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Using PeerGuardian Correctly and Efficiently

I downloaded PeerGuardian to use while I legally download files via uTorrent. As you may know, undesirables can put trackers on certain torrent files, allowing people/entities to see what you are downloading. I do not wish some computer hacker guy to be able to know what I am downloading, so I have researched programs to stop this. This led me to PeerGuardian, which can block certain IP address from accessing your computer.

THIS IS STRICTLY FOR LEGAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT INTENDED FOR DOWNLOADING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. I ONLY USE THIS PROGRAM TO STOP BAD PEOPLE FROM CONNECTING TO MY COMPUTER VIA MY P2P APPLICATION WHILE DOWNLOADING OPENSOURCE SOFTWARE AND FREE LEGAL MATERIAL.


The question I have is:


How to I make sure I have the most up to date lists, and do I need to add anything else than what has already come with the program? It has the level 1, 2, and 3 block lists under the URLs for the P2P section. Do I need to do anything, or are those already being used?


I don't care if it is overkill, or anything else, I want everything unsavory BLOCKED. I only use PG whilst using my P2P application, so blocking websites and other things is not an issue. More concerned about bad guys accessing my computer.


Again, I am not downloading any copyrighted material, I only use P2P to download free music and movies, only if they are approved for download by themselves and their parent companies/organizations. If a band legally puts their CD out for download (which more and more bands are doing to widen their fan-base), I am forced to use my P2P, since it's usually smaller bands that don't have the money to pay for big servers to allow millions of people to download without crashing.


1. Do I need to add any more block lists? If so, where do I obtain that block list? And once found, exactly how do I add it? (I want to make sure I'm setting it up/using it correctly so that it works properly)

2. The only change I have made after initially installing the program, is deselecting "Allow Standard Ports" on all the sections (P2P, Ads..., Microsoft, etc.). Is there anything else I need to do to make those block lists work effectively(or work at-all)?


3. Is PeerGuardian the best free software for MacOS 10.6.8 Snow Leopard?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 2x2.4GHzQuadCore 16GB-Mem 2x1TB HDD

Posted on Oct 19, 2013 9:06 AM

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4 replies

Oct 19, 2013 9:40 AM in response to RaphSai

If a band legally puts their CD out for download (which more and more bands are doing to widen their fan-base), I am forced to use my P2P, since it's usually smaller bands that don't have the money to pay for big servers to allow millions of people to download without crashing.

Have you checked the iTunes store for these tracks? It does not cost anything to put your own music up on iTunes if you intend to distribute it through iTunes for free.

Oct 20, 2013 4:51 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

To put music for free download on iTunes, you have to be on an approved Music Label. Most underground/lesser known bands produce the tracks themselves without a Label to back/distribute them. There are also music videos, short films, and other small projects (I have produced/directed/created over a dozen myself) that, because they are not part of the mainstream studio-world, do not qualify to be put on iTunes. P2P is our only practical option to get our media out there.


If I am reading into your post correctly, I don't believe your response has anything to do with my question. I respect your trolling attempt, but I can promise you that I am not being facetious in the explanation of my usuage of P2P programs. And if you were not trolling, then I apologize and truly appreciate your input, but I have already exhausted these alternatives, and unless we want to pay some entity/person for something they did not have anything to do with, P2P is the only viable option.


The truth is, is that the ability for users to transfer files directly from one peer to another, is a basic principle of internet usage. The internet is not owned by anyone. No one has the right to control it, and everyone has the right to use it for whatever purpose they please, as long as they are not using it to hurt others, steal things, or commit any other illegal activity. Certainly, there are people who use P2P programs to distribute and share copyrighted material, but if that was their only use, then they would not exist. I AM PART OF THE 0.05% OF P2P USERS, WHO ONLY USE THESE PROGRAMS FOR LEGAL PURPOSES, AND I WANT TO BE AS SAFE AS I CAN WHEN I USE THEM. I have to ask these questions with all the extra explanations/fine print, because they will never get answered (and up to this point, have never gotten answered) because of the potential illegal use of those programs.


What it all boils down to, is that no one has the right to use P2P to do anything illegal, i.e.-
1. You can not use it to download illegal material.

BUT ALSO:
2. You can not use it to illegally track other users.

3. You can not use it to illegally obtain information about other users.

4. You can not use it to illegally gain access to view/download anything on another person's computer.


So please, for anyone who feels privacy is a right everyone deserves, please contribute information to answer my question.


I'd also like to add that 2 wrongs never make a right. Most of these things that track illegally, which PeerGuardian protects against, are doing so to send more advertisements, more pop-ups, and more adware/spyware. Some are actual people, trying to get information to steal your identity, credit card information, login/passwords, etc. The movie studios and music labels are using this same tactic to find out who is illegally obtaining their copyrighted media. I am against illegal downloading, but I am also against those entities using illegal means to find their culprits. It is never okay to do something illegal. No one gets a pass. Not police officers, not judges, not movie studios. If you believe as I do, it is your duty to share any information to make opensource programs like PeerGuardian work better, allow users like me to use it properly and efficiently, and identify any problems/loopholes in the software so that people using these illegal means to tap into YOUR computer, YOUR information, YOUR property, can be stopped. The only people who should be disagreeing with me, are the people that think no one deserves privacy, and that everyone is subject to search. The people that believe the NSA has the right to spy on anyone and everyone (that means you). The people that believe the multinational corporations can make/break any law they wish. Do you really think that's right? That because Paramount is losing money in DVD sales, it gives them the right to look at anyone's personal computer? I can tell you one thing, I don't appreciate the fact that using P2P lumps me in with all the other undesirables, but hey, I can deal. But the thing I can't deal with, is ANYONE invading my privacy. You all should feel the same way. All of us "little guys" need to stick together and help programs like PeerGuardian protect us from those big corporations/hackers/identity-thieves/advertisers/solicitors using illegal means to look into our personal space.

Jun 5, 2016 12:45 PM in response to RaphSai

I don't know if you've found a solution for this. If you have, feel free to let me know. The problem I'm having is that peerguardian won't update it's lists. I found this though, http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/33178/beginners-guide-to-bittorrent-protecting-yo ur-privacy/ Scroll down to the part about transmission, which is a bt client. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks promising

Using PeerGuardian Correctly and Efficiently

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