Steal This File Sharing Book

File sharing is a controversial subject. I was taught in preschool that sharing was a kind and respectful thing to do, but the RIAA and the MPAA get more than a little bent out of shape when you share "their" stuff. Peer-to-peer networks like the original incarnation of Napster, Kazaa, Morpheus and others that have appeared in their wake allow users to trade all sorts of files and data. This book covers every aspect of sharing, including how to secure and protect your computer while doing it.

This book is like a bible or encyclopedia of everything file sharing. It covers a broad range of information ranging from how and where to find shared files, to how to share your own files and the security and ethical concerns in between.

The first section, Starting Out, covers the basics of file sharing. When most people think of file sharing, they immediately think of peer-to-peer (P2P) networks like Napster or Kazaa, but there are also newsgroups, instant messaging and chat rooms, and web or FTP sites where shared files can be found.

Part 2, Stealing Files, covers the meat of how to get shared files and how to share your own files. Wang covers topics such as Protecting Your Identity, Protecting Your Computer and Miscellaneous Thievery among other topics in this section. Whether you want to know more about locating shared files or sharing your own files this section has the information you need.

Wang concludes the book with a section called The Future where he describes some of the legal and ethical concerns and what organizations like the RIAA and the MPAA have done to make it more difficult and more illegal for users to share work they own the copyrights for.

I love Wallace Wang's Steal This Computer Book 3. In this book, Wang takes his best-selling knowledge and writing style and focuses it on a new subject- sharing files.

I learned a lot in the opening section. I have been familiar with peer-to-peer (P2P) networking since the advent of Napster, but I was not aware that such a wide variety of sources existed for finding and sharing files. Wang points out web sites, FTP sites, instant messaging and chat rooms and more where you can share files.

Even better than that, he doesn't just list sites, but rather provides in-depth analysis of many, explaining what is good or bad about the different resources and pitfalls to watch out for. He also includes many graphic illustrations which help you understand the information better.

This book sheds light on a number of "fringe" file sharing tools and resources. The mainstream is familiar with the likes of Kazaa and Morpheus, but Wang delves into many more tools. He points out some of the things to watch out for when using some of the shadier tools and networks as well.

The RIAA and MPAA may not like it, but in some way, shape or form, file sharing is here to stay and this book will help you find what you need and use file sharing securely.