Dangers related to using file sharing networks and how to protect yourself are as follows:
- Malware and virus – downloading files from an untrusted source can expose your computer to infections. To protect yourself, use a good antivirus software and never download files from someone you do not trust.
- Exploits and data theft – a malicious user can take advantage of security flaws in file sharing networks to access sensitive information from your computer. To prevent this, update your system and software on a regular basis.
- Identity theft – your personal information can be extracted from a file sharing network if you do not use a strong password. To protect yourself, create a password that has both lower and upper case letters, numbers and symbols and change it frequently.
- Liability for copyright violations – downloading copyrighted material can expose you to legal issues. To avoid such issues, always make sure that you have the right permissions from the copyright holder before downloading any file.