How you can help improve the performance of the network.
- Disable your file sharing applications when you are not actively using them.
- By keeping these applications running even when you're away from your computer, you limit the amount of bandwidth available to other Resnet connections.
- Many of these applications make it hard for you to fully shut them down, allowing file sharing to take place even after you think you have exited the program. Unless they are explicitly turned off (often from the System Tray) you may still be sharing files.
- Make sure you are aware of exactly what you are sharing if you choose to share any files. With some programs, it is very easy for users to share portions of their hard drives that could expose them to intruders who could download password files, various cached files and other personal information.
- If you're not sure how to shut down your application completely, look at the information provided below for working with a number of the popular file sharing apps.
Turning the program off
Often it is very easy to tell if Kazaa or Morpheus is on by looking at the tray icons. If one of the following icons is present, you are actively running a peer to peer program
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Morpheus |
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Kazaa |
In order to successfully quit one of these programs, right click on the icon and choose to Quit the program. Do not confuse quit with hiding the program. If the program has been successfully closed, it's icon will disappear from the system tray.
Turning off autostart
Many of these file sharing programs install to start themselves automatically upon computer startup. To disable this, please follow the directions:
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In the program, select the Options from the menubar
- Uncheck the Launch Automatically checkbox.
- Click the OK button.
Turning off sharing
Many of these programs default to allow local sharing. This allows all other users to download files as long as the local computer is connected. To disable sharing, follow the directions:
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In the program, select the Options from the menubar
- Make sure that the checkbox next to Disable sharing of files with other KaZaA members is checked.
- Click the OK button.
Turning off the SuperNode funtion
The SuperNode option in Kazaa is a very large bandwidth hog as it allows the local computer to function as a search server on Kazaa's network.
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In the program, select the Options from the menubar
- Make sure that the checkbox next to Do not function as a SuperNode is checked.
- Click the OK button.
MTU Information Technology (IT) does not endorse the use of any of these applications. Some have very poorly written code, and many of them use spyware. Downloading files from unknown sources may increase the risk of receiving a file infected with a virus, worm or Trojan. |
