File Sharing Opens Users to Identity Theft

Wed Nov 7, 2007 5:09PM EST

See Comments (138)

Surprise! When you share files on your computer with the teeming masses on the Internet, you might be sharing more than just music and video files. Numerous peer-to-peer users are learning, the hard way, that file sharing is a quick and easy way to open yourself up to identity theft.

The story isn't at all new, but the Wall Street Journal is bringing it into better focus, with specific examples and an indication that this trend is exploding. One man pleaded guilty last week to stealing tax forms, credit reports, and loan applications from more than 50 people, through the file-sharing program LimeWire. He then used the info to open credit accounts in those people's names, the usual form that identity theft takes. In September, Citigroup lost more than 5,000 Social Security numbers because one of its employees was using LimeWire and shared the wrong network. Ditto for Pfizer in June, which lost 17,000 employee records the same way.

Finding this stuff online isn't hard. Search any P2P network for hot-button words like "taxes," "resume," or "loan," and you'll come across personal information in seconds. It's also easy to misconfigure your computer to inadvertently share this information. One or two clicks is normally all it takes to share the entire contents of your hard drive instead of a specific directory intended for sharing. And no, all the security software in the world won't help you if you make a mistake like this.

What should you do? For starters, don't use P2P at all if you don't know what you're getting into. As the WSJ notes, using a computer dedicated solely to file sharing is a potentially good solution; just keep anything you don't want shared off the PC altogether. (It also goes without saying that you shouldn't share copyrighted material, either, but that's a lecture for another day.) Some networks are safer than others; certain P2P apps, like BearShare, no longer allow DOC or PDF files to be shared at all. On the other hand, in my experience, LimeWire is the network most likely to turn up private information.

The full story also has information on corporate software that can help protect you by monitoring what you're sharing, called Tiversa. Check out the link below for more details.

LINK: The Hidden Risk of File-Sharing 

Comments on File Sharing Opens Users to Identity Theft

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 46 Posted by blue_koala_27 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    omg... that is soo scary... ;D well just goes to show that one should be smart!

  • 47 Posted by shikamarurocks on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    big_blind1, if she didn't want people to see the pictures she shouldn't have taken them of herself in the first place.

  • 49 Posted by xir47 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    P2P is cool. I do not have to get my cd, put it in computer, deal with windows media player to rip the music off I want to convert to mp3 for my mp3 player. I just pick the song I want to hear and bam it is done. P2P is an excellent tool if used correctly. Just make sure you already have in your possession the cd or movie you download or buy it on ebay for dirt cheap first to protect yourself.

  • 50 Posted by imrd159 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't even keep this kind of stuff on my computer.

  • 51 Posted by mg_roberts on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    a solution wasn't provided? the solution is don't steal software/movies/music. i hate the riaa and all the high prices as well, but theft is theft. i just wanted to add... people that think using a seperate PC for personal information will give you some type of security are sorely mistaken. the only way that will protect you is if it isn't connect to your network or the internet. if your "private" pc is connected to the internet via the same network or even an allocated network or subnet as the "sharing" pc, it's just as easy to steal the information from the "personal" pc as if the information was right there on the "sharing" pc. bottom line is, don't install P2P software of any kind. there is absolutely no legal reason to install it anyway.

  • 52 Posted by tsukigawanekura on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    micahrodriguez: File sharing is not all about illegal music downloads. Some people use it for that, yes, but certain open source projects are so large that the best way for them to be distributed is over a peer-to-peer network. Some music artists do release over peer-to-peer networks. Public domain works and certain others are allowed to be redistributed in whatever form. As you might imagine, none of /that/ is illegal.

  • 53 Posted by zood48 on Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:48PM EST Report Abuse

    What a joke. Next the WSJ will warn of child predators stealing children online from their bedrooms. Fear mongers.

  • 54 Posted by george_mccasland on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is why I removed Limewire from my computer. Someone was trying to access my invention folder.

  • 55 Posted by southpaw_pdx on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have to question the motivation of using P2P applications. If you are not illegally sharing music and movies made by recording artists and movie studios, then what are you really sharing? -- Does everyone have a band and want to share their own music? If so, get a MySpace page like everyone else. -- Does everyone need to share movies staring themselves? If you, use YouTube. -- If you want to share personal stuff with others who you authorize, email them or set up your own FTP server. What's left? Stop fooling yourselves. P2P/BitTorrent exists to steal stuff. Plain and simple.

  • 57 Posted by hornychiken on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    These are probably the same people who download 200kb .exe songs and wonder why they have a virus.

  • 58 Posted by autochump on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    We COULD stop sharing music, and let the sleaze of the world destroy music, art and continue to steal from musicians. They are the bigger thieves. Buy your music at local shows or directly from the artist's site. the more money you give to large labels, the more you insure the downfall of human expression and freedom. FTI baby, FTI...

  • 59 Posted by simplyangelic1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    WARNING TO USERS OF LIMEWIRE! It has the capacity to completely wipe away many of your important files, documents, specifically music or personal videos completely clean from your hard drive if you're not careful. That is something they won't tell you when you first become a member. Unfortunately I learned it the hard way.

  • 60 Posted by pseeley17 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am computer illiterate - but I was wondering if anybody knew if itunes was considered file sharing....? Wasn't sure what the difference between Lime Wire and Itunes was.... (ignorant, I know)

  • 61 Posted by southwestpics on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Does this mean Bill O'Reilly won't be ordering no MF iced over the web?

  • 62 Posted by tanis22 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    I reccommend using a sperate computer for file sharing. This is what I do. I recently wired my whole house and keep my file server in the garage on a shelf. NO WIRELESs. Besides its constant in ability to hold a solid connection while transfering large data, say 2 to 3 gigs over the network, a person can hack the signal if they wanted. There are also added benfits by keeping a file server, one big one is if you set up a RAID, the data is protected from equipment failure (HD, MB, etc, from dying). You can then place all your important, music, video, documents and other materials on it. By not messing with it and constantly tweaking it, the system always runs. I leave it on 24/7/365 and since it is out of the way, it just runs in the background behind the scenes doing its job. I scan in all my bills, my tivo accesses it, tax records and any other important documents or " fun toys". I have complete access to all my records at a drop of a hat. The best part is that no one can access them unless you are on my network. This holds all the information secure and rock solid. For those wondering as far as cost, just use that old computer after you upgrade. Spend a little more money for two harddrives and a raid card and you are in business.

  • 63 Posted by kingpin348 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ha Ha. Lime Wire is the AOL of P2P. Let's not lay all the blame on the software. The virgin's who dig for personal stuff should be beated severely about the face and eyes with their own keyboards.

  • 64 Posted by chinaski_13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    Only a total moron would steal my identity. In fact, I wish someone would. Maybe then creditors would staring calling them instead.

More Posts: First Prev … 2 3 4 5 6 … Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.