It is no secret that companies like Logistep are monitoring p2p networks to sue file sharers who are offering software from clients like Zuxxez, a German company who recently sued 500 British p2p users claiming that they illegally distributed the game Dream Pinball 3D. The website Torrentfreak got their hands on a copy of one of those letters that have been send out which details the process of how Logistep determines which users are illegally distributing the game.
Logistep uses a software called File Sharing Monitor that targets E-Donkey and Gnutella users. Here is how it works:
Let us assume that they are not stupid and that they filter out every file below a certain size to prevent that users who do share mods or patches get sued. Let us further assume that a file that is labeled a certain way (with group tags) and shared among many users is the right program. Does this mean that the user that they are suing is responsible ? They will always sue the account holder which could or could not be the person who shared the files.
What possible solutions can I think of that make the Logistep file monitor useless ? Please note that this is hypothetic, I'm not advising anyone to actually use the methods listed below.
Logistep uses a software called File Sharing Monitor that targets E-Donkey and Gnutella users. Here is how it works:
- The software connects to a p2p server and requests a filename recording all IP addresses that offer that name
- They request to download the file and if the download is permitted record the following information into a database
- Filename, file size, IP of the distributor, P2P protocol, P2P application, the time and the username
- When this is inserted the application does a automatic whois and is able to send an infringement letter to the ISP
Let us assume that they are not stupid and that they filter out every file below a certain size to prevent that users who do share mods or patches get sued. Let us further assume that a file that is labeled a certain way (with group tags) and shared among many users is the right program. Does this mean that the user that they are suing is responsible ? They will always sue the account holder which could or could not be the person who shared the files.
What possible solutions can I think of that make the Logistep file monitor useless ? Please note that this is hypothetic, I'm not advising anyone to actually use the methods listed below.
- don't share files
- share only files with no plausible filename (3dpd)
- use encryption to share the files
- use vpns like Relakks to share them
- switch to Usenet
- buy the game
