Illegally Downloading Media.

July 24, 2008, 7:00 PM

I'm sure we've all seen on the news recently about how the Government are hoping to cut down on the numbers of people illegally downloading media, particularly music. One of the proposed measures would be to send viruses through your computer attached to your downloaded file, preventing your computer from operating. Another would be to fine both yourself and the site from which you are downloading your files.

So, what are your thoughts on these new proposals?

Personally, I'm infuriated. Aye, I've been known to download a number of songs from Limewire and suchlike - who hasn't? I'm well aware that it's illegal and that I shouldn't be doing it, as are the Government. What really annoys me is that they've identified the sites, which provide the songs for downloading [they showed Limewire on the BBC News, although didn't directly say - I just recognised it] and yet, instead of putting an end to the sites, they're just going to punish both people who use it - in other words, they'd prefer to profit before they actually want to tackle the problem they claim to be tackling anyway.

Additionally, this 'virus' idea of theirs means that they'd either have to (1) illegally hack into the file-sharing sites and 'plant' the virus or (2) get in contact with these sites and obtain access to people's accounts - thereby going passed the root of the problem and pussyfooting around it instead.

July 24, 2008, 7:05 PM

I think that instead of worrying so much about music being downloaded illegally, the government should spend the time, energy and money on more important issues.

Personally, I'll be annoyed by it. Most people I know rely on downloading music because they don't have the money to go out and buy CDs whenever they want to, and sometimes you might want a song that's on a rare CD or wasn't released or whatever, and you have to download it then. It's pretty pointless too, since if they stop people using Limewire and Torrents, other programs will be made so people can download, and then they'll just have to do more work to stop those programs. And repeat.

July 24, 2008, 7:13 PM

The Government are petty. What they plan to gain from plan is more profit. People download off the sites, their PC breaks, therefore the people have to go and buy another PC, (and if the people are stupid enough, they'll download again and break yet another PC, putting them people in an endless loop)

Now, my opinion of it...the Government are only pissing off the community more, which will lead more closer to the Government's downfall. I think it is petty that the Government won't let us just have a few free pleasures, especially with all the profit their making off everything else

July 24, 2008, 7:18 PM

Honestly, I believe it is a complete act of hypocrisy. Let me explain it. Let's say I don't want people from downloading music illegally yet I create a program which allows users to download music for free. So the issue here is, why create a program to download free music if you don't want people to do it? And even regardless of not being the creator or not; why do you allow such program to exist?

It is like not wanting people to cheat in a game. Why give the tools that would allow them to cheat if you don't want them to do that? Isn't it a bit contradictory?

You can easily copy a legal CD with Windows Media Player by ripping the music from the CD (and if it has some sort of security lock, there are tons of programs that allow you to break those "seals" placed in CDs and DVDs), and I am sure most people here are aware of that.

So, what's the point? Regardless of how many laws or procedures are made, people will still find a way around the rules and cheat.

July 24, 2008, 7:23 PM

To attach a virus to a file though, they'd have to put it in a Zip file, unless I'm thinking wrongly here, and as such, it would be easy to avoid picking up a virus anyway. I can't see the creators of programs such as Limewire co-operating with these plans either, as then they'd lose their business.

July 24, 2008, 7:29 PM

I can understand why so many artists would be up in arms about being cheated out of so much money - after all, they're providing a service and deserve to be paid for that service [though it does stick a foot right in this 'we care about our music' - if that was true, you'd be providing the entertainment for the sake of entertainment, not money].

I think Julius just hit the nail on the head when he mentioned "providing the tools necessary". It just emphasises how they're pussyfooting around the problem and profitting over it, before actually solving it.

July 24, 2008, 7:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by General Beatrix

To attach a virus to a file though, they'd have to put it in a Zip file, unless I'm thinking wrongly here, and as such, it would be easy to avoid picking up a virus anyway. I can't see the creators of programs such as Limewire co-operating with these plans either, as then they'd lose their business.

Or they can make the file (either .exe, .mp3, .ini, .php, .WHATEVER!) of a virus look like either a MP3 file or a MP4 file.
For example, this is a very basic one. Open your Notepad (a default program in Windows' Series OS) and save the file with any name while giving it the extention ."something"

For example, if I want my Notepad file look like a .ini file, I just write:

Test.ini

...and it will look like one of those files necessary for the OS to run smoothly, let's say, like that "boot.ini" file which helps your computer to boot the OS it has.

Another example, let's say I save my notepad file as ".exe", the file will be saved and will look like an "executable file" yet when executed, it will do nothing because it is not an actual "executable" file, well not as long as I don't add anything to it >__>

For example:

Test.exe

So in theory, yes, I believe they can make any virus file look like even a normal and apparently "harmless" MP3 file while hiding within the file a virus.

I am not sure though, I still don't have the necessary knowledge nor the experience to verify my hypothesis.

July 24, 2008, 7:40 PM

The thing is, Limewire tells you how long a song runs for, and what album it's on and what-not, if it was a virus disguised as another file, it wouldn't reveal that information - at least I think so anyway. So everyone will just need to be extra careful with what they download. The government wouldn't be able to infect every file, that would just be ridiculous.