Download without limits with this P2P client. LimeWire for Mac uses the Gnutella network to offer you contents, but you have to download LimeWire for free. The Gnutella network is one of the most used nowadays, and one of the most popular clients to be able to share files over it, is without any doubt, LimeWire. Free Personal Finance Apps For Mac Limewire Pirate Edition Free Download For Mac Kindle App For Mac Mojave Adblock For Chrome Free Download For Mac Apple Stocks App For Mac Ibm Lotus Notes 9 Download For Mac Free Download Internet Explorer For Mac 10.7.5 Parallel Desktop 8 For Mac Free Download. Formerly entitled LimeWire Pirate Edition (LPE), WireShare is the newest fork of the original LimeWire open source project. Our sole intention is to create and maintain a bona fide continuation of the project. All work is undertaken on a pro bono basis. The name was changed for legal reasons. Aug 08, 2021 Download for free LimeWire Pirate Edition - WireShare - the latest version! Limewire is free software, with a very good speed download, being a good alternative to other file sharing client if what you want is to download movies. With LimeWire you can also download almost all types of files like: mp3.
LimeWire is a peer-to-peer file sharing program that connects to the Gnutella network and enables users to search for and download files from other users. It is not a web site or a service, and LimeWire does not provide any of the content found on the network. LimeWire enables you to share your files with millions of other LimeWire users, and vice versa, so there is always a diverse selection of files available.
Features:
Firewall to Firewall Transfers:
· Since about 60% of users are currently firewalled, this feature greatly increases the amount of content on the network.
Faster network connections:
· Using new 'UDP Host Caches', LimeWire starts up and connects faster then ever before!
Universal Plug 'N Play:
· UPnP support allows LimeWire to find more search results and have faster downloads.
iTunes Integration:
· Windows users can now take advantage of LimeWire's iTunes integration.
Creative Commons Integration:
· LimeWire now recognizes OGGs and MP3s licensed under a Creative Commons License.
What's New?' feature:
· Users can browse the network for the most recent content additions.
Search drill down results:
· Searches in LimeWire now immediately display the artists, albums and other information that fully describes files.
Proxy support:
· Users can now use web proxies to route their downloads to protect their identity.
Support for International searches and International groups:
· Users can now search in any language, and LimeWire ensures that a user will be connected to other users with their own language to aide international users to receive search results in their native language and to find content from sources that are close to home.
· Ease of use - just install, run, and search
· Ability to search by artist, title, genre, or other metainformation
· Elegant multiple search tabbed interface
· Swarm' downloads from multiple hosts help you get files faster
· iTunes integration for Mac users
· Unique 'ultrapeer' technology reduces bandwidth requirements for most users
· Integrated chat
· Browse host feature--even works through firewalls
· Added Bitzi metadata lookup
· International versions: Now available in many new languages.
· Connects to the network using GWebCache, a distributed connection system
· Automatic local network searches for lightning-fast downloads. If you're on a corporate or university network, download files from other users on the same network almost instantaneously!
· Support for MAGNET links that allow you to click on web page links that access Gnutella.
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LimeWire is a peer-to-peer(P2P) program designed for the Java Platform, which uses the Gnutella network to locate and transfer files. Limewire is free software that is released under the GNU General Public license. It can run on Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, and other operating systems that work on the Java Platform. Although Limewire is technically a free software, a Pro version was released by the company Limewire LLC, and offers somewhat more functionality than the free version.[1] On Tuesday, October 26th 2010, Limewire received court orders to shut down several of the key components of it's software including searching, downloading, uploading, file trading and distribution features. The federal injunction cited possible copyright infringement when issuing the order.
- 1How It Works
- 2Ethical Issues With Limewire
- 3After Shutdown
How It Works
Overview
Limewire runs on the Gnutella peer to peer file sharing technology. The main characteristic of a P2P network is that no central server exists. More specifically, every node that is connected to the network acts as it's own individual server. In general, every node would play and equal part in the network as a whole. Limewire, and Gnutella, utilize what is called a two tiered file transfer system. This means that stronger nodes assume the role of the 'ultra peers', which are nodes that have either been connected to the network long enough, or have enough bandwidth to support many searches and clients at the same time. The 'ultra peers' are used mainly for caching results, executing searches and serving as connection points for leaf nodes, which are the nodes that compose the second tier of the file transfer system. Leaf nodes are weaker and have not been connected as long to the network, and may not have the necessary bandwidth to support many clients or searches.[2]
Downloading Model
By default, LimeWire is configured to share files. The user can choose to share either whole directories, or just individual files. In some of the older versions of the software, LimeWire was automatically set to download files directly to the directory usersdocuments and settingshared, which is a directory that comes on every computer. In LimeWire 4.16, the software began to separate the download directory, and the share directory. Now, instead of downloading directly to usersdocuments and settingsshared, LimeWire creates its own directory My DocumentsLimewireSaved, and then automatically shares that directory with the rest of the P2P network.[1]
Sharing
Although LimeWire by default is configured to allow for File Sharing, it is possible for users to change their own personal configuration of LimeWire to not support sharing over the P2P network. Under the preferences menu, Users can specify where downloads are saved, and whether or not they are saved into a shared directory. The User also has the option to choose whether or not to save audio, video, and image files to separate directories. By default, the user's LimeWire client is set up to have upload connections available to share. The user also has the option to turn off these upload connections as well as turning off sharing.[1]
Ethical Issues With Limewire
The problems associated with P2P file sharing depends on how the software is used. Some artists allow their music to be freely available on the file sharing services and in these instances, LimeWire is perfectly legal. But for the most part, copyright laws protect original works and individuals who reproduce, distribute, or receive copies without consent may be in violation of copyright laws.
Another ethical concern with Limewire was the ease with which fake files and viruses could be distributed to naive users. A user could try to download a song or movie and instead get a totally different file, which could be anything from hardcore pornography to a virus that could potentially destroy the user's system. Early iterations of the Limewire software and the lack of experience that the average user had with P2P software and methods of safe downloading made Limewire a prime vector for internet viruses [3]
Copyright & Legal Issues
On October 26th 2010, Lime Group, the company who owns the LimeWire software was court-ordered to disable several key parts of their product due to copyright infringements. After a lengthy court battle lasting over four years with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Lime Group was found guilty of copyright infringement. The federal injunction was issued by the U.S. District Court in New York. The injunction forces LimeWire to disable all pieces of the software related to searching downloading, uploading file trading and distribution features. Despite the devastating court injunction, Lime Group reiterated the fact that LimeWire digital music store will still be available to the public. Lime Group spokeswoman Tiffany Guarnaccia claimed 'We are out of the file sharing business, but you can make it known that other aspects of our business remain ongoing'.[2]There has also been significant controversy regarding piracy of online music songs and albums through Limewire. The vast majority of files downloaded on Limewire violate copyrights by the original artists.
In 2011, the RIAA again sought legal action against LimeWire, wanting them to pay up to $75 trillion in damages. The Manhattan Judge presiding over the case, Judge Kimba Wood, described the request as 'absurd'. $75 trillion is more than five times the United States GDP and almost $15 trillion more than the global GDP. The RIAA and 13 other record companies are suing LimeWire for about 11,000 songs that have been identified as material infringing on copyright laws. With each song having been downloaded many thousands of times, these record companies are suing for each instance of infringement, believing they should be compensated for each individual download. LimeWire's legal defense describes the claim as 'more money than the entire music recording industry has made since Edison's invention of the phonograph in 1877.' Even though is was always unlikely LimeWire would have to pay $75 trillion, the company could have been found liable for damages totaling over $1 billion. [4]
Early in 2011 the LimeWire legal saga finally came to a close. An out of court settlement between Mark Gorton, the founder of LimeWire, and the 13 recording companies resulted in Gorton paying $105 million to the agencies. The RIAA chairman, Mitch Bainwol, described the process as an 'another milestone in the continuing evolution of online music to a legitimate marketplace that appropriately rewards creators.' [5]
Pornography
Limewire distributed many sorts of media, and one of its biggest areas was in pornography. Due to the fact that Limewire is based upon a peer-to-peer network, those who are downloading and uploading these files can be traced through their IP addresses. During 2011 in Alabama a man was sent to prison for 17.5 years for downloading and distributing child pornography[6]. The children in the videos that he distributed reached out to the media, one of them said, 'Because the most intimate parts of me are being viewed by thousands of strangers and traded around, I feel out of control. They are trading my trauma around like treats at a party, but it is far from innocent. It feels like I am being raped by each and every one of them'. His actions had major repercussions because the people downloading the videos and the people in the videos are negatively affected. With how easy it is for people to download and have access to these files that can put you in prison, people really had to watch out for what they were downloading.
Malware Distribution
Limewire's network, like most illegal downloading services, had to battle malware masquerading as legitimate files. In 2008 Limewire was hit by a particularly large rash of virus-infected files pretending to be everything from hit songs to pornography. These files, often named things like song.mp3, were actually named song.mp3.exe, taking advantage of the default setting of most operating systems to hide file extensions and thus hiding an executable file as what looked like an MP3 file. Users who inadvertently tried to open one of these files instead would install various pieces of malware, including FBrowsingAdvisor and SurfingEnhancer that directly harm the users system. [7] Specific malware designed to target Mac OSX operating systems 10.4 and 10.5 was distributed through LimeWire back in 2008, the malware took advantage of several vulnerabilities in the OSX software and helped to transmit and distribute private user data, like user and system passwords. The malware could also log keystrokes and turn on file sharing by itself. Although the malware requires the user to open and activate the Trojan, once activated it adds itself to system login items, significantly compromising the security of the user. [8]
Limewire Pirate Edition Free Download For Mac Computer
Identity Theft Issues
In 2005, the Federal Trade Commission(FTC) released a statement regarding the potential personal security issues that accompany P2P software. It states that consumers face significant risks pertaining to data security, spyware, adware, viruses and unwanted pornography. It is worth noting that there is no concrete evidence to suggest that these risks are greater with P2P file-sharing as opposed to other internet related activities like website browsing, software downloads, email and instant messaging. [9]
In 2006, LimeWire was once again in the middle of the ethical debate, now accused of facilitating the distribution of the personal information of thousands of people across the United States. After further investigation it was found that information including tax records, bank account information, online bill paying records and other personal information had been stolen from computers that were using the LimeWire software. LimeWire was configured to enable someone to illegally access everything, including all files and documents, on computers all across the country, potentially affecting millions of Americans. [10]
After Shutdown
FrostWire
In 2004, FrostWire was created as a fork of LimeWire. LimeWire's open source community created FrostWire to look and run very similar to LimeWire. FrostWire gained popularity in 2010 when LimeWire was shutdown. As LimeWire was being pressured by the RIAA and U.S. Supreme Court, code redirected P2P users to FrostWire. Since then, FrostWire 5 has been released, which strictly uses BitTorrent rather than LimeWire's Gnutella network. [11]
LimeWire Pirate Edition
After several weeks of being shut down, an updated version of the old LimeWire software was released called LimeWire Pirate Edition (LPE). The Pirate Edition, allegedly created by several developers taken from the original LimeWire team, LPE effectively eliminated several issues with the old software by removing adware, spyware and advertising, leaving just the core of the old software. LimeWire released a statement after the release of LPE stating that 'We are not behind these efforts. LimeWire does not authorize them. LimeWire is complying with the Court's October 26, 2010 injunction.' [12]
Future Plans
Currently, Lime Group is working on several new pieces of software which promise to follow all copyright laws. These new products will include a desktop media player, several mobile apps, and an extensive library of music in which the public can stream and download songs legally. Currently there is no release date for this new software, but is rumored to be far along in development.[2]
See Also
Sources
- ↑ 1.01.11.2Lawthwaite, Joseph., and Smith, Victoria., 'Limewire examinations'., http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1742287608000443
- ↑ 2.02.12.2'LimeWire Disabled'., Syndigate.info., October 2010., http://search.proquest.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/docview/762398048?accountid=14667
- ↑Beware of Limewire viruses and trojans - Kokey Technology | http://www.kokeytechnology.com/free-softwares/file-sharing-programs/beware-of-limewire-viruses-and-trojans-sample-limewire-virus-video/
- ↑Purwal Jacobsson, Sarah., RIAA Thinks LimeWIre Owes $75 Trillion in damages'., PCWorld., March 26, 2011., http://www.pcworld.com/article/223431/riaa_thinks_limewire_owes_75_trillion_in_damages.html?_r=1&hp
- ↑'LimeWire pays $105m illegal file sharing settlement'., FACT., May 31, 2011.,http://www.factmag.com/2011/05/13/limewire-pays-105m-settlement-over-illegal-filesharing/
- ↑'Lee County Man Nets 17.5 Years in Federal Prison for Downloading Child Pornagraphy on LimeWire'., FBI., January 12, 2011., https://www.fbi.gov/mobile/press-releases/2011/mo011211.htm
- ↑Hruska, Joel., Alluring MP3s, movies hit LimeWire install malware instead'., ARS Technica., May 8, 2008., http://arstechnica.com/security/2008/05/alluring-mp3-movies-hit-limewire-install-malware-instead
- ↑Dalrymple, Jim., 'Firms discover Trojan Horse targeted at Mac OS X'., Macworld., June 19, 2008., http://www.macworld.com/article/1134084/securemac.html
- ↑http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/06/p2p.shtm
- ↑Pankritz, Howard., 'Police: File sharing key to ID theft scheme ' The Denver Post., October 27, 2006., http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_4561804
- ↑FrostWire Prepares for Gnutella's Future
- ↑Humphries, Matthew., 'LimeWire is back as LimeWire Edition (UPDATED)' Geek.com., November 9, 2010., http://www.geek.com/articles/news/limewire-is-back-as-limewire-pirate-edition-2010119/
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