File-sharing programs are used to transfer files from one computer to another over the Internet, an Intranet or across simple networks. There are a wide variety of file-sharing programs available, the majority of which follow the peer-to-peer (P2P) model. Availability depends partly on the operating system, and different networks have varying features, such as multiple-source downloads, search limiting and so on.
Great care must be taken when choosing a file-sharing program, as some come bundled with malware (such as spyware or adware), which can remain installed on the system even if the original file sharing software is removed. This malware can interfere with the correct operation of web browsers, anti-virus software, anti-spyware and software firewalls, and can cause degraded performance on affected systems.
In this section, we take a look at some of the most popular file sharing programs in more detail.
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