P2P

Sending or receiving different types of files over the internet or over local network is called file sharing. P2P file sharing is one of the ways to share files. P2P is a software program and it connects computers of different users who have that software. And when you need to find something, the program searches it among all computers in this network. It means that there is no central server where all information stored; instead information is distributed among users. There are a lot of software programs created for P2P file sharing, for example Bittorrent, eMule, LimeWire, Shareaza and Skype. Most of the times p2p is used for file sharing, but it is also can be used for backup, voice and video communication, instant messaging. Clive Thompson in his article “The bittorrent effect” said that Bittorrent lets users quickly upload and download enormous amounts of data, files that are hundreds or thousands of times bigger than a single mp3.  It is very useful and convenient to download anything you want very fast and at any time. Thompson also said: “The whole concept of must-see TV changes from being something you stop and watch every Thursday to something you gotta check out right now, dude. Just click here.” But p2p created a problem for music and film industry. More users prefer to download favorite TV show or movie instead of waiting till it comes up on television. Piracy problem became bigger with P2P.