Information about Peer to Peer File Sharing

KaZaA is well known for its peer-to-peer file sharing code. However, a company called Brilliant Digital Entertainment (BDE) has recently added hidden software to KaZaA which will try to use your computer for its own purposes, including distributing advertising or running complicated computer tasks on BDE's behalf.

3 Things about KaZaA

Sharing - install KaZaA using the default settings
searching - set your filters and find only the type of files you want
Downloading - experience the best of p2p as your searches download

To run these tasks, the Brilliant Digital software will make use of your computer memory, disk space and network connection.

Such commercial use of university network resources is a violation of Assumption University Acceptable Use Policy. This new software prompts you to agree to make it active. You must decline acceptance of this agreement; accepting is a violation of policy. In addition, allowing an external organization permission to use your computer would jeopardize the integrity of your computer as well as impose risks to your personal privacy. In general, we do not recommend using KaZaA or similar software because of the dangers ofillegally distributing copyrighted material and overloading the campus network. However, if you do choose KaZaA as your peer-to-peer application of choice, please disable file-sharing with other KaZaA members.

Remember, there can be serious consequences for illegally distributing copyrighted material.