of the USA.

Read Also

• Pirate Part

Links

• In Sweden creators of the world's largest BitTorrent-tracker are sentenced to a year of prison
• The condemned co-owner of The Pirate Bay urged to fill up the opponents with bank transfers