P2P File Sharing

Google defines file sharing as the practice of or ability to transmit files from one computer to another over a network or the internet. P2P, or "peer to peer" file sharing, deals with the transmission of files from one end-user's computer to another's through the internet, without using an intermediary server. In his article, "The BitTorrent Effect," Clive Thompson addresses just how prominent P2P programs have become, providing statistics as "BitTorrent traffic accounts for more than one-third of all data sent across the internet," as of 2006. Using P2P file sharing platforms can be an efficient way to share large files with others, but users must take caution, as certain files can subject users to viruses, spyware, and even identity theft. Examples of P2P sharing platforms include well-known ones as BitTorrent, Napster, The Pirate Bay, and lesser known ones such as P2P lending platforms Lending Club and Prosper, mentioned by Wendy Kaufman in her article, "Peers Find Less Pressure Borrowing From Each Other."