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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Jack Schofield

Is it safe to use BitTorrent?

Is it safe to use BitTorrent? A while ago I used the KaZaA program and ended up with dodgy Trojans and viruses. Bobby Onion

It is never wise to assume anything is 100% safe, but the architecture of BitTorrent means it is dramatically safer than KaZaA (see www.joestewart.org/p2p.html for an account of how it works). Also, BitTorrent programs don't contain KaZaA-style adware. However, bear in mind that it is not anonymous. Someone in Hong Kong has been convicted of copyright infringement for distributing three Hollywood blockbusters using BitTorrent.

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