I was going to put this on the Computer board but figured that since some people here would use this software and wouldn't visit the computer board it'd be better off here:
Secret software puts PCs to work
Simon Hayes
The Australian
05apr02
MILLIONS of internet users who have downloaded the popular Napster-style network KaZaA for swapping music and movies are about to find themselves part of a worldwide system that uses their computers to work for big business.
KaZaA's file-sharing technology has been secretly packaged with a software component - presently dormant - that can plug member PCs into another network, Altnet.
And Altnet will offer that network to companies as computing power and storage space, potentially using millions of PCs worldwide.
Expatriate Australian entrepreneur Kevin Bermeister is behind Altnet.
KaZaA's owner, Sharman Networks, is run by Sydney woman Nikki Hemming, who has previously worked with Mr Bermeister.
Mr Bermeister's California-based company, Brilliant Digital, has signed a deal with Sharman Networks allowing it to secretly include Altnet software in KaZaA downloads.
Altnet will be activated in four to six weeks, linking member computers and using their hard drives to store files and their unused computing power for commercial supercomputing.
Known as distributed computing, the system allows businesses to buy access to computer resources spread worldwide for tasks including file storage, serving banner advertisements and conducting video conferencing.
The system will also attempt to get KaZaA off the hook with hostile record companies and Hollywood studios by including copyright protection software. Until now, most music and video content on KaZaA has been pirated.
With KaZaA being downloaded at the rate of 2 million copies a week, millions of computers could become part of Altnet. It is understood users will have the opportunity to opt out of Altnet.
Ms Hemming has issued a statement reassuring KaZaA users that privacy would be protected.
Mr Bermeister did not return The Australian's calls.
First it was napster, then audiogalaxy, then morpheus (well its practically useless anyway) and now kazaa.
What is it with spyware anyway, can't it be illegal? Could someone sue?
Better correct myself here, the software already has spyware running on it (Cydoor) but this *feature* (Altnet) doesn't appear to be spyware. *Seems* like you can "opt out" if such a thing exists.
Secret software puts PCs to work
Simon Hayes
The Australian
05apr02
MILLIONS of internet users who have downloaded the popular Napster-style network KaZaA for swapping music and movies are about to find themselves part of a worldwide system that uses their computers to work for big business.
KaZaA's file-sharing technology has been secretly packaged with a software component - presently dormant - that can plug member PCs into another network, Altnet.
And Altnet will offer that network to companies as computing power and storage space, potentially using millions of PCs worldwide.
Expatriate Australian entrepreneur Kevin Bermeister is behind Altnet.
KaZaA's owner, Sharman Networks, is run by Sydney woman Nikki Hemming, who has previously worked with Mr Bermeister.
Mr Bermeister's California-based company, Brilliant Digital, has signed a deal with Sharman Networks allowing it to secretly include Altnet software in KaZaA downloads.
Altnet will be activated in four to six weeks, linking member computers and using their hard drives to store files and their unused computing power for commercial supercomputing.
Known as distributed computing, the system allows businesses to buy access to computer resources spread worldwide for tasks including file storage, serving banner advertisements and conducting video conferencing.
The system will also attempt to get KaZaA off the hook with hostile record companies and Hollywood studios by including copyright protection software. Until now, most music and video content on KaZaA has been pirated.
With KaZaA being downloaded at the rate of 2 million copies a week, millions of computers could become part of Altnet. It is understood users will have the opportunity to opt out of Altnet.
Ms Hemming has issued a statement reassuring KaZaA users that privacy would be protected.
Mr Bermeister did not return The Australian's calls.
First it was napster, then audiogalaxy, then morpheus (well its practically useless anyway) and now kazaa.
What is it with spyware anyway, can't it be illegal? Could someone sue?
Better correct myself here, the software already has spyware running on it (Cydoor) but this *feature* (Altnet) doesn't appear to be spyware. *Seems* like you can "opt out" if such a thing exists.
