I have often warned people about the dangers of using peer to peer file sharing networks. For those of you who are new to this newsletter a peer to peer file sharing network is a system which allows two or more people to share files without the need for a server in between them. Popular such systems are Frostwire, Limewire, Bearshare among many others. These systems can damage your computer but they can cause other problems as well.

I have never seen a computer that used one of these systems and did not have a virus or spyware on it. For this reason alone the downloading of free music and movies is to be avoided. There, however, is another reason. Lawsuits. Many companies connected with the music and movie industry have begun to hire lawyers. These lawyers hire tech savvy types who find out who has downloaded their content. This can be done by tracking the downloader's IP address. Then the downloader gets a letter asking for thousands of dollars. If a deadline is ignored the settlement price goes up. If another deadline is missed the downloader goes to court.

An example of this is available here:

Copytrolls file a boatload of lawsuits

I recently read of situation in which a company that produced adult movies was uploading those movies but naming them as popular music tracks. When people went to download what they thought was Dire Straits Brothers in Arms they were threatened with legal action by the adult filmmaker's lawyers for downloading an adult film. The idea here is that very few people would ever want to go to court to defend themselves from such an allegation.

The long and short of it is that bit torrent, frostwire and any other "free" system whereby you get movies and music will bite you in the behind. Make sure you and no one using a computer you own is using such a service. Otherwise a computer technician may not be enough to solve your problems. You may also need a lawyer.

If anyone out there needs help with their computer just let me know. Feel free to call me at

901-830-4362 

I would love to help out

If you don't play video games you may be unfamiliar with a massive economy that spans geographich boundaries. There are computer games which are called MMORPGs. This stands for massively multiplayer online role playing game. These MMORPGs often have millions of subscribers from all over the world. Millions of people log on to the games every day and interact in the game world. One of the things they do is try to get gold. This is an in game currency which allws players to buy things in the game. The in game currency can also be sold for real money outside the game. This is where China comes in. China has apparently been forcing prisoners to play World of Warcraft in order to get as much gold as possible so they can sell that gold for real currency to other players. 

 link to the article:

 China is not playing around in World of Warcraft