In what has been called as the “Largest fake media file outbreak” in three years, nearly half a million people have fallen victim to a phony video or music track that has been packaged to look as an innocent MP3 file. Once the free track is downloaded, a required codec is prompted for and downloading it sends in tons of popups as the attached Trojan takes hold and kicks into action. This is as sample of how gullible people with little or no knowledge in computer security end up falling victims of such attacks that have files packaged as a legal format that is actually a malicious program in disguise. The article was posted in the BBC and the good news is that of the almost half a million infected people who have been victimized, only 10 percent actually installed the malware and ended-up with the pesky pop-up’s plaguing them as they try to get rid of all traces of the Trojan.
There is however an increasing problem with such types of attacks for they may encompass the wide variety of media files that are currently being used by people around the globe. Some of these files have been around from quite sometime such as MP3’s which have been one of the major reasons why digital music became a mainstay of music we enjoy today. They can be packaged as MP3’s, AVI’s or many other formats which do not have encoded security features included with the file. Updated Anti-virus software should deal with the problem easily but unprotected systems face a lot of annoying pop-up’s and other malware as the so-called coded that you download contains a variety of malware.
Tags: Fake Media, Malware, Trojans
Categories: Freeware, Music, Videos
There have been many gimmicks over the year which is usually a precursor of album releases. Sweepstakes for free passes, advertising gimmicks and many more have all had their shares of success. In the drive to develop newer ways of delivering the talent of their brood, music companies have gone far and wide for some of the craziest ideas on the planet just to hype an album’s release. In one of the previous posts, an artist worked hand in hand with a leading cellular phone manufacturer to release a new album as an added bonus for purchasing a new phone. The new phone came with the song already in it for consumers to enjoy even as they are settling their bill.
Artists on the other hand who do not have much backing from big record companies have been trying to get their work the exposure they need, first through YouTube then through social networking sites which promote their music. But keeping competitive with all the thousands of artists in the world not to count the thousands more who are around locally, artists have been finding it hard to get resources to fund further projects. Some big names in the business have put up heir own web sites to do their own promotion simply through word of mouth and search engines. Search Engine Optimization allows them to get their fans to visit their sites which they keep hooked with previews and free music they can listen to as they are browsing thought the site. They can even watch MTV’s of their favorite songs right at the convenience of their PC’s. What better way is it to promote an album than to give one out, for free. Yep, this might be the start of a new trend as the British band Cold Play has decided to offer their first single for free download, free as in no fees no per song charges and taxes to pay.
The move may help them promote their music for through social networking sites, people share interests and other information including their favorite songs and bands. Free marketing as the word get’s out and they include the music within their pages, they unknowingly promote the album for the band and record company. Record companies are having to agree to some odd ways for their artists to get the exposure with them not having to shell out cash for the price of an arm and leg. so check the free download from the ColdPlay site so you can get your hands on the free song, no charges guaranteed.
Tags: Album Releases, Cold Play, Launching
Categories: Downloading Legally, Freeware, Mobile Phones, Music, Providers, Videos
Nice section from ZDNet which discusses problems computer users from mall over the world encounter, offering real-life solutions and suggestions. The site is also a source of a lot of free stuff such as network scanners, tools, utilities and many more. They also offer a lot of help in the form of registry cleaners and other free stuff you can sometimes get for free, and purchase if you find them extremely helpful for full versions. These downloads are sometimes frustrating yet from time to time you’ll get your hands on a gem that’s worth all the waiting for the download to complete.
They have MP3 software, video, drivers and many more. The section on spy ware horror stories highlights the risks of not having enough protection from the many malware that are coming out all the time. They come in throngs and without proper intrusion protection, problems such as system slowdown, identity theft and other similar stuff happens. The best thing is to invest in a reliable intrusion prevention system that offers coverage of most bases (NO SECURITY SYSTEM IS PERFECT and due to the constant mutation of malware some will get through however expensive they cost). The best ones offer local scanning and active scanning on internet and mail traffic preventing hackers and their minion malware from getting through. If you do happen to have a licensed version of anti-virus protection software, keep them updated or better yet have them update themselves whenever there are available updates (this is set from their set-up options where you can set automatic updates to happen when possible.), which if you’re like me who is always online, would be a great idea for threats just keep coming.
If you do get infected or suspect you have some unauthorized program stealing data (which realistically speaking is not to easy to determine except if you’re a geek or very proficient in computers and programming), simply re-install your Operating System which by the way I hope is official for you’ll be missing out on important updates if its not.
Tags: Anti-Virus Software, Intrusion Protection Systems, Spyware, ZDNet
Categories: Downloading Legally, Freeware, Resources
Ares is one of those P2p Download sites which offer free file sharing (music, videos and just about anything that comes in file form), and they are getting good at it with little hassle about piracy, copyrights and intellectual property rights. Why? well like Linux, it’s open sourced which means there is no big company or companies for these corporate watchdogs to pursue and file cases against. As with any P2P site, there is a manager program that handles the files you download and share over the net with other users which can de downloaded for free. The system like the internet is in constant change due to it’s open-sourced nature, users who manage to develop additions or improvements to the currently in use send them to other members of the community to have it tested and subsequently added to the program itself. Users get the latest upgraded versions of the system when hey get update notices from the site. The site and users all use a new and different protocol which they boast is quite hard to detect by firewalls and other intrusion prevention measures. Downloads are fast and it is very quick to connect to the service which has over 100 million titles available for download over their network. Files downloaded from the site are also void of any DRM protection which allows users to play them anywhere using any digital player.
Studies conducted by independent people have shown that downloading music over the internet is responsible for some increase in record sales for cd’s and DVD’s for they fuel the desire and user’s know that the best stuff can be availed only from off the shelf-purchases of music audio cd’s. Which contradicts the general opinion fueled by corporate watchdogs that it discourages sales.
Tags: Open-sourced, P2p-Filesharing
Categories: Applications, Downloading Legally, Freeware, Music, Resources, Videos
Like most P2p sites, this one gives you access to some of the hottest and latest music and music videos from all over that is legal. The site offers a free version of their proprietary software which you use to manage all your shared files, downloads, previews and many more. The free version allows you to download a copy of the song which you can play for 3 times before the song is either purchased or deleted. There is a low one time membership fee of $35.00 which gives you legal unlimited downloads of music and music videos with lower packages of 2-year access at $30.00 and $20.00 for a year’s membership.
Common’ guys, nothing’s free anymore on the net and paying assures your ass doesn’t get sued for piracy. If one is also interested in downloading DVD’s which you can burn (with the use of their software of course) and play in your portable, PC or view using your home theater you can opt for the additional $15.00 to get unlimited downloads.
As you might have noticed, there is a proprietary program to download, play and burn your cd’s which they use for DRM instead of you deciding which is which but it still falls in your lap if you do get to upload or download a so-called hot track or music video. DRM has been almost non-existent in the P2P world which makes it the worst place to find legal music. The software allows you to get sample tracks which you could play for three times after which you can buy them or delete them from your play list (with the free version of the software). The fee you pay removes all the annoying ads and advertising hoopla included with the other free music download sites.
Advertising is the bread and butter of most free music sharing sites like Ruckus and the many others out there and when you do register and get a paid service, you get them out of the standard free programs. You have access to all the latest tracks from Arvil, Timbaland and many more, so do check them out for some of the best legal downloads from a P2P site that’s fast and legal. Get it, LEGAL, meaning you get your music without stepping over somebody else’s toes and get sued later for DRM violation Intellectual Copyrights infringement. So MP3Rocket.com for the best P2P legal downloads. The fee you pay is a one time fee, you don’t get charged per/download or video. As long as you’re within the contract (package) scope, you get unlimited access to all the music, video and music videos you like.
Tags: free-software, One-Time-Membership, Paid-P2P
Categories: Applications, DVD Videos, Downloading Legally, Freeware, Music, Providers, Videos
They have been in business for so long (well actually since the early days of the MP3 format which revolutionized the world of music forever) that they can be considered as pioneers in the area of digital music. Nullsoft, the company who developed Winamp (the media player that is considered to be the first player to accommodate all major formats and some of the not so major ones) have been in use by many a personal computers for many years. The media player Winamp, can be downloaded for free along with music tracks which they update from time to time. They have also developed and released free skins, plugin’s and visualization plugin’s that turns your PC into a disco ball. From psychedelic displays to slideshows, they have them all.
Having been operating in the business for sometime, they have a lot of stuff that as they say is for all music lovers where ever you may be. They also have an internet radio which utilizes powerful Shoutcast streaming technology for audio and content allowing seamless music and unparalleled clarity being one of the best and first streaming music systems on the net. They also have a wide array of video for download and use on their player which you can update from their website as they release new versions. Their affiliation with AOL with AOL Music only strengthens their presence in the market allowing them to drive through many rough times where free music is as hard as a truffle in the ground to sniff out ( well, except for P2P which still allows illegal file sharing of music and other stuff).
Free music is now as hard as concrete to find for even the previously free sites now require registration and payment of a small fee for membership for you to get music and videos. Winamp and Nullsoft can be considered a small to medium scale operation but they will surely be there for the foreseeable future. More power Guys.
Tags: Free-Music-and-Videos, Free-PC-Media-Player, Nullsoft, Shoutcast, Winamp
Categories: Applications, Downloading Legally, Freeware, Music, Podcasts, Providers, Resources, Videos
One of the rising stars in the music download business which offers free digital music for download. It’s free and legal which is the upcoming trend with respect for music downloads. The revolution comes with the inclusion of advertising along with the music or video you download that allows the download site to pay artists a small fee as royalty for their work. This might be the best option for it stands between two sides of music lovers and artists who both want music to be shared and enjoyed. On the other hand, these same artists need a source of income for their work in order to further their art while allowing their fans to enjoy and play their music without the mumbo-jumbo of major record labels.
The idea is novel and the ads might be annoying, but hey, you get free music anyway. For those who don’t like the ad, then you’d have to pay up for your picks. Are you an artist who needs cash and publicity to get you going, become a member and get you music tested by their people to see if they are worth any cash and who knows the heights you’d be able to reach if your music gets enjoyed all over. Their so-called ‘Tasters/Reviewers’ sample music from artists and give ratings or recommendations to other users who in turn end up downloading your work and you get the cash flowing into your pocket for each and every download your work gets (just like all the other artists). We7, the place to be in the next couple of months when it comes to music downloads. Download your tracks onto your mobile devices (which will also show or play the ads that come with the downloads, by the way) and take your picks with you anywhere you go. So be sure to check them out for your free music and video at We7.com for more details.
Tags: Free-Music-and-Videos, Free-Music-downloads
Categories: Applications, Freeware, Music, Podcasts, Polyphonics, Providers
Music downloads have now become easier than ever with the move of major record labels to sell music in digital format. In Europe, laws which prevented the “ripping” of audio files into digital format has lost ground when it was taken down(which might be a good ideal for it was not enforced anyway). A newcomer into the myriad of P2P download sites is Qtrax is a welcome and refreshing site that boasts to offer 25,000,000 tracks beating iTunes and Amazon . Established only last January 2008, the site has much to prove in terms of service and quality with it’s published capabilities.
The music you get is available only for windows, so sorry for Mac users. The system is based on the ‘Songbird-platform’ which is open-sourced and built into the Mozilla browser, which is also part of the open-sourced projects being used widely today by the millions of PC users all over the globe. There have been tons on glitches but it might be nice to give them a few months to see if they can rough out the download wars where only the best survive. You do get a bit distracted with ads showing as you play music on your PC or digital player, but give these guys a break for they have to earn money somehow.
Oh, and I’d like to add that since the P2P system works on the Mozilla browser, it doesn’t work with iPods(sorry guys). The system is getting quite swamped at the moment with the millions upon millions of users who are trying to get in on the act, which shows that they might have to bolster their back-end systems for them to keep in business. Rumors have circulated that they have signed up with all four major record companies with respect to their offering of music but this was quickly quelled (only one major record company has publicly acknowledged affiliation), by many saying that they haven’t “really” signed up all of them.
Technorati Tags: Free Digital Music, Mozilla, Songbird, New Comers
Tags: Free-P2P-Music, Newcomers, P2P-Download-sites
Categories: Applications, Downloading Legally, Freeware, Music, Providers, Resources
I recently read the article on squidoo regarding the activities of these sites that say they offer free and unrestricted downloads of all types of music and movies. The article says they are scams and believe me many are for as long as I can remember in writing for this blog, I’ve come across tons of them.
Some sites offer free downloads at the beginning in exchange for subscriptions for their music service (which has declined in the recent years with the proliferation of P2P download sites that have all the latest tracks up for grabs). They give you a couple of tracks and then offer you more, for a fee of course. Some sites are totally commercial and have you subscribe up front to get access to their vast collection of stuff which is by the way the best one to go with for the music you get from them is considered to be licensed. The more devious sites hook you in, keep you on the line and pull you in along with the sinker and all. They do crazy stuff such as drop malware and viruses as they go exploiting vulnerabilities in your system’s configuration. They even contain stuff that shouldn’t even be available to those who don’t want or are not even interested in them (porn and other dirty stuff) without you even asking for it.
But along the way, I’ve come along some unexpected sites such as the BBC and other library sites facilities that have a lot of archived free stuff that you can get for personal use. The industry has stopped research and development into copyright protection for all types of media simply because they are futile and people still get them somewhere over the internet. Responsible users do respect the rights of the owners and buy licensed originals but there are just too many people who want it for free. Hackers make this possible with deep rooted hate towards industry for their ways and monopoly. Others, do it for hatred of the people who make the software and music so whatever the reason it might be left to the user to say enough is enough and initiate control over them (which is next to impossible) but we can make a change by starting on your own.
Tags: Free-music, Free-Stuff, Free-Video
Categories: Applications, Downloading Legally, Freeware, Mobile Phones, Music, Photo Images, Podcasts, Providers, Resources, Videos, ipods
One of the Giants in the paid, digital Music downloads business is an old player in the game. Ever since it was established in 2004 in the UK it has grown exponentially as well as the many other technology based companies also owned by Benchmark Capital (which also owns eBay by the way along with just about major players in the tech world). Their site offer’s whole album downloads for just 5 UK Pounds which is roughly $ 10.00 US plus bonus tracks and many more. The offers evolve as the albums get sold and the special that are offered vary from day to day.
If you want the hottest albums from your favorite artists, well then this is the site for you. The UK’s leading digital media Delivery Company which caters to record companies, artists, other digital media owners and the film/TV industry. Some of the biggest labels they carry are Warner Bros., EMI, Atlantic, Sony/BMG, Universal and many others who are testament to their cutting edge technology and products. Their products span 25 genre’s along with some of the hottest names in the record industry. They also carry audiobooks, Soundtracks and much other fun stuff that is available to the paying public.
They also have a wide selection of free downloads in the form of digital audio and video from artists like Amy Winehouse, Mc Fly and many more so be sure to browse around the free downloads for these free stuff. 7Digital, for some of the best paid downloads and some of the hottest free downloads on the planet.
Tags: 7digital, Free-Downloads, Paid-Legal-Downloads
Categories: Applications, Downloading Legally, Freeware, Music, Podcasts, Providers, Resources, Videos, ipods
In what has been called as the “Largest fake media file outbreak” in three years, nearly half a million people have fallen victim to a phony video or music track that has been packaged to look as an innocent MP3 file. Once the free track is downloaded, a required codec is prompted for and downloading it sends in tons of popups as the attached Trojan takes hold and kicks into action. This is as sample of how gullible people with little or no knowledge in computer security end up falling victims of such attacks that have files packaged as a legal format that is actually a malicious program in disguise. The article was posted in the BBC and the good news is that of the almost half a million infected people who have been victimized, only 10 percent actually installed the malware and ended-up with the pesky pop-up’s plaguing them as they try to get rid of all traces of the Trojan.
