By Adam Myers
Senior PC Tech at SP Computer Services
I think back to the late 1970’s when cassette tapes gave us the opportunity to take our music wherever we wanted without a big bulky box of 8-tracks. In addition, the addition of “blank” cassettes gave us the ability to record our favorite artist from a cassette borrowed from a friend or family member. Those were the days in which you could pool your money and purchase one “original” copy of the music album, and then make copies for all. Fast-forward to the introduction of the internet, digital music (mp3’s) and Napster. What is Napster? Napster was a free online file sharing service that allowed users to give other users access to each other’s shared music collection. This service was being used by users all around the world. It was the equivalent of letting anyone come in your house and copy any or all the music they wanted. If you are looking at the bigger picture, you can see how the cassette and digital files have had a significant impact on music sales. The music industry also took notice and shut Napster down. As such, new underground file-sharing networks were popping up everywhere. It’s not just music that people are sharing. Its music, movies and applications (software) files that are being shared and the click of a button. Regardless of the copywriting and software pirating laws, people risk fines, fees and in some cases incarceration all in an effort to get something for free.
Something to think about: I will never tell anyone how to use their computer. However, I will help give you a better understanding on what you are getting yourself in to by using these file-sharing sites. Let’s take a look at it from this prospective. All of these files (music, movies and software) that are being shared sit on other people’s computers all around the world. To help you look thru a different lens, let’s change what you are sharing from files to food. Yes, food! You don’t have any issues with reaching on the other side of the world to take something off of someone’s computer, but would you feel the same way about taking and eating food from someone else’s plate without knowing exactly what you are eating (eating food with a blindfold on), or how it was prepared (did the cook wash their hands?). The point I am trying to make is that people get sick from eating “bad” foods, and computers get sick with viruses, malicious software (malware) and spyware from downloading “bad” files. You never really know what you are getting in addition to that song or movie you are downloading. Again, I’m not telling you what you should or shouldn’t do, I am just trying to help. As for those of you out there thinking that you have the best anti-virus protection on the planet. Think about this……If there was an anti-virus program out there that would protect your computer 100%, all of us would have it!
TechTip: If you get a phone call from anyone claiming that your computer is sending out viruses and spam email and they want to scan your computer and remove any infections for a fee, think about the fact that you didn’t call them, they called you soliciting information. Do not give them your credit card information instead thank them for calling, hang up and call your local friendly computer tech.
Until we tech again………..
TechTime4Me offers the community helpful hints, tips and trends in today’s ever-changing technological world.
