Kazaa news flash

[Ploaf]

I don't know how many of you use Kazaa, but I'm sure that some of you have seen the story that was posted in GD on their upcoming venture - http://news.com.com/2100-1023-873181.html This look like news that was very on topic here.

I don't think it was an April Fools joke. For some reason I think I've seen it before. Anyway. For those of you who do not feel like reading the article then it states that Kazaa will start running distributed computing and bandwidth sharing software on the PC's of it's users. The software has already been installed but has not been used yet, although they are planning to use it very soon. My thinking is that the software, while it probably uses and idle priority, may use an idle priority higher than [email protected] in which case we could see a drop in production. The article mentions that they won't use your machine without your permission, but something tells me that you've already given your permission to them to do this. I don't have it installed and have never seen the license agreement. I'm not sure how to get out of it however and it would be a good thing if we had more info on this.

 

[JetMech]

That's cold blooded.

 

[flounder43]

Interesting. They say that it will be an "opt-in" program, but did people opt-in to the program that already is on their computer?

 

[Arkaine23]

stuff

These types of programs shouldn't be discussed here in order to protect the people who run overclockers. However, since you're talking about evil news rather than actual illegal pirating maybe that's not so bad. Well, when I'm done with kazaa, I'll uninstall it. And I'm about due for a good old format/reinstall anyway. That'll sure kill the distributed program and spyware.

 

[Loud]

You might try AdAware. It detects and removes spyware. It's a free d/l from lavasoftusa.com.

 

[JetMech]

Interesting. They say that it will be an "opt-in" program, but did people opt-in to the program that already is on their computer?

That's the part I find to be cold. Very seldom do I ever read all the way through those agreements. Luckily I don't have any of the mentioned software on my sys, but I have a friend that's been trying to get me to try Morpheus for sometime now. I really have no need for it so i've never dl'd it.

 

[Jeff Bolton]

i'll fold as long as it is my own option, like the client that i'm using now: if kazaa puts this into their program and doesn't make it common knowledge, then that just isn't cool. i don't use programs like that anyways, but i know a lot of people that do. sure folding is a good cause, but not enough to counter the amount of secrecy and privacy-infringement that all of these p2p companies participate in.

jeff

 

[David]

The distributed computing client in Kazaa will process Kazaa's data will it not? The only threat is if it stops folding from functioning correctly.

 

[KFB]

i'll fold as long as it is my own option, like the client that i'm using now: if kazaa puts this into their program and doesn't make it common knowledge, then that just isn't cool. i don't use programs like that anyways, but i know a lot of people that do. sure folding is a good cause, but not enough to counter the amount of secrecy and privacy-infringement that all of these p2p companies participate in.

jeff

the kazaa client won't be folding, it will be doing commercial DC

 

[Tweaked!]

I've given almost all those pnp type programs a try at one point or the other, (kazaa, morpheus, winmx, napster, etc..) and finally ran adaware last night and found 93 different versions of spyware. Thats getting a little out of hand! And I was wondering why my windoze Me was running idle @ 60 - 80% without F&H
My production should be up now. Man, that pis*es me off

 

[Jeff Bolton]

the kazaa client won't be folding, it will be doing commercial DC

thanks for the clarification

jeff

 

[Mr B]

A thought from the Moderator's seat...

Let's keep this discussion on track, please, and not get into the "illegal" aspects of what these programs do. If this thread goes there...I have no choice but to kill it, due to Forum Policy.

If what Ploaf says above is true, there's another good reason not to use this stuff....

Mr B
Forums and Classsifieds Moderator

 

[nil_esh]

Kazaa will most likely be doing for-profit distributed computing. I'm not surprised considering their history. No Kazaa on my computer. I do use Edonkey2000 and sometimes the Gnutella network, and share legit stuff like free e-books and Linux distros. Edonkey has multiplexing downloads which is always good. If enough people were to share the same linux distros on Edonkey, it would be faster then getting off of ftp/http.

BTW I've got some good links on defeating spyware, specifically for Kazaa, PM me if you want them.

 

[donny_paycheck]

Two words: KILL PROCESS

I use kazaa for finding just about anything because it's very useful, but I only run it when I'm downloading something. Just hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and check the process list and CPU usage....that'll tell you if it's taking anything it shouldn't. In light of this news I might just be getting rid of this software though.

 

[Cluster]

Ctrl + Shift + Esc is quicker

And yes, all you have to do is check the usage, if you kill folding, check where it says Idle Usage, or somethin like that, if that's not at 99 or at least high 90's when you not doing anything, then you've got spyware programs running.

This is the reason i hate windows so much, i've got this little casino game, yes a full fledged program not a IE windows, that keeps popping up, and when it does it installs in my Start Menu, Program Files Folder, Quick Launch and the Registry. I can't find the goddamn source of it.

Go linux ppl, and fold faster!!!

BTW, MrB, were u a member of Rage3D once?

 

[KFB]

just goes to show that people love to make profit off of ignorance

 

[Wolfmist]

I think that the majority of people using this program are computer illiterate and do not understand the implications of using one's computer would have.

How many programs have you downloaded where they intentionaly put a long agreement that you have to accept?

I believe these agreements are specifically long and use confusing language for reasons that are not in the consumers best interest.

I used to just click whatever button got me to the program or installation. Now I find myself actually reading through them.

I think agreements such as these should be mandated to be simplified so that the average person would be able to undertand without having to either read it again or read many pages of text

 

[flounder43]

If anybody needs me to read through a license agreement for them and advise you as to it, I will be happy to....at my usual hourly rate, of course...

 

[Ploaf]

I suspect that this is already built into the license too. That's why you read the license to see what you're agreeing to before installing

Anyway. I only brought this up not to cause an uproar, but so that you can know that if you are using this software that it may slow your folding down. I don't know if it will or not but the folding client runs at idle 1, or at least it did, which is lower than most programs with an idle priority.

We can't really get upset about things like Kazaa anymore even if they decide to do this, especially if it was built into the license agreement. We now know that it's scumware and if we choose to use it then that's our prerogative. One point of mention that may or may not be worthy in a lawsuit. This software and service is being offered as free. The using of bandwidth and cpu time of the people who use the "free" software means that it is not free and that there is a cost associated with the receipt and use of the software. Just something to look into in case anyone feels the urge to stir the pot. There is precedent for this too. They may have covered their collective ### with this, but what the heck

 

[Mr B]

BTW, MrB, were u a member of Rage3D once?

Nope. I'm assuming you're looking at a certain page of my stats, which shows a Mr_Bucket666 or something of that nature. I have no idea who this is. Hasn't Folded in a very long time (long before I joined the team here, which is the only team I've ever Folded for, for the only Forums I've ever "truly" been a member of (I've signed up at a couple of others, but have between 1 and three posts at most there (if not combined))).

There's a Mr_Bojangles that shows up on that page too...."Mr B" seems to a popular nick...lol