Disable Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Applications

Disabling peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing applications on your system reduces the likelihood that you will share copyrighted files or expose yourself to computer viruses or other unwanted access to your computer.

The University of Chicago Networking Services and Information Technologies web site provides excellent and detailed information about disabling many of the most popular P2P file sharing applications (P2P applications tend to come and go, so it is important to keep checking your status). The following are some key considerations to keep in mind with regard to disabling P2P file sharing applications on your computer (courtesy of Resnet , North Carolina State University):

Turn off the ability to upload from your computer to the Internet. Inside of the configuration of your software there is some type of option to "disable uploading to others" or "disable file sharing." Please make sure that uploads/sharing are disabled. If you are having trouble doing this easily then you need to visit the P2P vendor's site for more instructions or contact the NUIT Support Center for assistance.

Disable your file sharing applications when you are not actively using them. By keeping these applications running even when you're away from your computer, you limit the amount of bandwidth available to your friends and other students on campus. Many of these applications make it hard for you to fully shut them down, allowing file sharing to take place even after you think you have exited the program. Unless they are explicitly turned off (often from the System Tray) you may still be sharing files. Some applications start automatically when you boot your computer. Make sure to find and disable the option to "start automatically when Windows starts" or "launch on boot."