Identity theft via P2P - Article in Security http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20182275 en Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:28:52 EDT Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:28:52 EDT Re: Identity theft via P2P - Article http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20194259 Rifleman : I posted about this way back when. I use Shareaza---which utilizes Limewire, Morpheus, Gnuteela, edonkey etc all together.
Limewire and many other P2P programs--when you install them use the wrong folders to share. You have to specify what you share or you end up sharing your whole hard drive.
For fun I would do a search for "tax return" I was amazed at how many results I got. If one user had his tax returns availabe you could then "browse" what else they had to share. Usually bank and credit card info, family photos, legal documents etc etc.
When bored--for a while I would try to chat with these people and try to explain that limewire was sharing their entire hard drive. I think I only reached one person who would listen. One day I got a lawyer from new York who had reams of legal documents and court cases available. I found his phone number and called him. It took an hour for it finally to sink in that anyone looking could have access. He freaked and thanked me profusely after he went home and checked.
The ease of this method is alarming for the abuse potential.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20194259 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:40:48 EDT Re: Identity theft via P2P - Article http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20186230 SilverSurfer :
said by La Luna See Profile :

Unfortunately, in many cases kids and parents have no idea what they're doing beyond *install>start>share*, nor do they bother to find out.
in which case they so richly deserved to be ransacked. I don't have any pity for people who play with technology and don't know how to use it. P2P isn't something that you have no idea that you're installing. And anyone with children who don't supervise them or their computer habits doesn't have an excuse either. Do your job as a parent and stay an informed individual and then ID theft via P2P this won't happen. :mad:]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20186230 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:47:07 EDT Re: Identity theft via P2P - Article http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20184421 La Luna : I remember researching and finding many warnings, years ago when my son used Morpheus, stating to make sure your P2P program was NOT sharing access to your entire HD!! In fact, the program itself stated as much in the install/help instructions.

Unfortunately, in many cases kids and parents have no idea what they're doing beyond *install>start>share*, nor do they bother to find out.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20184421 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:20:22 EDT Re: Identity theft via P2P - Article http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20184013 Cabal :
In many cases, prosecutors said, Kopiloff's victims were unaware their children had installed the software.
It would be nice if they learned something in the process, but I'm not holding out much hope in this day and age.
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Interested in open source engine management for your Subaru?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20184013 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:13:50 EDT Identity theft via P2P - Article http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20182275 Jahntassa :
SEATTLE - A man was sentenced to more than four years in prison Monday in what prosecutors said was the first federal case against someone using file-sharing software to steal identities.

Gregory Kopiloff pleaded guilty in November to mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and accessing a protected computer without authorization to further fraud.

Although people have been prosecuted for using networks to illegally share copyrighted music, movies and software, the Justice Department called Kopiloff's prosecution its first case against someone accused of using file-sharing programs such as LimeWire to commit identity theft.

Kopiloff, 35, of Seattle, used the software to search people's computers for personal financial documents. In many cases, prosecutors said, Kopiloff's victims were unaware their children had installed the software.

Kopiloff received four years and three months in prison. His attorney, Jennifer Wellman, argued for three years, saying her client regretted his actions and had turned to identity theft to support drug and gambling addictions.
»www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23682023/

I never would've thought of that... Granted way back when I actually used P2P stuff I would make sure of where my uploads directory was.

I'm sure most people who actively use P2P stuff wouldn't have been affected by something like this, but as the article says, what about people who's kids install it?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20182275 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:45:15 EDT