What Peer-to-Peer (P2P) and what are the risks of using it?

Overview of P2P

For starters, the basic download a file is as follows: The file is stored on a server, people who want this file (clients) need to connect to this server to download.

So there is only one server and multiple clients.

But there is a problem. If many people want to download a file on the same server at the same time, it will quickly saturated, and so the download will be impossible or very slow .

This is where the Peer-to-Peer or better known by the acronym P2P helps. The principle is: we will share the task of the server. To do this, all users who download the file will become part of the server and will be able to distribute their laps file to other clients.

Basically a file is always on a server, it does not change. It’s just that after several items are no longer alone in providing the file.

It is a little closer to the principle of distributing a virus.

To recap:

• A server stores a file that distributes a few people.
• These people distribute their turns these files and so on.

• Users do not need to wait until the file is completely downloaded to share their towers, they can send pieces.

The advantages are:

• The source servers are not saturated.
• The downloads are faster.

P2P Files

First, these files circulating on P2P networks. Each network is independent and can link users and their files.

To connect to a network, you must use client software : it is a multi-network type system (can connect to multiple networks simultaneously).

These software enables easy management of files: to share, you choose a folder where everything in it will be visible on the network and then download.

Obviously it is better not to put important files and confidential files . To find a file, you must use a search engine software that will scan all the shared folders of all users connected to networks.

There will be also some links that allow you to find what you want to download directly from a website.

To distinguish itself, the files use a special technique: the hash. It helps differentiate the files through their contents. Two files can have the same name and two different hashes .

Thus, P2P technology is powerful and resourceful and did nothing illegal. What is illegal is the use that we can not do. Unfortunately, too often people associate the two because the current P2P networks are full of illegal files (movies, music protected by copyright).

To summarize

• P2P enables the exchange of files on networks.
• It is necessary to use a client software to download and share files.
• A file is distinguished from another through its hash.
• P2P is completely legal.

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