By Frank Perez 9D Qatar Academy

Quite simply, the problem is that people have been given the ability to download files such as music and software for free, against copy right and against the law using programs. They may be aware of the consequences and these people may have well gone through the consequences before but it seems that they do not learn from the consequences and therefore continue to use these programs.

Examples of such programs are limewire, frostwire and bit torrent. These are the three of the most common sharing programs used around the world. People use them and get a virus once, but they do not learn from it, so they continue to use these programs.

There are a number of different dangers to using these programs. Around 90% of these dangers are in the form of viruses that can damage your computer and allow the creator of the virus to view your own personal files and information such as credit card numbers and passwords against your will, or they can be less harmful and simply crash your computer in such a way that you can still backup and restore all your c-drive files but while having to reformat your computer. This is most probably the least harmful danger that can occur.

I can’t describe a real virus because I’m not sure myself what a real virus can really do other than hack files and cause systematic software and hardware crashes. But some people do try to fool friends with fake viruses associated with a batch file for example. Batch files are illegal to be sent over the internet because batch files are also used for viruses. The image above shows a batch file that has been used to open a lot of command prompt windows. This is completely harmless and can be easily done.

The only reason that there is a risk of receiving these viruses or unwanted dangers is because people use programs where they are not 100% sure what they are receiving. People who use limewire or frostwire for example will see that the files they upload are named as what they are looking for, but they don’t know what they are really receiving until it has been opened. For all we know, the file could be a virus. Although modern technology has created ways to fight these viruses, hackers who create them think and plot new ways of sending them out and think of viruses harder to get rid of and more harmful everyday.

The only way to be completely and utterly sure that you are 100% safe from any virus from these programs is to not download anything from these types of programs simply because you don’t know what you’re receiving until it has been opened. There are ways to strengthen your security of course, such as anti virus programs. But at times, even these become useless if the virus is so harmful, even the anti virus software itself can be infected rending it useless. But the only way to be sure that you are safe from receiving a virus from these types of programs is to not use them at all.

All in all I truly think the only way you can be a good digital citizen in terms of digital safety and security is to have full anti virus software purchased and installed, virus scans perhaps every month at least and to make sure that the websites and programs you use are 95% safe. No website or program is 100% safe but you have to try and get as close as you can. To do this, refrain from using file sharing programs to at least assure that there is a very small chance of acquiring a virus from these programs.

“The first time I acquired a virus I did not suspect limewire to be the source. I assumed it was from one of all the online games I played so I continued using limewire for music and stopped playing a view games that seemed insecure. But after a few months, I got another virus. But this time I knew it was from limewire and after this, I stopped using limewire. It has been 6months since I last used it.” “I honestly think that using sofware such as limewire and frostwire simply for ease of acquirement of files and for free too, is quite idiotic because I don’t think that the risks associated with using these programs are worth using these programs.” “I use limewire and frostwire everyday to get movies and music. I have 2000 songs and im sure that more than 50% of them I got from using frostwire and limewire. I have had two viruses from these programs but I fixed them both. But now I read this, im afraid of a third virus.”

I hope you learned something from this simple presentation. Keep safe Note: sources are on next slide

Omegle. Web. 5 Apr "Digital Safety." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 8 Apr "Digital Security." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 8 Apr Friends Parents