Finding Free eBooks & Audiobooks

December 12, 2007 by sharky

Here’s a list of some common methods for finding eBooks and audiobooks on various P2P networks and protocols.

An eBook, or Electronic book (sometimes spelled “E-Book”), is simply a book, magazine, manual etc. that has been released to digital format. They take many forms, such as *.PDF (Adobe Acrobat) files, *.CHM (similar to a Windows ‘help’ file), *.LIT files (Microsoft Reader) or just plain text files (ASCII). Usually when a book or magazine is converted to these formats (except ASCII), it is professionally done in deliberate support of the program that is opening it, making the reading experience far more enjoyable that reading it in a text editor like Notepad.

An audiobook is a book that has been professionally narrated and saved to digital format. Retail audiobooks are normally found in the form of CD media to be enjoyed in any compact disk player. However, a ripped audiobook will most likely be found as *.MP3 files in order to save space, and can be ‘burned’ to CD media if desired (be advised that many audiobooks will require many CD disks to complete just one book - sometimes as many as 30 - as in the case of unabridged versions). But if you choose this route, use CD-RW (re-writeable) disks so you can use them again afterwards. Many tech-savvy people opt to play these MP3s on portable media players like iPODs, MP3 players and even cell phones.

Using Serials, Cracks & Keygens

December 12, 2007 by sharky

OK, so you’ve downloaded some great software, and you can’t figure out how to get it to work. In general there are only three methods that all ‘Release Groups’ adhere to for getting that illicit piece of software or game to good use: Serial numbers, cracks and key generators.

In a proper release, there is always an information file that accompanies the release (an *.NFO file). It is here that information can be found about how to get the software working normally.

Bad P2P Programs - What To Avoid

December 09, 2007 by sharky

Some contain crazy spyware; some you just can’t connect to anymore; and some just want your money. Either way, steer clear.

Adware/spyware-laden P2P clients
Pay-to-use P2P services/programs
The iPod $ Music Scam
P2P programs that don’t connect
Other things to avoid

Below is a list of some outstandingly BAD P2P clients, as tested in Dec. 2007 - each with a summary. They could have fit into ALL of the categories above.

Anonymity Software (Anonymous Proxies)

December 07, 2007 by sharky

Using Software to maintain Anonymity / Anonymous Browsers

Anon Proxy
GoTrusted
JAP
Psiphon
Torpark
SSL Explorer
xB Browser

To compliment web proxies and proxy servers, a software-based approach can help automate the anonymity process. The trick is performed by setting up a SOCKS server (proxy server) that performs the bypass procedure. Not only will most programs allow you to surf the web anonymously, there’s a variety of implications that go beyond the realm of just hiding the IP address. Other useful features include:

  • — Using P2P programs from behind a corporate or university firewall.
  • — Sending email to recipients via programs that would otherwise be restricted.
  • — Using “Messaging” software on prohibited machines.
  • — Block popups, ads and spyware.
  • — Remove scripts (java) and potentially dangerous activex components.
  • — Encryption features, file shredding, cache emptying.
  • — Erase your online tracks, history, cookies, temp files.
  • — Anonymous web searching

Anonymous Proxy Servers

December 06, 2007 by sharky

Using ‘Proxy Servers’ to maintain Anonymity

As opposed to web-based anonymous proxies, “real” proxy servers don’t rely on you having to visit their website every time to enter an Internet address, or URL. While generally they offer the same anonymous services as their web-based cousins, proxy servers are embedded into the Internet browser, within the settings. Another key feature is that they can also be incorporated into almost every single application that requires access to the Internet: Online games, FTP programs, P2P filesharing programs - just to name a few.

Like everything else on the Internet, Proxy Servers come in two flavors: Free and Paid.

How to Browse Isohunt & Torrentspy in the U.S.

December 05, 2007 by sharky

Yeah, we all know Isohunt and Torrentspy have banned access to Americans. If you visit their sites, you’ll probably see something similar to this image (unless, of course, you live in the rest of the world!):

How to circumvent this:

These two websites have blocked U.S. access to their torrents, but this doesn’t mean the exact same torrents don’t exist somewhere else. And the files are hosted by trackers that don’t block American users - the trackers themselves haven’t changed anything (they’re still serving up the same ol’ files to American downloaders from other BitTorrent sites).

All you have to do to start surfing again on Isohunt or Torrentspy, is use an anonymous web proxy (heck, they’re free all over the place) or use a proxy server. There’s even proxy software that’ll allow you “anonymous” web surfing (which is the same thing).

Anonymous Web Proxies & Proxy Servers

December 05, 2007 by sharky

An anonymous web proxy allows anyone to surf the web anonymously (almost) through the web browser. It works by hiding the user’s IP address and any other identifiable information from the websites that they are visiting. This is great for protecting your online identity, or browsing websites that may be otherwise blocked from your location (work, school, library etc.). Privacy is the key benefit to using an anonymous web proxy. They prevent other websites from tracking your browsing habits while protecting your browser history at the same time. Also, they work from any computer, without downloading any software.

IP Blocking & Blocklists

December 04, 2007 by sharky

Using ‘IP Blocking’ and Blocklists (P2P)

IP blocking/blocklisting is simply a technique used to restrict (block) traffic from any computer that is within a set list or parameters of any given IP range.

While IP Blocking hardly makes oneself anonymous, it can significantly reduce your chances of being tracked by bad groups interested in what you’re doing with your bandwidth. And by no means do blocklists offer 100% effectiveness for file sharing protection. However, when used in conjunction with a proxy server, it can reduce your odds of being caught down to nearly zero.

Anonymous P2P & Web Solutions

December 03, 2007 by sharky

Keeping safe while sharing files, whether it be while downloading or uploading, is crucial to avoiding any undue attention. When using file sharing programs, computers are susceptible to IP harvesting (collecting) by anyone else sharing the same files - whether it be a *.torrent, or files being swapped on P2P programs such as Limewire.

There are a variety of ways to implement anonymity:

And lastly, use anonymous P2P programs that are specifically designed to achieve anonymity.

Torrent Search Software

December 01, 2007 by sharky

There’s truly not a lot of BitTorrent ’search’ software - heck, the websites that host the torrent files do a pretty darn good job of searching for torrents! Plus, there are torrent metasearch sites that show aggregated search results for various combined BitTorrent websites. But here’s a few software solutions that may be able to assist in finding torrents that you may not be able to find on your favorite sites.