Indictment Highlights File-Sharing Risks 86
Bomarc writes "Via the KOMO-TV website, an article from the Associated Press about how Gregory Thomas Kopiloff used Limewire, Soulseek and other peer-to-peer file-sharing programs to troll other computers for financial information, which he used to open credit cards for an online shopping spree, according to a four-count indictment unsealed in US District Court on Thursday. The news article isn't big on details, but it does outline the risks with peer-to-peer file-sharing programs."
Re:Why? (Score:1, Informative)
Because there's more good music available on Soulseek; you can see the bitrate before you download it; you can talk to users in rooms about the music first; you can download the same album from more than one person for speed; you don't end up waiting in vain for the last 6.9% of a torrent; you can ban leeches; it's trivial to upload your own music (I have no idea how to share something via BitTorrent - I think I have to read stuff and run programs etc = very boring. Perhaps it's easier with some clients though).... I mean I could go on...
try .tax (Score:5, Informative)
I would never recommend viewing such information or committing any crimes, but it's interesting to see one IP address with tens or hundreds of tax returns shared. If you hire an outside tax preparer, be aware!
Imagine - your SSN, name, address, a list of banks that have paid you interest, a list of stocks that you own, your taxable income and amount of tax paid (which the IRS uses as proof that you are who you say you are, if you perform an online inquiry), etc.
And the victim doesn't even realize that their PAID PREPARER is sharing the information with the world! No lie! There are hundreds available every April!
PS, Don't try to call any of the individuals and tip them off - they have a tendency to shoot the messenger!
Re:Filesharing isn't a risk (Score:3, Informative)