Whatever You Do, Do Not Download XP SP3 and Windows 7 from Torrent Trackers

Mar 27

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Whatever you do, do not download Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows 7 from torrent trackers. Or anything else for that matter. Users that are looking for a free ride via peer-to-peer networks are at risk of getting a tad more than they bargained for, explained Billy McCourt, SophosLabs Security Researcher. McCourt explained that one area of malicious code research involves crawling the Internet in search for malware samples.

“One of the simplest ways the bad guys can try and distribute their malware is by using P2P networks.
P2P networks such as KaZaA and Gnutella are file sharing systems and typically host, possibly illegal, copies of MP3s, films and software. These networks might seem like an odd choice to spend time researching since the primary users of these networks are probably under the age of 14. The point is that they are simply a distribution system and the chances are high that malware found on these networks will also appear in other locations. P2P networks are also relatively easy to crawl,” McCourt explained.