Is it safe to use Limewire, etc?

I`ve had Windows my whole life, and this Christmas i`m switching to a Mac (finally!). I`ve heard rumors that Limewire (what i currently use) slows down Macs/gives it viruses, i was wondering if Acquisition does as well, or if its a legit source.
Thanks,
EmilyMackenzie.

There are no Actual Virus's for OSX. There is one Trojan out there. A Trojan is not a virus. Only way to get that DNS changer Trojan is downloading Pirated Apple Software and a Porn Video Codec. Also you have to give the thing permission and the Admin password before it could even work. Easy to remove also.

I hate Limewire actually. I will let others comment on the other applications.

Just a heads up, no discussion of piracy in any way is allowed on Mac Forums. I know you can get legal things via torrents, but just letting you know since you are new here.

hey, thanks very much. but will it slow down my computer?
and yeah, im a n00b

The little bit I have used Limewire on Macs and even on PC hardware, it was on older Power PC Macs. Not sure about it on modern Intel Macs, but it did drag my Power PC systems down a lot. So does Vuse for Torrents as it's a very bloated application. I would never leave a Limewire type app going all the time.

the only things i leave going full time is itunes, and safari.
the only thing is, i have over 600 songs on my iPod, and i dont plan on paying $600 for them.

thank you!
i can always delete them if they slow my Mac Down.

EmilyMackenzie

Limewire and programs of its ilk, open up holes in the security of your computer. In short, your computer is always open as a server, even if you don't think it is. Limewire in particular has been exploited on a number of occasions - and although you may not get a virus per se, you do have to trust the developers of Limewire to ensure that their software is secure. So far, they don't have that great of a track record. Add that to the fact that the Gnutella network is heavily policed by both the RIAA and MPAA and you've got a recipe for financial disaster.

In short, if it's worth listening to, it's worth buying. Don't steal your music and you don't have to worry about it.

Limewire is dreadful, and I found it harmful when I used it on my old iMac.
If you insist on using this kind of program, Acquisition is much better.

cwa107 said:

Limewire and programs of its ilk, open up holes in the security of your computer. In short, your computer is always open as a server, even if you don't think it is. Limewire in particular has been exploited on a number of occasions - and although you may not get a virus per se, you do have to trust the developers of Limewire to ensure that their software is secure. So far, they don't have that great of a track record. Add that to the fact that the Gnutella network is heavily policed by both the RIAA and MPAA and you've got a recipe for financial disaster.

In short, if it's worth listening to, it's worth buying. Don't steal your music and you don't have to worry about it.

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moot point, but it opens the age old debate that it's a one way street..perfectly acceptable for artists and recording labels to rip off the buying public to shreds with their grotesque overpricing etc but the public can't return fire.

to the OP, I would just keep limewire or whatever you use on your old windows computer and endure the inconvenience of entering those songs to your mac with a memory stick etc.

whilst i find piracy disgusting, i find the holier than thou attitude of musicians and recording studios even more repugnant and have absolutely zero sympathy for them. if you can charge $40 for a cd like you were back in the day,$100 for a concert ticket and $30 for a t shirt, quit your whining and count your money instead. a level playing field absolutely gets under the skin of these divas.

even at £0.79 a track the pricing is still way way way way off the mark.

bluefox9er said:

moot point, but it opens the age old debate that it's a one way street..perfectly acceptable for artists and recording labels to rip off the buying public to shreds with their grotesque overpricing etc but the public can't return fire.

to the OP, I would just keep limewire or whatever you use on your old windows computer and endure the inconvenience of entering those songs to your mac with a memory stick etc.

whilst i find piracy disgusting, i find the holier than thou attitude of musicians and recording studios even more repugnant and have absolutely zero sympathy for them. if you can charge $40 for a cd like you were back in the day,$100 for a concert ticket and $30 for a t shirt, quit your whining and count your money instead. a level playing field absolutely gets under the skin of these divas.

even at £0.79 a track the pricing is still way way way way off the mark.

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This is a tough sell, really. 'Artists' are put in a bad position, but it's a catch 22. You can blame them for signing on to an label who makes the business aspect a top priority, while putting the music aspect of it, way to the back of the bus. But you can't blame an artist for wanting to get 'theirs'. Today, more and more independently funded and produced Indy labels are gaining a foothold into the market, and that's great. But it doesn't wipe away the scourges which still are and will likely dominate and control what the masses of consumers see on the market.

It's the record label execs, the lawyers etc who are at the heart of the problem. They're useless people whom know NOTHING about music. What they know is how to use a pen and make up new rules and laws which get legislated because money speaks louder than anything, unfortunately.

I'm neither for or against piracy to be honest. I don't like taking money out of the pocket of a hard working artist, but let's face it. Anybody who knows anything about the music 'business', understands that record sales account for an extremely small percentage of extended funds which are given to an artist. Record deals are made with money up front to the artists which cover recording/engineering, promotion materials and venue set up.

The greatest portion of money made is through merchandise and ticket sales for live shows. This is also why many great bands get totally worn out and stop being inventive. Too many months on the road busting their butts, with no rest or recoup time.

I personally have issues with paying any amount of money for a compressed music file which is controlled by any large corporation. Take from that what you will, but don't be too eager to assume anything. I own over 600 CD's and am big on vinyl, though I don't own too much of it. Perhaps 60-70 LP's.

I think anybody who says they've never grabbed music off of a file sharing service at some point in their lives is a liar. I can tell you that what I do generally, is 'test' new artist's and music by doing this. If I like it enough, I'll buy it. I'll go to a live show. I'll buy the merch. Not everybody can afford this though, and to those people I'll just say:

Whatever. One day you'll have a job which will afford you the opportunity to choose between buying or downloading. Till then, happy camping. My biggest hope is that one day, every single one of these greedy record companies, and their useless CEO's and lawyers learn what it's like to serve a real purpose in life, and simply disappear.

But you're right. It's all moot.


Doug

P.S. Limewire is so 2001

EmilyMackenzie said:

the only thing is, i have over 600 songs on my iPod, and i dont plan on paying $600 for them.

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Switching machines doesn't mean you have to repurchase all of your music. If it did, it would have been more expensive to "transfer" my music than it would have been to buy my Mac. Simply copy the music to your new Mac from your Windows machine.

Doug b said:

This is a tough sell, really. 'Artists' are put in a bad position, but it's a catch 22. You can blame them for signing on to an label who makes the business aspect a top priority, while putting the music aspect of it, way to the back of the bus. But you can't blame an artist for wanting to get 'theirs'. Today, more and more independently funded and produced Indy labels are gaining a foothold into the market, and that's great. But it doesn't wipe away the scourges which still are and will likely dominate and control what the masses of consumers see on the market.

It's the record label execs, the lawyers etc who are at the heart of the problem. They're useless people whom know NOTHING about music. What they know is how to use a pen and make up new rules and laws which get legislated because money speaks louder than anything, unfortunately.

I'm neither for or against piracy to be honest. I don't like taking money out of the pocket of a hard working artist, but let's face it. Anybody who knows anything about the music 'business', understands that record sales account for an extremely small percentage of extended funds which are given to an artist. Record deals are made with money up front to the artists which cover recording/engineering, promotion materials and venue set up.

The greatest portion of money made is through merchandise and ticket sales for live shows. This is also why many great bands get totally worn out and stop being inventive. Too many months on the road busting their butts, with no rest or recoup time.

I personally have issues with paying any amount of money for a compressed music file which is controlled by any large corporation. Take from that what you will, but don't be too eager to assume anything. I own over 600 CD's and am big on vinyl, though I don't own too much of it. Perhaps 60-70 LP's.

I think anybody who says they've never grabbed music off of a file sharing service at some point in their lives is a liar. I can tell you that what I do generally, is 'test' new artist's and music by doing this. If I like it enough, I'll buy it. I'll go to a live show. I'll buy the merch. Not everybody can afford this though, and to those people I'll just say:

Whatever. One day you'll have a job which will afford you the opportunity to choose between buying or downloading. Till then, happy camping. My biggest hope is that one day, every single one of these greedy record companies, and their useless CEO's and lawyers learn what it's like to serve a real purpose in life, and simply disappear.

But you're right. It's all moot.


Doug

P.S. Limewire is so 2001

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Most musicians make their money from playing shows and selling merch, not album sales. This is how their executives and producers get paid... Most musicians don't care if you throw them under the bus. In fact, that's why a lot of formerly signed artists are releasing things on their own (Trent Reznor comes to mind).

I would NOT touch Limewire with a ten foot pole. I would have a much bigger concern about personal information or business information being caught more so than having a virus or something.

Indeed. Limewire is a very, very bad choice. I use Soulseek. much safer.

Don't worry about viruses and slowing down your computer. Worry about lawsuits!

Eric559 said:

Don't worry about viruses and slowing down your computer. Worry about lawsuits!

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Exactly. How many people need to get sued before word gets around that it's just not worth it?

cwa107 said:

Exactly. How many people need to get sued before word gets around that it's just not worth it?

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Apparently more than have been sued thus far.

i've gotten the majority of my virus experience from limewire... in short stay away from it.
it's true that the majority of money made from the sales of albums lines the record label's execs pockets... so you may feel ok about not staying legit, but be very careful how you use these file sharing programs, and be smart about it. A lady in south carolina just got sued for like a million dollars because her kids dl'ed a bunch of songs off of Limewire and lost. there are much better programs out there. I do like Vuze, but it is a bit bloated. DL what you want then exit out of it. Good Luck!

Using Frostwire here.But I think its from the same makers of Limewire.

DarkestRitual said:

Most musicians make their money from playing shows and selling merch, not album sales. This is how their executives and producers get paid... Most musicians don't care if you throw them under the bus. In fact, that's why a lot of formerly signed artists are releasing things on their own (Trent Reznor comes to mind).

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Um... You're mirroring what I said. But, ok.

Doug

For all this talk about record companies making a killing and ripping as all off I feel I should add my 2 cents worth.

I have released an album. You can buy it on iTunes. Just search for Indicator and its the album called Are Their Spirits Here. You can also listen on Spotify.

Only 1 in 10 albums breaks even. Only 1 in 10 of those actually makes a profit. And only 1 in 10 of those turns out to be the next U2, Nirvana, Etc.

Recording an album is expensive. You need studio time, producers and engineers. Then you need to market the album with a music video and other advertising. All of this costs a lot of money which is why artists sign up with record labels.

If all the labels go bust then who do you think will fork out the many thousands it costs to produce a high quality album?

By downloading illegal music you are killing the very thing that you love.

If you think that buying music is too expensive then don't buy it. I can't afford the brand new quad core iMacs, that doesn't mean that I can just go out and steal one. If every-one just stole Macs then Apple would stop making them. If every-one steals music then musicians will stop making it.