What's the best file sharing program? I'm v worried about viruses.?

Question

My brother installed D++ on my new laptop, he said it was the safest, but it doesn't work and I'm ready to give up on it. Is there anything else anyone can recommend? I have a brand new laptop and really, really don't want any viruses. My last PC was ruined by using Kazaa.

I have Norton antivirus, would this be adequate protection to use alongside a file sharing service?

Thanks everyone.

Answer 1

Whatever service you use, you are probably going to have problems if you don't follow common sense. Keep your antivirus software up to date!!! Set up automatic updates, or if you don't want to do that, update it everyday. Before running, opening, or viewing anything you downloaded, scan it with your antivirus software. I use AVGfree and all I have to do is right click on the file in question and then a menu pops up with the option to scan with AVG.

Keep your firewall running at all times that you are connected to the internet. I highly recommend running ZoneAlarm, which is a free firewall that will ask you before any program accesses the internet. This way, if you do run into some nasty software and it tries to let it's friends in, you'll know about it and stop it in it's tracks. Last time I checked, Microsofts firewall, which is the default Windows XP firewall that came with your computer, doesn't stop software on your computer from sending information from it, it only stops programs from getting into your computer. You can download ZoneAlarm from www.downloads.com.

Look at the extension of the file you are downloading before you download it. If you want a music file, make sure the file is in a music file format, the most common file extensions for such files being .mp3. A movie would be .avi or .wmv, but there are other formats. Many virus files are around 1 megabyte for some reason, so be wary of those. If you aren't familiar with any of the terms I have written, you might want to do a little research on that, because it will make a virus file easier to spot.

Don't forget to scan those files first. Also, do a regular scan of your entire system. You can schedule your software to do it the same time every week, such as 3:00pm on fridays.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Try Limewire - it actally tells you a file is corrupt before you download it and gives you the choice!

I have Norton too and have had Limewire for about a year - I have not had a single virus on my comp in that time! When I had Kazaa I used to get dozens!

I pay for Limewire but its really very cheap for all the piece of mind you get! I pay about 50p a month as I bought it on special.
£6 a year for virus free computing, well worth it!

At the link I provided below
Its 99p a month for a 2 year subscription
£1.50 a month for 1 yr
£23 for lifetime subscription at the moment on special offer

you also get a 7 day free trial so you can check it out first

- its super fast (you get so used to Kazaa taking forever that it will be a BIG shock how quick Limewire is) and I always get a really good connection to it (it doesnt disconnect itself all the time like Kazaa does).

I've put a link to a site below which has the special offer on it for lifetime subscription but look around (google it) as you might be able to get a better price

http://www1.free-music-shared.com/limewire1/index.asp?se=go4838-uke012-limewire

its i tunes compatible, compatible to all operating systems (Windows, Mac, Solaris, Linux etc), has no spyware or adware and is so easy to use!

Answer 3

You can't really ruin a pc with viruses; you just wipe the hard drive and re-install Windows. So if you still have your old pc do that and use that to download by file sharing. That way you can keep all the rubbish and viruses on one machine. Don't transfer those files across to your new laptop.
But if you file share you're going to get something nasty at some point.

Answer 4

Norton is ok... But I can say that there are other programs better than this one.

You can use:

Avira Antivirus or
AVG Antivirus.

You can use them at the same time... Safer!

For the P2P, I use BitComet and no viruses never... I have more than 4 months with it.

Answer 5

Hi there is a site www.limewire.com it is a file sharing program that is very safe as you also have the option to upgrade to the pro edition but if you go to the site and download the program go to the basic option and install i can assure you it is very safe and you are able to download movies as well as music, hope this is of help to you.
vicki

Answer 6

Kazaa is crap
Limewire isn't too bad for music and such
just make sure you have a good virus scan

Answer 7

http://www.limewire.com/ is the most used free file sharing site. make sure you have anti virus running before swapping any files. the free edition of avg available from http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/ does a good job. once you have installed limewire do a search for limewire pro. then install this and delete the original. pro is faster.

Answer 8

This question is gettin to be annoying! F I L E S H A R I N G: connecting to a total strangers pc and downloading whatever he wants to put on your system regardless of what file you are trying to download including viruses!
ALL file sharing sites work this way! The sites have NO control over what you download whatsover and furthermore dont give a rats ***! You are the user who chooses to take a chance! NO file sharing site is ANY safer than any other! Now.....pass this on to your idiot friends so they stop asking this dumass question!
TOO ALL OF YOU WHO INSIST ON TELLING EVERYONE THAT VIRUS PROTECTION KEEPS YOU SAFE! ANYONE WITH HALF A BRAIN CAN DISGUISE ANY VIRUS THEY WANT AND YOUR VIRUS PROTECTION IS ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS! MOST OF THE USERS OF THESE SITES DONT EVEN REALIZE THEY ARE SPREADING THE VIRUS THEMSELVES!

Answer 9

I use limewire pro. That with McAfee virus protection seems to work just fine. Have been using it for over a year on my laptop and have yet to have any problems.

Answer 10

Hey,
Downlod Emule http://j.mp/1AymFG1. The number one file sharing software, no doubt about it.
It's a really nice software.
I hope it helps