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When you register as a P2P software user, you probably agreed to let the network use your computer as a source of music files.

Not only does this make you a potential illegal distributor, it also means that whenever you’re online, every other user around the world (and there are tens of millions of them) has the ability to access your hard drive.

Take It Off

RESETTING OR UNINSTALLING YOUR PEER-TO-PEER SOFTWARE TO KEEP IT—AND YOU—LEGAL
When used properly, "peer-to-peer" file sharing is an exciting new technology. Unfortunately, P2P networks are often used improperly—usually for the illegal distribution of copyrighted content.

If you’re involved in P2P file sharing, you may be using KaZaA software, GTK-Gnutella, LimeWire or some similar application. You may not be aware of it, but when you registered as a P2P software user, you probably agreed to let the network use your computer as a distribution source of music files. In other words, if you’re like most P2P software users, you do more than simply download files. You probably also make files on your hard drive available for others to upload. Not only does this make you a potential illegal distributor, it also means that whenever you’re online, every other network user around the world (and there are tens of millions of them) has the ability to access your hard drive.

If you want to do the right thing—and, not incidentally, keep strangers out of your hard drive—you should disable your P2P software’s uploading capability. Click here to see how to do that in KaZaA.

Go to the University of Chicago's Network Security group’s web page to see how to disable file sharing in other programs.

Are You a SuperNode?
If you’re a KaZaA user, there’s something else you may not realize. The KaZaA software you installed on your hard drive has a default setting that allows your computer to be commandeered by the KaZaA system and used as what they call a "SuperNode" without your knowing it. A SuperNode is a computer that routes traffic around the network—which means that KaZaA can drain away your computing power and your bandwidth without any warning whenever it pleases. Many Gnutella programs have a similar function they call "Super-Peers."

Instructions for disabling KaZaA functions
It’s actually quite easy to disable the SuperNode function in KaZaA, as well as to disable file sharing. There’s an even easier way to do the right thing. You can simply uninstall your KaZaA software. Click here to download step-by-step instructions (pdf).