P2P

      File sharing is a common practice where files are transferred from one device to another through the internet. You can share several types of data including documents, videos, ebooks, computer programs, images or even audio files. A user may make their shared files public or private, depending on what kind of platform they are sharing it on. P2P file sharing stands for peer-to-peer file sharing where a P2P software system is used to exchange files. Users of the same P2P network can search for the content they want through this system , which is beneficial and easy. An example of P2P file sharing is if I shared digital audio files with others through a P2P network called Napster or even Limewire. Another example of this concept is if I shared a TV show link through BitTorrent. In the article, "The BitTorrent Effect" by Thompson, it mentions that "over 20 million people have downloaded the BitTorrent application." This shows that P2P file sharing is very popular , since it allows one to get a hold of files they don't have. Having these file sharing systems can have negative effects because illegal things are shared such as movie file links and some companies may sue the down-loader of the movies, which is stated by Thompson in the article.


References:

The BitTorrent Effect by Clive Thompson, Wired, January 2005.