Quote - > Quote - I dont use torrents for any reason those scare me. Thats like an invitation to browse your files on an open computer. No thanks.

Problem is that actually a lot of torrent clients is spy- or malware. Use a malware free client from here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_BitTorrent_software

Wikipedia is hardly the Bible when it comes to information. What is posted there is posted there by someone who feels they have information that someone might want...and anyone can post or edit. I know I've edited more than a few of those entries because of inaccuracies.

Anyway, there is nothing to be afrarid of when it comes to "torrents". I use Bit-Comet to download MP3 files.  I live in Canada and it's 100% legal to do that.

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A torrent program is not a peer to peer program.  The difference is that a peer to peer program such as Kazaa  or eMule or Bearshare etc connects you directly to someone's personal computer / server and you download directly from their computer. While you are downloading they are in fact uploading the file.  These programs can be considered "fast track" programs or not. Kazaa is considered fast track because it's pretty instant to get downloads. Other programs such as emule can require you to be connected for days before you get a whole file, so it's not considered "fast track".  These types of programs are good for smaller files such as single MP3 files.

Torrent downloading is not fast track either because it takes hours and days to download. Torrents are better for larger files like whole CDs.  Torrents are not peer to peer meaning you don't connect to anyone's computer.  Files are uploaded to a central server in bits from everyone uploading that file.  The server scans the files.  When you download the file you are downloading it from a central server and not from any one particular person. And because it's been scanned, the chances of it having a virus are slim.

I use both means to acquire music files.  All of these programs are perfectly legal and legit programs.  The problem is when people take these programs and use them for illegal file sharing.

Not all files are illegal to share.  In Canada as I stated it's legal to file share music.  It's also legal for you to file share your own created content. I have used peer to peer programs to transfer large websites that I have created to the customer.

IMHO there is nothing to fear with torrents. Most fears come from lack of knowledge about how how these programs work. In fact they are pretty safe to use.  I just recommend that you never use one unless you have an active and current virus scanner on your computer.  In all of my years of sharing music I have never once gotten a computer virus.  My virus scanner has flagged and cleaned files, but once the file is cleaned, it's fine.

"It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to say." - Ghandi