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Neighbors with hand-labeled DVD collections. Teenagers with 5000-song iPods. Entire countries sharing the same copy of Windows. Who are these people? They're file sharers and they account for a third of worldwide internet traffic. Their swag is anything that can be digitized and copied.


But file-sharing networks aren't only for pirates. Musicians and writers use them to gauge their popularity. Artists and filmmakers use them to boost recognition. Government employees use them to secretly download WikiLeaks archives. TV producers use them to confirm audience measurements. Politicians and judges use them to make policy and rulings. Traders and marketers use them to spot trends.


• Learn how BitTorrent and peer-to-peer networks work

• Set up a BitTorrent client and find files to download

• Open, play, read, or run what you download

• Know the risks of file sharing and avoid fakes, scams, and viruses


Reviews

"A remarkably calm look at the technical, social, economic and cultural issues arising from file-sharing, and it's also a damned practical guide to navigating the strange world of file-sharing technology."

- Cory Doctorow, boingboing.net


"Chris Fehily won't exactly call [middle-class consumers] suckers, but he will show them -- as well as college students, crackers, digital anarchists and others -- the Pirate Way."

- J.D. Lasica, socialmedia.biz


"An essential primer on file sharing for those not in the know."

- Leo M, Brain Scratch


Contents

1. The Terrain

2. Understanding BitTorrent

3. File Types

4. Malware

5. Archives

6. Installing a BitTorrent Client

7. BitTorrent Search Engines

8. Finding Torrents

9. Customizing Your Client

10. Downloading Torrents

11. Movies and TV Shows

12. Pictures

13. Music and Spoken Word

14. Books, Documents, and Fonts

15. Applications and Games