Introduction

"File sharing" is not a new concept; file sharing tools have been available nearly as long as the Internet. However, new types of file sharing tools -- and their uses -- have recently become the center of a great deal of media attention (and some lawsuits).

This section describes the various types of file sharing, the associated security risks, and what you can do to protect your computer from each of them.

There are three basic models of file sharing: system-native file sharing, client-server file sharing, and peer-to-peer file sharing.

System-native file sharing

This type of file sharing is built into your operating system, originally intended for sharing files (and often printers) with other users in your local network, and not intended for sharing files with others across the Internet. The Microsoft Windows Network Neighborhood and Macintosh AppleTalk are the two most frequently used examples of this model.
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Client-server file sharing

Ths model covers web pages, email, FTP, and other types of file sharing where the data is stored in a central location (the server) and sent separately to each user who requests it (the clients). This model is the most commonly used type of file sharing on the Internet.
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Peer-to-peer file sharing

Peer-to-peer file sharing doesn't rely on a single central server. Any two users (the clients in the above model) can exchange data with each other directly, rather than having one user upload files to the server and the second user download files from the server.
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Overview of how to protect your computer

The "just the facts" security summary: Best practices to keep your computer secure from most of the potential security vulnerabilities in file sharing.
[ Overview page ]