Information Security Issues Concerning Limewire LLC

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Table of Contents

LimeWire
Security Threats
LimeWire and P2P Networks
How to be safe
Conclusion
Works Cited

LimeWire

LimeWire is a free file sharing P2P client program that runs on different operating system platforms on the BitTorrent and Gnutella protocols to provide free file sharing services with different features, which can enable inadvertent sharing of information with unsuspecting parties (Germain 1). Users of the program could be asked to accidentally configure LimeWire when being installed, allowing the program to access any file on their computer and to gather and distribute sensitive personal information from the victim’s computer (Sandoval 1). Previous findings show that the free LimeWire program downloaded has a backdoor feature, including Lime shop that monitors online purchases and directs the sales commission earned to the illegitimate Lime Wire LLC, providing an example of the several illegal acts supported on the program features (Germain 1).

Once LimeWire has been installed on the client’s computer, it could be used to commit identity theft by searching the hosting computer for people’s inadvertently shared information for financial information such as credit card information. Langlie (1) has written on a case reported from Seattle Washington about Kopiloff who used LimeWire with its file-sharing capabilities to access the private financial information of unsuspecting people to search for federal income tax, credit card information, and other sensitive information to fraudulently use the information (Langlie 1). Many similar cases of using LimeWire to commit cybercrime have been reported by the Postal Inspection Service and the Electronic Crimes Task Force of the U.S. Secret Service on electronic crimes committed using LimeWire, showing the level of vulnerabilities in using the program on government or personal computers. Identity thieves use the financial data stolen using the features integrated into the LimeWire program from the victim’s computer to perpetrate crimes such as emptying the financial accounts, applying for new loans, filing fraudulent tax returns, and conducting other criminal activities (Germain 1).

Security Threats

The consumer protection division has shown that LimeWire integrates features that can be used to exploit the vulnerability in information-sharing systems to innocently provide sensitive information about their tax records, social security numbers, and private family information. The inadvertent sharing of information escalates individual and government security threats because the type of information found on computers with LimeWire installed includes classified government military orders, terrorist assessment threats, confidential corporate and accounting data, personal credit card information, medical records, bank statements, and tax returns (Sandoval 1).

LimeWire and P2P Networks

According to Broache, has reported P2P networks to be the potential source of threats that can harm national security because P2P networks can host and provide direct communication between peers in the network free the LimeWire file-sharing capabilities for free to millions of people who like to download music, video, and other sensitive data (1). Studies show that LimeWire has an interactive user interface that allows virtually anyone to use the program to download any program from any of the anonymous directly collaborating dynamic (ad-hoc collaborative communication) nodes with non-administrative authority making documents such as classified government documents, confidential corporate accounts information, bank statements, and other sensitive information vulnerable. P2Pnetworks that host the LimeWire software provide file sharing, distributed computing, multilayer games, and collaborative applications capabilities (Broache 1). The distributive nature of the LimeWire program and the ability to access, download, and share large files imperil individual and national security by intruding on personal and national privacy in violation of copyright and privacy laws.

Another threat from P2P networks to national security is because LimeWire can search the entire network for any content that has been requested by the user and download the content from multiple sources regardless of the copyright laws.

It has been established files downloaded via LimeWire do not guarantee that they are from a genuine source. Such files appear to be from a genuine source, but when one double clicks the executable files, there is the possibility of installing malware on the computer (Langlie 1).

How to be safe

It is critical for users of P2P programs in private or in government to be aware of the security risks and network vulnerabilities when establishing P2P connections by determining the exact location of third-party IP addresses. Systems can be compromised if executable files are run by masqueraders as innocuous files via the LimeWire software (Doell 1).

It is important for users of the LimeWire software and the users of the P2P network to avoid sharing everything, but should only share non-sensitive files which are saved in the default file sharing folder. Do not designate the root as “C:” drive as the file-sharing folder as it could enable malware to see every file in the entire drive (Doell 1).

Conclusion

LimeWire is software that enables the downloading and sharing of services on the P2P network, with features that enable individual and corporate users to inadvertently provide confidential information to criminals. It is however possible to guard against such crimes by taking appropriate countermeasures.

Works Cited

Broache, Anne, Congress: P2P networks harm national security.CNET News. 2007. Web.

Doell, Linda, LimeWire Warning Consumers of Security Risks in Its Software. InvestorCenter. 2011. Web.

Germain, Jack M. You Could Be File-Sharing More Than You Think, TechNewsWorld Collaboration. 2009. Web.

Langlie, Emily, Seattle Man Indicted For ID Theft Using Computer File Sharing Programs. Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, 2007. Web.

Sandoval, Greg, “RIAA wants revived LimeWire dead and buried”. CNET.com. Web.

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