torrent erros

[hess303]

Cannot set Utorrent to download torrents by default. When attempting to download a torrent, I get the following error message:C:\DOCUME~1\JAMIET~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\Star Trek 2009 TELESYNC AAC-SecretMyth (Kingdom-Release) [mininova].torrent could not be saved, because you cannot change the contents of that folder.

Change the folder properties and try again, or try saving in a different location.

In fact, it won't download any torrent at all. have just now downloaded the uTorrent application. I have set uTorrent to default for my torrent files, which is what, I believe, the "torrent could not be saved" alludes to. Windows XP Home Edition

Can someone please provide feedback for this problem? A speedy rely will be greatly appreciated.

My apologies if I have posted to the incorrect forum.

[classicsoftware]

Are you asking for help downloading material in violation of about a billion copyright laws?

[hess303]

No! Not downloading anything illegal.

[classicsoftware]

What are you downloading?

[IM back!]

I dont like the anti torrent thing going on here. Bittorrent is just like method for transfering files like ftp. I for instance use it to dl Linux and hobbyist video clips.
Edit: i just saw the name of the torrent, that dose not look good

[classicsoftware]

Here is the deal. I would say 80-90% of the time torrents are being used to download copyrighted material including movies and TV shows.

Next these places are usually breeding grounds for all kinds of nasty stuff. I would say 60-70% of the infected systems I see have torrent software on them.

[PhilXP]

You Should check comments people posted about a torrent before you decide download.

[mjc]

When the OP lists the torrent in the description of the problem, and that torrent happens to be for a bootleg copy of a just released movie...yeah, there's something illegal going on. And yes, we mods have the right to come down like a ton of bricks on it.

It's pretty simple, really, since most of the time it isn't all the clear-cut as to what the problem is with torrents, especially the bootlegs, it is much easier to just say no...

[hess303]

My problem has been resolved. It was a matter of Settings. Visit http://beta.legaltorrents.com/, you may find something there that you'll like. It appears that this torrent thing has really gotten out of hand - when any question regarding the use of a torrent client is suspect. I suppose some mods don't download torrents, they just suspect, and jump to conclusions when another does. In fact, the Star Trek link was misnamed and later corrected. Moreover, the PC used to download the misnamed link is not my PC but a friend's, whom I'd told of a site that helps with PC problems. My name is Hess, V., not JaimeT. The request for assistance was made from his PC. I have a torrent client from which I download files. My torrent client is working perfectly. thank You!

[hess303]

And, while at the suggested torrent site, check out the "Star Wreck" torrent.

[classicsoftware]

Star Trek 2009 TELESYNC AAC-SecretMyth (Kingdom-Release) [mininova].torrent

This file is an illegal copy of the movie presently in theaters.

[mjc]

Sorry to get your feathers in a ruffle, but, the referenced torrent in the original post about the problem is most assuredly a bootleg item...

So, no help is going to be given when it is rather obvious that it is an illegal torrent being discussed. It doesn't matter who owns the machine, nor does it matter if that 99.9% of the time it is used to download/seed all the legal torrents known to man...there is a certain level of accountability and standards, that we as mods must enforce. One of those is we will not, knowingly, provide assistance in performing an illegal activity. We will also prevent others from providing advice on how to do so. That is part of the agreement you agreed to when you joined this forum.

By agreeing to these rules, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-oriented, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws.

That includes copyright laws. It doesn't matter what any mod does or doesn't do, it is our job to enforce the rules and policies of the board.

[hess303]

How do you know the cited file is real or not? Have you downloaded it and verified that what you state is fact? There are thousands of "illegal" fake torrents on torrent sites, even fake "legal" torrents. But, anyway, thanks for the info.

Not "ruffled" at all. Just stating factually.

[classicsoftware]

Just some more information on Bittorrents. Brian Krebs, just about the best security writer in the lay press reports today that malware infested copies of Windows 7 are appearing on peer to peer sites. Join the washingtonpost.com and read the entire article. Pirated Version of Windows 7 Has Malware Built-in (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/05/pirated_windows_7_installer_ha.html?wprss=security fix)

It's a good idea to avoid installing software of any kind -- operating systems in particular -- downloaded from P2P networks. Bundling malware with executable and installer files is an old trick that is still quite useful and effective today. In fact, there are no shortage of shadowy pay-per-install programs that revolve around this concept, granting tiny commissions to affiliates who spread the poisoned files on P2P networks like BitTorrent.

[Paul Komski]

My knowledge of the security aspects of torrents is incomplete so please fill in any holes or connect any inaccuracies. Like so much related to security it is only really through knowledge that we can know whether or not risks occur and how to minimise or recognise them when they are there.

Not all torrents are alike (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitTorrent_(protocol)) and they certainly have the advantage (from the providing server's point of view) that their bandwidth is hugely reduced from what it would be if providing a standard file to download by http or ftp. That is why large downloads (such as video files and CD/DVD ISOs) have been, and are, made available as "seeds" by completely reputable organisations such as the CBC, Linux distributors (such as this official Ubuntu page (http://www.ubuntulinux.org/getubuntu/downloadmirrors#bt)) and even some licenced versions directly from Hollywood distributors.

If the original seed is a clean file some members of the swarm (who complete the downoad) may with some torrents then become re-seeder providers but I don't know if they can modify that seed so that it will then be used by the same original tracker file. That would be useful to know for sure. I doubt if modifying the file to include malware would work (except for a complete file transferred to a single P2P peer) because such files are normally fragmented into chunks and the swarm (and the distribution of the chunks) controlled by the tracker.

Thus I don't think that the word Torrent on its own should raise peoples hackles or be taken to mean a single entity. I personlly will continue to use torrents to download Ubuntu from a reputable seed provider and especially since the MD5 values of the file are published and can be used to verify the completed download. If I'm wrong please let me know.

Yes, any installers (particularly since thay can bundle more than one executable) or other executables will always (just as with reputable normal downloads) be more risky than a bootable iso and particularly if they come from dodgy sites. And just as with normal downloads, Torrents that are associated with piracy, porn and other nefarious activities are more likely to make you "catch a cold".

Any downloaded file (torrent, ftp, http) should be (a) verifiable and (b) be scanned by up-to-date security software before being "run".

[mjc]

Yes, the original seed has to be corrupted. The torrent does have a hash and if the has doesn't match, the client searches for the correct hash. So if I complete a torrent and leave it up to seed, it has to stay the same as I downloaded or it will be dumped...

With something like Windows...all the available torrents are hacked. Whether it is just a 'harmless' license number hack or something much more insidious doesn't matter, the original is already contaminated.

With Linux, the original seed is put up on the developer's server and is as clean as the ftp/http download, because they are often the same file. (Yes, the first download of a seed is just like a 'regular' download...but after that, the 'magic' begins. Instead there being only a single source there are now two...a short while later, 4 and so on...)

[nuz]

Essentially, it all comes down to where you got your torrent file from. Even a legal installer (e.g., for a Linux ISO, Adobe Reader etc) from a dodgy site (e.g., from the previous discussion, mininova) can be infested with malware. If you want to use torrents to download, make sure you go to the developers' site and download the torrent from there. Since it has a built in CRC check, you're certain to get the correct file(s), without risk of errors or malware. Many uploaders (the first person to upload the file and publish the torrent) also supply a separate text file containing the hash within the download.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

If you want to use torrents to download, make sure you go to the developers' site and download the torrent from there.

For any of the softwares from a myriad of manufacturer's sites, I've yet to EVER see any offered from the manufacturer as a Torrent. There is no need for them at all IMO. There are host sites that take some of the traffic load away from the manufacturer but they are not torrents that involve 'shared' files.

If it is a paid for or free software, no matter. If it is available through torrents, be cautious. V-E-R-Y cautious AAMOF, don't even go there! :eek:

[mjc]

Yes, a number of the download services do supply the files, even paid files as torrents...they just don't call them that. If a site requires you use their downloader, chances are it's a torrent you are getting.

[nuz]

For any of the softwares from a myriad of manufacturer's sites, I've yet to EVER see any offered from the manufacturer as a Torrent.
Starting with the obvious.http://torrent.fedoraproject.org/

OpenOffice is also available as a torrent.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

The 'school' of fedorafish is well noted. But if Open Office was only ever offered as a torrent, I would have never used it.

Until they are Kr@p free, I'll steer clear.;)

[Paul Komski]

Until they are Kr@p free, I'll steer clear.That only makes any consistent sense to me if you never download any files on-line. Downloading using a torrent is no more risky than by other means. If the supplier is known to be a safe source you are in business and if you can check the hash you have additional security (regardless of the protocol used). I think that just because there is a P2P element involved it gives some people the shivers. But its not P2P - as in making a folder on your computer open for others to share files with - and with completely unknown and unverified/unverifiable files into the bargain. Nor is it P2P in the sense of installing P2P server software that makes your computer open to abuse. It's the same as with any downloading that invoves porn and warez/piracy; that's when Kr@p is almost endemic and when "free dinners" are seldom free but have a payload.

To try to further put things into context it should also be re-stated perhaps that downloading anything per se is not the risky part of the procedure. The risk only begins in earnest when the file is run or opened. This can only be done by the user, by a hacker or by an exploited vulnerability that can place a file in a position where it will be autorun or be otherwise kicked into action (say as a part of a botnet) at some point in time.

Possibly many don't think of browsing as "downloading" but that is exactly what it is. Normally however not just one file is downloaded and various associated browser plug-ins and scripts can or do have executive functions.

[nuz]

Plus the fact that torrents are automatically error checked and corrected, so you can be sure when you're about to install, you won't get a "file is corrupted" error. Not much of an issue if you're on a fast, stable connection, but a lifesaver on dialup.

[classicsoftware]

Torrents in and of themselves are not bad. Software that uses this technology to steal copyrighted material is the problem. When you have a gathering place where illegal activity is occurring, you can count on the perps to not limit themselves to just stealing the book/movie/tv show when they can steal the information for you or use your PC to send spam.

If you are downloading with torrent software from a legitimate site you will have no problem.

I can tell you that 95% of the PC's that I have to disinfect have either some type of torrent or file sharing software running on them, usually in the background just sucking the life out the PC.

[Paul Komski]

I can tell you that 95% of the PC's that I have to disinfect have either some type of torrent or file sharing software running on them
I agree that P2P Music or Porn seem to be much the most common conduits. One can often guess at the type of activity by the age of the predominant user(s). There are also the internet-naive group who say yes and click on enticing links and so forth or who run very poorly protected systems. However poorly protected systems seem usually to be less risky in this virtual world than those who go to dodgy places voluntarily.