With all of the SOPA talk this month, I figured an article on piracy was deserving. Being able to pinpoint users of pirated software is becoming easier and more accurate. For example, check out YouHaveDownloaded.com, a website that lists the torrents you may have downloaded in a certain time span. While the website is not perfect, for those who have static IP addresses, it can get pretty close and provide you a list.
In one article on CNET, it was mentioned that “someone in the home of French President Nicholas Sarkozy, a strong proponent of anti-piracy legislation, has been using BitTorrent to download pirated versions of music and movies.”
If the Stop Online Piracy Act passes in the United States, I’m sure technology to track torrents and other illegal downloads will improve. Consequently, imagine the privacy concerns I have for Internet users. This proof-of-concept website is scary enough!