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Downloading torrents is a very easy way of getting all kinds of media. That's why many people rely on it to get their files. But unfortunately, it's also easy to insert a virus in torrent files. On the positive side, there are also ways to protect your device from such infections.
- Take the following steps to diagnose your PC for possible BitTorrent.exe malware attack: Step 1: Simultaneously press CTRL+ALT+DEL keys to open Task Manager. Step 2: If you notice the file located outside C: Program Files perform an antivirus scan to get rid of the malware.
- Feb 05, 2017 ' SONAR.AM.C!g1 is a heuristic detection ' In short, it THINKS it's a virus but doesn't actually have conclusive evidence. I'd be more worried about you having norton installed than I would about the optional offers included in BitTorrent.
- Dec 09, 2019 The main release, uTorrent Classic, is detected by ten antivirus engines including Microsoft Defender, Sophos, Eset Nod32, GData, and Dr.Web. Note: BitTorrent was sold in 2018. Being flagged does not necessarily mean that a program is malicious or problematic; false positives happen but the likelihood is reduced when mainstream security solutions flag a program.
- Nov 14, 2017 Hi, so a few days ago, Windows Defender says that uTorrent was a virus on the computer. So I try to download it again from the website, and that installation is also detected as a virus.
Contents
- 1 Identify Suspicious Torrent Files
- 3 Tools to Block Torrent Virus and Malware
According to our test on May 8, 2020, this program.is. a clean download and virus-free; it should be safe to run. All tests were carried out on systems running both 64-bit Windows (x64) and 32-bit Windows (x86). These tests are only valid for the file corresponding with the md5 filehash specified.
Identify Suspicious Torrent Files
There are a few signs that can make all the difference. Knowing how to identify a good torrent will keep you on the safe side. Here are a few tips on how to spot them.
1. Check the File Format
Some extensions are more common to carry a virus than others. Executable files like .bat, .MSI and .exe are one of the favorite choices to carry a virus. And it makes sense, you execute those and even give permission for them to make changes in your computer. Also, keep an eye on PDF files and make sure your PDF reader is updated before you open them.
But, of course, we do not mean to say that all executable files are infected, nor that other types of files aren't. We are talking about probabilities, for you to know that the risk is higher in those cases.
2. The Torrent Source
The source is also an important detail to check. Always have a look at the uploader. If you are in the torrenting world for some time, some names will be more familiar to you and inspire more trust. Other names will be new to you and although it doesn't necessarily mean it is a bad source, you should definitely investigate a bit more.
3. Number of Peers and Seeds
Have a look at the number of people downloading and sharing the file. If there are many of them, it's probably a good torrent. A great number of users wouldn't share a virus to other users.
4. Comments
If the file has an issue, like containing a virus, people who got infected will often warn other users in the comment section. A torrenting website that has a comment section is always safer and without things to hide.
5. The Website Where You Find Your Torrents
Nowadays, there are a lot of websites where it's possible to download torrents from. As we're sure you have noticed, some of them are quite unpopular and look a bit shady. To make sure you're safe, always use popular torrent websites to find what you are looking for. And this takes us to the next chapter.
Malware in Torrenting Websites
Any online activity that attracts a lot of people also attracts advertising companies and their ads, popups and online games. We understand that the website needs to partner up with some agencies to make money and continue having the means to keep their platform. But there are a couple issues that may compromise the user who is visiting the website.
Some websites cooperate with so many advertisers that they can't control all the ads being shown. In those cases, it really looks like the advertiser has full control and bombs the user with a million popups. Some are even finding ways to bypass adblockers. Our point is that, when such ads are not controlled by the website admin, these shady marketers are free to use malware and spyware. This practice is actually increasing. Even very popular sites are showing a ton of doubtfull ads.
Tools to Block Torrent Virus and Malware
Some tools are capable of doing a great job, maintaining you protected against computer virus and other kinds of malware. When it comes to sharing files, the following are all that you need.
1. Antivirus
Using a good antivirus for your torrent downloads is probably your safest choice. It will scan the files you download and alert you when it blocks an infected file, usually moving it to quarantine.
There are so many choices, including free ones. It should be easy for you to increase your safety.
2. Browser
That's right! If not properly configured, your browser can accept harmful files. And more than that, it can also give your identity and location away, even if you are using a Virtual Private Network. That's why it is imperative that you set up your browser correctly to increase security.
An Extra Note About Safety
As always, we recommend using a VPN when you download torrents. Although a VPN doesn't block viruses, it will make you anonymous. Your connection is encrypted and your IP address changes. That will keep snoopers away from knowing who you are or what you are doing.
Torrent poisoning is intentionally sharing corrupt data or data with misleading file names using the BitTorrent protocol. This practice of uploading fake torrents is sometimes carried out by anti-infringement organisations as an attempt to prevent the peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing of copyrighted content, and to gather the IP addresses of downloaders.[1]
![Malware Malware](/uploads/1/2/4/6/124608844/377451578.jpg)
Methods of attack[edit]
Decoy insertion[edit]
Decoy insertion (or content pollution) is a method by which corrupted versions of a particular file are inserted into the network. This deters users from finding an uncorrupted version and also increases distribution of the corrupted file.[2] A malicious user pollutes the file by converting it into another format that is indistinguishable from uncorrupted files (e.g. it may have similar or same metadata). In order to entice users to download the decoys, malicious users may make the corrupted file available via high bandwidth connections.[3] This method consumes a large amount of computing resources since the malicious server must respond to a large quantity of requests.[4] As a result, queries return principally corrupted copies such as a blank file or executable files infected with a virus.[5]. There were known cases when a company had created a special version of a game and published it on file sharing services advertising it as cracked, having undocumented hidden functionality, making it impossible to win this variant of the game.
Index poisoning[edit]
This method targets the index found in P2P file sharing systems. The index allows users to locate the IP addresses of desired content. Thus, this method of attack makes searching difficult for network users. The attacker inserts a large amount of invalid information into the index to prevent users from finding the correct resource.[3] Invalid information could include random content identifiers or fake IP addresses and port numbers.[5] When a user attempts to download the corrupted content, the server will fail to establish a connection due to the large volume of invalid information. Users will then waste time trying to establish a connection with bogus users thus increasing the average time it takes to download the file.[3] The index poisoning attack requires less bandwidth and server resources than decoy insertion. Furthermore, the attacker does not have to transfer files nor respond to requests. For this reason, index poisoning requires less effort than other methods of attack.[4]
Spoofing[edit]
Some companies that disrupt P2P file sharing on behalf of content providers create their own software in order to launch attacks. MediaDefender has written their own program which directs users to non-existent locations via bogus search results. As users typically select one of the top five search results only, this method requires users to persevere beyond their initial failed attempts to locate the desired file.[6] The idea is that many users will simply give up their search through frustration.
Interdiction[edit]
This method of attack prevents distributors from serving users and thus slows P2P file sharing. The attacker’s servers constantly connect to the desired file, which floods the provider’s upstream bandwidth and prevents other users from downloading the file.[6]
Selective content poisoning[edit]
Selective content poisoning (also known as proactive or discriminatory content poisoning) attempts to detect copyright violators while allowing legitimate users to continue to enjoy the service provided by an open P2P network. The protocol identifies a peer with its endpoint address while the file index format is changed to incorporate a digital signature. A peer authentication protocol can then establish the legitimacy of a peer when she downloads and uploads files. Using identity based signatures, the system enables each peer to identify infringing users without the need for communication with a central authority. The protocol then sends poisoned chunks to these detected users requesting a copyright protected file only. If all legitimate users simply deny download requests from known infringers, the latter can usually accumulate clean chunks from colluders (paid peers who share content with others without authorization). However, this method of content poisoning forces illegitimate users to discard even clean chunks, prolonging their download time.[7]
Voluntary Collective Licensing and the Open Music Model are theoretical systems where users pay a subscription fee for access to a file-sharing network, and are able to legally download and distribute copyright content.[8] Selective content poisoning could potentially be used here to limit access to legitimate and subscribed users, by providing poisoned content to non-subscribed users who attempt to illegitimately use the network.[9]
Eclipse attack[edit]
The eclipse attack (also known as routing-table poisoning), instead of poisoning the network, targets requesting peers directly. In this attack, the attacker takes over the peer’s routing table so that they are unable to communicate with any other peer except the attacker. As the attacker replicates the whole network for the targeted peer, they can manipulate them in a number of ways. For example, the attacker can specify which search results are returned. The attacker can also modify file comments. The peer’s requests can also be directed back into the network by the attacker and can also be modified. It also checks data randomly for any errors found in that.[10]
Uncooperative-peer attack[edit]
In this attack, the attacker joins the targeted swarm and establishes connections with many peers. However, the attacker never provides any chunks (authentic or otherwise) to the peers. A common version of this attack is the 'chatty peer' attack. The attacker establishes connection with targeted peers via the required handshake message, followed by a message advertising that they have a number of available chunks. Not only does the attacker never provide any chunks, they also repeatedly resend the handshake and message. These attacks prevent downloads as, essentially, the peer wastes time dealing with the attacker, instead of downloading chunks from others.[11]
![P2p viruses P2p viruses](/uploads/1/2/4/6/124608844/932450228.png)
Barriers to torrent poisoning[edit]
There are several reasons why content providers and copyright holders may not choose torrent poisoning as a method for guarding their content. First, before injecting decoys, content providers have to normally monitor the BitTorrent network for signs that their content is being illegally shared (this includes watching for variations of files and files in compressed formats).
This process can be expensive and time-consuming. As a result, most poisoning is only continued for the first few months following a leak or release.[6] Second, it is also unlikely that torrent poisoning can be successful in disrupting every illegal download.
Instead, the aim of content providers is to make illegal downloads statistically less likely to be clean and complete, in the hope that users will be discouraged from illegally downloading copyright material. Content providers and copyright holders may decide that the financial outlay is not worth the end result of their efforts.
Countermeasures[edit]
The methods of attack described above are not particularly effective on their own, as for each measure effective countermeasures have evolved. These measures must be combined in order to have a significant impact on illegal peer-to-peer filesharing using BitTorrent protocols and Torrent files.
- BitTorrent is highly resistant to content poisoning (as opposed to index poisoning), as it is able to verify individual file chunks.[12] Overall, BitTorrent is one of the most resistant P2P filesharing methods to poisoning.[7]
- On private tracker websites, where all posted torrents can be traced to a particular member, poisoned torrents can be quickly labeled and deleted and the poster can be banned, preventing further introduction of poisoned torrents by that user.
- Public torrent tracker sites have enabled the ability to report if a torrent has been poisoned (or is fake or malicious in any way). Thus torrent files shared by public trackers can have similar levels of quality assurance as Private Tracker websites.
- Tracker technology (as well as BitTorrent client programs) has improved over time, and many kinds of spoofing that were possible in the past are no longer possible.
- BitTorrent was once an exclusively TCP-IP protocol, but this is no longer true. Use of UDP, with the uTP protocol has made TCP Man in the Middle attacks more difficult to nearly impossible.
- Public or Private tracker websites have selectively switched over to using HTTPS for the distribution of their web text and image content. By using HTTPS for the website content (versus tracker communications) many poisoning techniques are rendered impossible.
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Legal issues[edit]
In September 2004, Altnet sued the Recording Industry Association of America, Overpeer, Loudeye, MediaSentry and others, claiming that their spoofing services violated Altnet's patent for a file identification method called TrueNames.[13][14]
In 2005 the Finnish anti-infringement organisation Viralg claimed that their software, which uses a similar approach to spoofing, could be used to bring an end to illegal P2P file sharing.[13] The firm offered 'total blocking of peer 2 peer sharing for your intellectual property' and claimed that its 'patented virtual algorithm blocks out all illegal swapping of your data'.[15] as well as claiming that their approach was 99% effective.[13] Despite these claims, the algorithm has not yet been tested with BitTorrent.[16] A group of Finnish musicians requested an investigation into the company, arguing that their software was effectively a virus and was in violation of Finnish law. The investigation was declined by Finnish police, and later by the Finnish parliamentary ombudsman.[17]
In some jurisdictions, there were concerns that content providers and copyright holders engaging in poisoning activities may be held liable for damages to users' computers. In the USA in 2002, Representative Howard Berman proposed the Peer To Peer Piracy Prevention Act, which would have granted immunity to copyright holders for taking steps to prevent the illegal distribution of their content (i.e. poisoning activities) on P2P networks, as long as they did not go as far as to harm the files stored on a P2P user's computer.[18][19] However, the bill died later in 2002 when the Congressional Term ended and has not been reintroduced.[20]
UTorrent Is Flagged As Malicious By Several Antivirus ...
High-profile cases[edit]
In 2005, it was reported that HBO was poisoning torrents of its show Rome by providing chunks of garbage data to users.[21] HBO were also reported to have sent cease-and-desist letters to the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) of downloaders they believe have illegally downloaded episodes of The Sopranos.
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Although not targeted specifically at BitTorrent, Madonna'sAmerican Life album was an early example of content poisoning. Before the release of the album, tracks that appeared to be of similar length and file size to the real album tracks were leaked by the singer's record label. The tracks featured only a clip of Madonna saying 'What the fuck do you think you're doing?' followed by minutes of silence.[22][23]
Similarly, the band Barenaked Ladies released a number of tracks online in 2000 that appeared to be legitimate copies of tracks from the band's latest album. Each file contained a short sample of the song, followed by a clip of a band member saying, 'Although you thought you were downloading our new single, what you were actually downloading is an advertisement for our new album.”[24]
After an unauthorized copy of Michael Moore’s movie Sicko was uploaded online, it became a hit on P2P websites such as Pirate Bay. MediaDefender was hired to poison torrents using decoy insertion.[25]
In an example of Internet vigilantism, anti-infringement vigilantes have been known to create viruses that are distributed exclusively via P2P networks, and are designed to attack mp3s and other music files stored on a user's PC. The Nopir-B worm, which originated in France, poses as a DVD copying program and deletes all the mp3 files on a user's computer, regardless of whether or not they were legally obtained.[13][26]
On 19 October 2007 Associated Press (AP) released information accusing the broadband service provider Comcast of 'hindering' P2P file sharing traffic.[27] Tests conducted by AP have shown that Comcast hindered the uploading of complete files to BitTorrent. The Federal Communications Commission conducted public hearings in response to the allegations. Comcast argued that it was regulating network traffic to enable reasonable downloading times for the majority of users.[28] On 21 August 2008 the FCC issued an order which stated that Comcast's network management was unreasonable and that Comcast must terminate the use of its discriminatory network management by the end of the year. Comcast complied with the order and appealed. On 6 June 2010, the District Court of Appeals for the Columbia vacated the FCC order in Comcast Corp. v. FCC.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Cuevas, R. et al. (2010) Is Content Publishing in BitTorrent Altruistic or Profit-Driven?. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on emerging Networking EXperiments and Technologies (ACM CoNEXT 2010). Philadelphia, USA. 30 November - 3 December 2010.
- ^Luo et al (2009). An Effective Early Warning Scheme against Pollution Dissemination for Bittorrent. In: Global Telecommunications Conference, 2009. Honolulu, 30 November – 4 December. New Jersey: IEEE. pp. 1 -7.
- ^ abcKong, J. et al (2010). A Study of Pollution on Bittorrent. In: The 2nd International Conference on Computer and Automation Engineering. Singapore, 26–28 February 2010. New Jersey: IEEE. pp. 118-122.
- ^ abKong, J. et al (2010) The Evaluation of Index Poisoning in BitTorrent. In: D. Wen. et al (eds). Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Communication Software and Networks. Singapore. 26–28 February 2010. New Jersey: IEEE. pp. 382-386.
- ^ abSantos et al (2010). Choking Polluters in Bittorrent File Sharing Communities. Network Operations and Management Symposium (NOMS) 2010. Osaka, 19–23 April 2010. New Jersey: IEEE. pp. 559-566.
- ^ abcAnderson, N. (2007). Peer-to-peer poisoners: A tour of MediaDefender. Ars Technica. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
- ^ abLou, X. and Hwang, K. (2009) Collusive Piracy Prevention in P2P Content Delivery Networks. IEEE Transactions on Computers. 58 (7) pp. 970-983.
- ^von Lohmann, F. (2008) A Better Way Forward: Voluntary Collective Licensing of Music File Sharing. Electronic Frontier Foundation. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
- ^Lou, X., Hwang, K. and Zhou, R. (2007) Integrated Copyright Protection in Peer-to-Peer Networks. In: 27th International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems Workshops (ICDCSW'07). Toronto, Canada. 22–29 June 2007. p. 28
- ^Locher, T. et al. (2010) Poisoning the Kad Network. In: Kant, K. et al (eds). Distributed Computing and Networking. Heidelberg: Springer. pp. 195-206.
- ^Dhungel, P. et al. (2008) A Measurement Study of Attacks On Bittorrent Leechers. In: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Peer-To-Peer Systems (IPTPS ’08). Tampa Bay, Florida. 25–26 February 2008. Berkeley: USENIX. p.7.
- ^Lou, X. & Hwang, K. (2006). Adaptive Content Poisoning To Prevent Illegal File Distribution in P2P Networks Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ abcdBruno, A. (2005) Viralg Touts P2P Solution. Billboard. 117 (20). p. 10. Retrieved 2011-04-23
- ^Cowley, S. (2004) Altnet Fights Back, Sues RIAA. PCWorld. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^Viralg homepage. Retrieved 2011-04-23
- ^Ingram, M. (2005) Slyck News - Claim to End 99% of Illegal Trading. Slyck. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^Viralg
- ^Berman, H.L. (2002) The Truth About the Peer to Peer Piracy Prevention Act: Why Copyright Owner Self-Help Must Be Part Of The P2P Piracy Solution. FindLaw. Retrieved 2001-04-23.
- ^Garrity, B. (2003) Spoofing Continues To Grow. Billboard. 115 (20). p. 7. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^33 Sw. U. L. Rev. 397 (2003-2004). The Piracy Prevention Bill, H.R. 5211: The Second Generation's Answer to Copyright Infringement over Peer-to-Peer Networks. Pesta, Kristine
- ^Torkington, N. (2005). HBO Attacking BitTorrent. O'Reilly Radar. Retrieved 2011-03-31
- ^BBC News (2003). Madonna swears at music pirates. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
- ^The Smoking Gun (2003). Hacked: Madonna's Web Site Defaced. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
- ^Murray, B.H. (2004) Defending the brand: aggressive strategies for protecting your brand in the online arena. AMACOM Books. p. 119. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^Brodesser-Akner, C. (2007) After pirates steal 'Sicko,' Weinsteins deploy decoys; people hunting for new Moore movie might find advertising instead. Advertising Age. 18 June 2007. p. 3. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ^Sophos. (2005) Nopir worm fights pirates by wiping MP3 music files, Sophos reports. retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^Associated Press. (2007) Consumer groups ask FCC to fine Comcast . msnbc.com. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ^Roth, D. (2009) The dark lord of broadband. Wired. 17 (2) p.54.
External links[edit]
Torrent Poisoning - Wikipedia
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