New
file-sharing program promises to hide users'
IDs
By
Gustavo Hernandez
The Oracle
TAMPA,
Fla. (U-Wire) -- With the dubious threat
of prosecution by the Recording Industry
Association of America becoming a reality,
many users are turning to new file-sharing
systems that will allow them to keep their
identity anonymous.
The
new wave of file-sharing programs utilizes
technologies that help conceal a trader's
identity from the prying eyes of those who
wish to stop their illegal practices.
Some
of these programs are deemed a significant
threat by the RIAA because they are based
in countries where strong intellectual property
laws do not exist.
One
such program, Earth Station Five (ES5),
is based out of a refugee camp in the Palestinian
West Bank. ES5 openly defies any copyright
issues that have stopped previous programs
from continuing to serve the file-sharing
public. Programs such as this make it difficult
for the RIAA to prosecute responsible parties,
because their creators are not breaking
copyright laws in their home country.
ES5
has shown a disregard for copyright by storing
and streaming the latest theatrical releases
and full albums directly from their servers,
actions that would have normally triggered
multiple lawsuits from the music and movie
industries.
Recognizing
the fears of traders, the program promises
users that their identities will be safe
through the use of advanced security features.
One
of these methods is through the use of a
different Web protocol called User Datagram
Protocol (UDP), which offers users a higher
degree of security than is offered by traditional
file-sharing programs.
An
explanation on the company's Web site claims
by using UDP they can prevent the RIAA from
examining a user's computer to determine
if ES5 is running, unless they themselves
are connecting to the programs network.
However,
it's not possible for another person to
scan a group of computers to determine if
ES5 is running on a user's PC.
Borrowing
from the world of secure online transactions,
the company also utilizes Secure Sockets
Layer (SSL) to protect against unwanted
parties viewing file-transfer activities.
This
same technology is utilized to help prevent
hackers from seeing password or credit card
numbers sent through online transactions.
Also
adding to the programs security arsenal
is the option that allows users to determine
if they want their transfers sent through
a proxy server.
By
using the proxy servers, the traders would
be able to hinder others from locating them
directly because users could send connection
requests through a proxy server that acts
as an intermediary between the server and
the download destination.
According
to the company, this would make any attempt
to identify the source of the transfer refer
back to the proxy server as the person responsible
for the transaction, thereby rendering the
end user impervious to positive identification.
Some
users may find this option to be inconvenient,
as the process of using proxy servers will
slow down their transfer speeds.
Although
the company claims that these methods could
provide a safe haven for traders that are
eager to escape prosecution by the RIAA,
others claim that this could provide a false
sense of security.
Companies
such as Media Defender Inc., who are hired
by the RIAA to monitor and disrupt file-sharing
networks, warn that proxy servers could
act as a sort of digital "spider web"
that could be set up by various groups who
are trying to prosecute users.
Traders
could unsuspectedly trade files, believing
they are immune to lawsuits, only to be
caught in the wave of litigations sought
by the RIAA.
Another
problem facing the proxy server system is
the large cost that such a project would
require.
Currently,
the service only maintains a few proxy servers
to run all the traffic of those choosing
to use this option.
With
an increase in users, the cost of maintaining
multiple servers to transfer vast amounts
of data is likely to become both financially
and legally more burdensome.
Still,
keeping up with the demand for proxy servers
may become a reality, as the there are those
in the file-sharing community who already
maintain large storage servers that utilize
a sizeable amount of bandwidth in an effort
to pirate the latest releases.
Speculation
aside, the release of ES5 and other programs
like it demonstrate the will and determination
of the file-trading community. Members of
this ever-expanding group will always find
some way to circumvent the barriers placed
before them.
As
the sun begins to set on yet another file-sharing
titan, it will only be a matter of time
before another program claims its place.
Only
time and user experience will be able to
determine if this new set of programs that
promise to shield the identities of their
proprietors will be the next dominant step
in the evolution of file-sharing.
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