Steal This File Sharing Book
Book Review

By Dale Farris, Vice President Golden Triangle PC Club October 2004 General Overview "Steal This File Sharing Book" tackles the thorny issue of file sharing networks such as Kazaa, Morpheus, and Usenet. It explains how these networks work and how to use them. It exposes the dangers of using file sharing networks--including viruses, spyware, and lawsuits--and tells how to avoid them. In addition to covering how people use file sharing networks to share everything from music and video files to books and pornography, it also reveals how people use them to share secrets and censored information banned by their governments. The book includes timely coverage of the ongoing battle between the software, video, and music pirates and the industries that are trying to stop them. Background to the Book The use of file sharing networks has become so commonplace that many computer owners have begun to take for granted today's relative ease by which we can find and download all sorts of multimedia and game files. The state of this technology has developed to the point of being considered mainstream, and the legal ramifications about acquiring copies of music and other shared files have become serious enough that anyone interested in acquiring these types of files must be careful not to end up on subpoena lists of folks facing legal problems for violating copyright protection laws. Author Wang addresses these current concerns and rightly explains all the issues related to downloading files for personal use. In addition, those interested in connecting to the various file sharing networks should carefully heed the author's cautionary suggestions, before they proceed to take advantage of the software that has made this downloading process so very easy. Readers should also be careful when pursuing their particular file share network and make a point to read this important material that explains not only how these networks work and how to access these types of files, but also how to do this and NOT end up in court and NOT end up with a trashed machines. Special Features Steal This File Sharing Book tackles the thorny issue of file sharing, explaining how file sharing networks work and how to safely use these networks. You will learn: How file sharing networks work, from Gnutella, FastTrack, and eDonkey2000 to Overnet and the DirectConnect Network How to share files on newsgroups, websites, instant messaging, and IRC How to remain anonymous, hide your email and IP address, and use proxy servers when sharing files, so you will not become the latest RIAA casualty How to protect your computer from viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and spyware, and cover your tracks by encrypting your hard drive and securely deleting your files What to do with the various types of files (MP3, Ogg Vorbis, SFV, MD5, MPEG, PNG, and others) Where to share music, software, video games, movies, books, and porn Where the warez are, how software publishers fight back, and the legal alternatives to stealing copyrighted material Table of Contents The seventeen (17) chapters are organized in three parts, and include the following titles. Part 1:  Learning About File Sharing 1:   Finding the Files 2:   The Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Networks 3:   Navigating Newsgroups 4:   Instant Messaging and Online Chat Rooms 5:   Finding Files on Web and FTP Sites Part 2:  Stealing Files 6:   Protecting Your Identity 7:   Protecting Your Computer 8:   The File Formats 9:   Sharing Music 10: Finding Movies (or TV Shows) 11: Sharing Books 12: Pirating Software (Warez) 13: Sharing Video Games 14: Sharing Pornography 15: Miscellaneous Thievery Part 3:  The Future 16: The Legal Alternatives 17: How the Corporations Fight Back Target Readers The focus in Steal This File Sharing Book is on learning about file sharing networks, and how to safely and effectively use these sources of free material online, including music, movies, books, software, video games, and even pornography. However, author Wang makes it cleat that his book is NOT to be used for violating copyright laws, pirating software, bootlegging movies, stealing video games, or any other miscellaneous thievery or illegal activity. Readers are reminded that they must at all times recognize existing rights that protect material available online, and to only access these files when legally authorized to do so. The material in this book is intended to assist those interested in downloading all sorts of accessible files, and is not intended to assist anyone in doing anything illegal. Book Contents 296 pages; acknowledgements; figures; tables; Web site URLs; index Author Wallace Wang About the Author Best-selling computer book author Wallace Wang is a former contributor to Boardwatch Magazine, where he wrote a monthly column called "Notes From the Underground." He is also a successful stand-up comic who has appeared on A&E's "Evening at the Improv" and he appears regularly at the Riviera Comedy Club in Las Vegas. Wang is the author of 40 computer books, including "Steal This Computer Book" (editions 1, 2, and 3) and "The Book of Nero 6 Ultra Edition." ISBN October 2004 - First Edition 1-59327-050-X List Price $19.95 $27.95 CAN About No Starch Press Since 1994, No Starch Press has published unique books on computing, including such best-sellers as the "Steal This Computer Book" series, "Hacking the Xbox," and "Absolute OpenBSD." Named one of the Top 101 Independent Publishers in 2003, No Starch Press focuses on Open Source, security, hacking, web development, programming, gaming, and alternative operating systems. The No Starch Press titles have personality, their authors are passionate, and their goal is to make computing accessible to everyone. Publisher Contact No Starch Press 555 De Haro St., Suite 250 San Francisco, CA 94107 800-420-7240 415-863-9900 FAX 415-863-9950 www.nostarch.com