Peerguardian2 is dead, long live PeerBlock

[EvaUnit02]

As you know Peerguardian2 hasn't been updated in like 2 years and doesn't even have native Vista/W7 64-bit support. Well the recently released PeerBlock is built from the PG2 source code, has a signed Vista/W7 64-bit driver and seems to be updated regularly.

http://www.peerblock.com/

[bradavon]

Do you think this is essential?

I used to run Peer Guardian but haven't used it in years. It seems like overkill IMO.

[EvaUnit02]

Do you think this is essential?

When I'm downloading torrents, damn straight I do.

It seems like overkill IMO.

Protip: You don't have to have it running all the time. I only use it whilst my torrent clients are open.

I used to run Peer Guardian but haven't used it in years.

That's like Tom not running a virus scanner, not a bright move at all. You have my condolences.

[bradavon]

I only use it whilst my torrent clients are open.

I'd do that. I only use BitTorrent once a month or so. The odd album/software etc...

That's like Tom not running a virus scanner, not a bright move at all. You have my condolences.

You reckon it's that big?

[Lourdes]

Ditch these programs, they're nothing more than a waste of time and resources that introduce a false sense of security. The blocklists are a complete joke and don't contain any IP's actually used to check for infringement, just IP's owned by all sorts of copyright holders - usually just those of their webservers and such. And even if they actually were the addresses used to check up on you it wouldn't matter because they don't need to connect to you, only see you in the swarm/sharing.

[bradavon]

What's the latest on this? Still a waste of time or still worthwhile? And if they are a waste of time, any recommendations? (save for stop using P2P).

With the recent Digital Economy Bill going through, it's worth looking into again.

[Yi-Long]

Why exactly would I want/need this?

[romerojpg]

Only Law Breakers need it

[bradavon]

As you're asking, it's not for you. Do you download from BitTorrent? If not, it's not for you. I don't think it works with other Peer-2-Peer networks (eDonkey, Gnutella, Usenet etc...) but may do.

[Yi-Long]

Yeah, I use BT. So what does it protect me from? 'The law'? Like they're gonna sue and destroy me for downloading a couple of Batman episodes, or a PSP game?

[bradavon]

They may do. The theory is, it makes it appear your connection is using an IP in another country than the one you're actually using. I believe that's how it works anyway.

Like you say, small downloaders like us are probably fine but the new UK bill (see other thread) is pretty darn strict. France has already implemented a similar bill. Will Holland be next? I only download the odd album/software. I buy more than enough DVDs/BDs to ever get into downloading movies big time and regular digital TV serves my TV needs.

[Yi-Long]

I don;t know what will happen, but it seems to me they'd be shooting themselfs in the foot if they would go after normal people like us, downloading the occasional movie/tv-series/music/game.

I now pay 25-30 euro for a fast internet connection. I also pay money for games and dvd's and such.

Now, if you can't download anything anymore, I will just switch back to a 5 buck-a-month slow internet connection, which will still be fast enough for browsing and email and such, but I won't need the extra speed for downloads anymore. I'm sure I wont be the only one, so that would be a blow to all the companies who are now investing in high-speed internet and such.

Instead, I will just go back to ordering my illegal crap from some 'guy down the street', 'at work', 'at school', whatever, who will just ask for a few bucks. We'll just go back to that kinda stuff. And because we already feel we have now paid for our 'entertainment', we won't really consider buying the original stuff anymore.

So TBH, I feel it will just make the situation for the entertainment-industry worse. They also seem to keep forgetting that while everyone has access to the internet and many are downloading, their sales are mostly still going up.

Nowadays, we download something to try it out, and when we like it enough, many of us will buy it once the price is right. Not everything ofcourse. Personally I hardly ever listen to music, so I don't spend any money on it, yet I do download some music for the very rare times I'm bored in the train or on a plane or whatever. I spend my money for entertainment on books, movies and games.

[bradavon]

I don;t know what will happen, but it seems to me they'd be shooting themselfs in the foot if they would go after normal people like us, downloading the occasional movie/tv-series/music/game.

Given quite how big the problem is (massive). I suspect they'll concentrate on the big downloaders. If I do get a letter, there is always other P2P Networks to use instead (such as Usenet).

I also pay money for games and dvd's and such.

Statistically people who download illegally buy more legally, than those who don't. What pisses me off most, is the constant argument, about how much revenue is lost. Which is complete bollocks. The amount of content downloaded illegally would never translate to legal sales. People will simply buy less.

You also have to ask, what exactly can one do with Virgin (as an example) Broadband's 50Mbps or even 100Mbps, without P2P downloading? Long term maybe HD Streaming but that isn't here yet.

Instead, I will just go back to ordering my illegal crap from some 'guy down the street', 'at work', 'at school', whatever, who will just ask for a few bucks.

Exactly!

Instead of fighting it, when they've already lost, they'd be better off working out others ways to make money. Like Spotify or Live events (which are thriving).

They also seem to keep forgetting that while everyone has access to the internet and many are downloading, their sales are mostly still going up.

Again, exactly. Ultimately I will never feel guilty, whilst they're all still millionaires. Those who're "genuinelly" suffering from people downloading illegaly are in the minority.

Nowadays, we download something to try it out, and when we like it enough, many of us will buy it once the price is right. Not everything of course.

And you're not alone by doing this. I now download most of my music but for artists I'm big fans of, I'll still buy the CD.

Anyway, back to PeerBlock. Are you going to start using it?

[Yi-Long]

I won't be using it in the near-future, mostly because I still don't really understand what it protects me from, but also because here in Holland, they aren't really hunting down on downloaders like myself.

If the industry wants to make more money out of digital downloads, they should come up with better offers, and the consumers need more rights. I'm willing to BUY Dexter, and I'm willing to buy it completely digital, but I feel 1 euro per episode is the max I'm willing to spend for a 1-hour show, and I should 'OWN' it. With that, I mean that even when I erase it after I watched it, when I want to rewatch it again in 5 years, or 20 years, I don't have to pay AGAIN to watch the episodes that I already bought!

[bradavon]

It is worth enabling BitTorrent encryption (instructions for each client):

http://torrentfreak.com/how-to-encrypt- ... t-traffic/

You don't want to set it to Forced though, just Enabled. Not all server support encryption, although most do. It has no affect on download speeds, it just means the connection to the server is encrypted.

[Yi-Long]

It is worth enabling BitTorrent encryption (instructions for each client):

http://torrentfreak.com/how-to-encrypt- ... t-traffic/

You don't want to set it to Forced though, just Enabled. Not all server support encryption, although most do. It has no affect on download speeds, it just means the connection to the server is encrypted.

Thanks, I might do that. Not downloading much lately though. Can't seem to find Dexter in high quality with enough seeds, so I'll just wait till the blu-ray gets out here in Europe. Plus I'm looking into the whole newsgroup side of things, which will cost me about 7-10 euro a month, but promises much more and easier downloads than through Bittorrent.

[bradavon]

You may even find it's already enabled. It's one of those no brainer settings.

Plus I'm looking into the whole newsgroup side of things, which will cost me about 7-10 euro a month, but promises much more and easier downloads than through Bittorrent.

Funnily enough me too and I've come to the same conclusion, plus the media hasn't cottoned on to that yet.

[saltysam]

I Use Astraweb in conjunction with Newsbin.

[bradavon]

Do you find you need two? A mate uses NewsHosting.

[saltysam]

Do you find you need two? A mate uses NewsHosting.

i don't need two.Astraweb is the provider,newsbin is just the newsreader which you use to download stuff using Astraweb.

[bradavon]

Understood. Thanks. The same friend recommended Alt.Binz for binaries (i.e - everything bar text) and Snag-it for text.

[Shingster]

You don't need to look any further than Astraweb for a Usenet server really, they're cheap, fast, have good retention, and offer SSL encrypted downloading. For a newsreader go with NewzBin like Salty or Newsleecher. It's also worth pointing out that Usenet is NOT a p2p network either.

[bradavon]

Good point, it isn't. I meant P2P in the general sense of a downloading service. It looks like Newzbin is a Usenet service and Newsbin a Usenet client.

Do use PeerBlock?

[Shingster]

No I'd never heard of it before it was brought up on these boards, I don't think I download the kind of files that would catch the attention of the companies who watch though as I mostly use torrents to get my latest anime episodes and manga really.

[bradavon]

Is that how it's going to work though?