A BitTorrent tracker is a server which assists in the communication between peers using the BitTorrent protocol. It is also, in the absence of extensions to the original protocol, the only major critical point, as clients are required to communicate with the tracker to initiate downloads. (Clients that have already begun downloading also communicate with the tracker periodically to negotiate with newer peers and provide statistics; however, after the initial reception of peer data, peer communication can continue without a tracker.)
A Bit Torrent tracker centrally coordinates the P2P transfer of files among users. BitTorrent trackers are software server "toolkit" applications that typically run on Web sites. BNBT and CBTT are names of common BitTorrent tracker toolkits.
Tracker software serves up torrent files for download from a Web site. The tracker maintains information about all BitTorrent clients utilizing each torrent. Specifically, the tracker identifies the network location of each client either uploading or downloading the P2P file associated with a torrent. It also tracks which fragment(s) of that file each client possesses, to assist in efficient data sharing between clients.
BitTorrent clients connect to a tracker when attempting to work with torrent files.
Trackers and Indexers
A tracker should be differentiated from a BitTorrent index by the fact that it does not necessarily list files that are being tracked. A BitTorrent index is a list of .torrent files (usually including descriptions and other information). Trackers merely coordinate communication between peers attempting to download the payload of the torrents.
Many BitTorrent websites act as both tracker and index. Sites such as these publicize the tracker's URL and allow users to upload torrents to the index with the tracker's URL embedded in them, providing all the features necessary to initiate a download.
Private trackers
A private tracker is a tracker which restricts who can use it, often by requiring registration of a user account. Private trackers usually register how much the users upload and download and may enforce a minimum upload-to-download ratio. As a result their torrents usually offer better availability and speed compared to public trackers where leeching is more common.
Many private trackers are now implementing Passkeys in the torrent file, which gives each user a specific address to contact in order to get a list of peers. This helps to prevent unauthorized distribution of torrent files from private trackers.
Legal issues
Main article: Legal issues with BitTorrent
In most countries, it is illegal to distribute copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright holder. Because of their potential to be used in breach of copyright as well as in compliance, many torrent trackers have been the target of cease and desist lawsuits from copyright bodies; this despite the fact that a tracker does not actually host or distribute any copyrighted data itself.
A complicating factor is that torrent tracking websites operate in a variety of countries, including countries with copyright laws that differ from the country of origin of the copyrighted material, and countries in which different actions may be legal or illegal.
Further complicating factors are that there are many circumstances under which it is legal to distribute copyrighted material - indeed there are currently some experiments at legally selling content that is distributed over BitTorrent using a "secure" tracker system. For instance, copyright holders may choose to allow their content to be distributed for free, using licenses such as the Creative Commons family, or the GPL. In addition, some countries also have fair use provisions in copyright law, which allow people the right to access and use certain classes of copyrighted material without breach of the law.
[edit] Improving tracker reliability
Trackers are the primary reason for a damaged BitTorrent 'swarm'. (Other reasons are mostly related to damaged or hacked clients uploading corrupt data.) The reliability of trackers has been improved through two main innovations in the BitTorrent protocol:
Multi-tracker torrents
Multi-tracker torrents feature multiple trackers in the one torrent. This way, should one tracker fail, the others can continue supporting file transfer.
[edit] Trackerless torrents
The original BitTorrent client was the first to offer decentralized, distributed tracking using a distributed hash table (DHT), making torrents more independent from the tracker. Later, Azureus, µTorrent, BitComet and KTorrent adopted this feature. Azureus' "Distributed Database" feature uses its own form of DHT (Kademlia) which is incompatible with the official BitTorrent client's implementation, although most of the other clients support the official DHT implementation.
[edit] IPv6 support
One of the options for this HTTP based tracker protocol is the "compact" flag. This flag specifies that the tracker can compact the response by encoding IPv4 addresses as a set of 4 bytes (32bits). IPv6 though are 128bits long, and as such, the "compact" flag breaks IPv6 support. Trackers which support IPv6 clients thus currently ignore the compact flag. There have been mentions of a "compact6" flag, but this mechanism has not been adopted yet by the various BitTorrent clients.
The first IPv6 only BitTorrent tracker was and still is run by NIIF/HUNGARNET.
Recently SixXS released their IPv6 only BitTorrent Tracker. This tracker has a permanent set of seeds available on high bandwidth links. The .torrents served by this tracker can be submitted to the catalog, the seeds will then automatically start distributing these .torrents amongst each other, ensuring that the seeds have the full file and providing for high speed downloads for clients. This service makes Open Source distributions readily available over IPv6 in a highspeed way.
The tracker notifies the client of the P2P file location (that is normally on a different, remote server). If the BitTorrent tracker fails or is taken offline, clients will be unable to continue sharing those P2P files. A tracker normally utilizes TCP port 6969 for network communications.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
List of Ad networks
Adsense:
Offers a contextual advertising solution to web publishers delivers text-based Google Ad Words ads that are relevant to site content pages.
Works, great best PPC network available to publishers.
Kontera:
Kontera’s Content Link is a double underlined contextually relevant keyword on a web page that upon mouse-over opens a small bubble like box that displays and links to an ad from one of Kontera’s advertisers.
When a visitor clicks the in text advertisement, they will be taken to the advertiser’s web site and the publisher will make money online. With Content Link, advertisers reach their targeted audience on a Cost Per Click (CPC) basis.
Great network for inline advertisements. People click on them and they look nice.
Adbrite:
Good CPM and PCP network. They have a very open TOS which allows there Ads almost anywhere. Their full page ads and in lines are great for extra cash.
Adversal:
Great pop-under network. Fair cpm rates and the reporting is good.
Paypopup:
Good CPM rates but there pop-under are infested with Malicious java script that will redirect your visitors off your pages. There pop-under are fairly dirty. I think they are not inspecting their advertisers and allowing Dirty pop-under on their network. Not something I want on my site.
Popuptraffic:
Suffers from the same thing, a few dirty pop-unders. I suspect also their cheating publishers and they give a crappy CPM.
LayerAds:
Unless your traffic is from the E.U expect to make little with this. Also their layer ads have Porn Ads in them. With no publisher control to remove them. Not something i want on my website.
ShoppingAds and AuctionAds:
I heard people made some good money with AA before they were sold to mediaWhiz. This publisher network is seriously suffering from alot problems from what I've seen using it. Athough I continue to use AA. (I'm still waiting out this guys to get their shit together)
Bidvertiser:
Low CTR becuase the Ads are not relevant to the sites content even if you put in the right category. This network has alot of "make money online" types of Ads. Useless for me and made nothing with this network.
Offers a contextual advertising solution to web publishers delivers text-based Google Ad Words ads that are relevant to site content pages.
Works, great best PPC network available to publishers.
Kontera:
Kontera’s Content Link is a double underlined contextually relevant keyword on a web page that upon mouse-over opens a small bubble like box that displays and links to an ad from one of Kontera’s advertisers.
When a visitor clicks the in text advertisement, they will be taken to the advertiser’s web site and the publisher will make money online. With Content Link, advertisers reach their targeted audience on a Cost Per Click (CPC) basis.
Great network for inline advertisements. People click on them and they look nice.
Adbrite:
Good CPM and PCP network. They have a very open TOS which allows there Ads almost anywhere. Their full page ads and in lines are great for extra cash.
Adversal:
Great pop-under network. Fair cpm rates and the reporting is good.
Paypopup:
Good CPM rates but there pop-under are infested with Malicious java script that will redirect your visitors off your pages. There pop-under are fairly dirty. I think they are not inspecting their advertisers and allowing Dirty pop-under on their network. Not something I want on my site.
Popuptraffic:
Suffers from the same thing, a few dirty pop-unders. I suspect also their cheating publishers and they give a crappy CPM.
LayerAds:
Unless your traffic is from the E.U expect to make little with this. Also their layer ads have Porn Ads in them. With no publisher control to remove them. Not something i want on my website.
ShoppingAds and AuctionAds:
I heard people made some good money with AA before they were sold to mediaWhiz. This publisher network is seriously suffering from alot problems from what I've seen using it. Athough I continue to use AA. (I'm still waiting out this guys to get their shit together)
Bidvertiser:
Low CTR becuase the Ads are not relevant to the sites content even if you put in the right category. This network has alot of "make money online" types of Ads. Useless for me and made nothing with this network.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Top 10 Ways to Defend Against Viruses and Worms
To use your computer and the Internet safely, you need to safeguard your files, your identity, and your personal information. Following these 10 basic rules will help you secure the online experience for you and your family.
1.Stay aware of current virus news by checking sites like McAfee® Avert® Alerts.
Be careful exchanging floppy disks and CDs between computers; also, write-
protect your floppy disk or CD. For file compression, use statically compressed
ZIP files instead of self-extracting ones.
2.Protect your computer with strong security software and keep it updated. McAfee Internet Security Suite provides proven PC protection from Trojans, hackers, and spyware. Its integrated anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, anti-spam, anti-phishing, and backup technologies work together to combat today’s advanced multi-faceted attacks. It scans disks, email attachments, files downloaded from the web, and documents generated by word processing and spreadsheet programs.
3.Use a security conscious Internet service provider (ISP) that implements strong anti-spam and anti-phishing procedures. The SpamHaus organization lists the current top-10 worst ISPs in this category—consider this when making your choice.
4.Enable automatic Windows® updates, or download Microsoft® updates regularly, to keep your operating system patched against known vulnerabilities. Install patches from other software manufacturers as soon as they are distributed. A fully patched computer behind a firewall is the best defense against Trojan and spyware installation.
5.Use great caution when opening attachments. Configure your anti-virus software to automatically scan all email and instant message attachments. Make sure your email program doesn’t automatically open attachments or automatically render graphics, and ensure that the preview pane is turned off. This will prevent macros from executing. Refer to your program’s safety options or preferences menu for instructions. Never open unsolicited emails, or attachments that you’re not expecting—even from people you know.
6.Be careful when using P2P file sharing. Trojans sit within file-sharing programs waiting to be downloaded. Use the same precautions when downloading shared files that you do for email and instant messaging. Avoid downloading files with the extensions .exe, .scr, .lnk, .bat, .vbs, .dll, .bin, and .cmd. Anti-virus software and a good firewall will protect your system from malicious files.
7.Use security precautions for your PDA, cell phone, and Wi-Fi devices. Viruses and Trojans arrive as an email/IM attachment, are downloaded from the Internet, or are uploaded along with other data from a desktop. Cell phone viruses are in the beginning stages, but will become more common as more people buy smart phones with advanced email, text messaging, and instant messaging features. Anti-virus software is available for PDAs and cell phones. McAfee also offers trusted security for Wi-Fi.
8.Configure your instant messaging application correctly. Make sure it does not open automatically when you fire up your computer. Turn off your computer and disconnect the DSL or modem line when you’re not using it. Beware of spam-based phishing schemes—don’t click on links in emails or IM.
9.Back up your files regularly and store the backups somewhere besides your PC. If you fall victim to a virus attack, you can recover photos, music, movies, and personal information like tax returns and bank statements, and simultaneously gain total “peace of mind” protection from viruses, spyware, hackers, ID theft, spam, predators, and wireless threats with McAfee Total Protection™.
1.Stay aware of current virus news by checking sites like McAfee® Avert® Alerts.
Be careful exchanging floppy disks and CDs between computers; also, write-
protect your floppy disk or CD. For file compression, use statically compressed
ZIP files instead of self-extracting ones.
2.Protect your computer with strong security software and keep it updated. McAfee Internet Security Suite provides proven PC protection from Trojans, hackers, and spyware. Its integrated anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, anti-spam, anti-phishing, and backup technologies work together to combat today’s advanced multi-faceted attacks. It scans disks, email attachments, files downloaded from the web, and documents generated by word processing and spreadsheet programs.
3.Use a security conscious Internet service provider (ISP) that implements strong anti-spam and anti-phishing procedures. The SpamHaus organization lists the current top-10 worst ISPs in this category—consider this when making your choice.
4.Enable automatic Windows® updates, or download Microsoft® updates regularly, to keep your operating system patched against known vulnerabilities. Install patches from other software manufacturers as soon as they are distributed. A fully patched computer behind a firewall is the best defense against Trojan and spyware installation.
5.Use great caution when opening attachments. Configure your anti-virus software to automatically scan all email and instant message attachments. Make sure your email program doesn’t automatically open attachments or automatically render graphics, and ensure that the preview pane is turned off. This will prevent macros from executing. Refer to your program’s safety options or preferences menu for instructions. Never open unsolicited emails, or attachments that you’re not expecting—even from people you know.
6.Be careful when using P2P file sharing. Trojans sit within file-sharing programs waiting to be downloaded. Use the same precautions when downloading shared files that you do for email and instant messaging. Avoid downloading files with the extensions .exe, .scr, .lnk, .bat, .vbs, .dll, .bin, and .cmd. Anti-virus software and a good firewall will protect your system from malicious files.
7.Use security precautions for your PDA, cell phone, and Wi-Fi devices. Viruses and Trojans arrive as an email/IM attachment, are downloaded from the Internet, or are uploaded along with other data from a desktop. Cell phone viruses are in the beginning stages, but will become more common as more people buy smart phones with advanced email, text messaging, and instant messaging features. Anti-virus software is available for PDAs and cell phones. McAfee also offers trusted security for Wi-Fi.
8.Configure your instant messaging application correctly. Make sure it does not open automatically when you fire up your computer. Turn off your computer and disconnect the DSL or modem line when you’re not using it. Beware of spam-based phishing schemes—don’t click on links in emails or IM.
9.Back up your files regularly and store the backups somewhere besides your PC. If you fall victim to a virus attack, you can recover photos, music, movies, and personal information like tax returns and bank statements, and simultaneously gain total “peace of mind” protection from viruses, spyware, hackers, ID theft, spam, predators, and wireless threats with McAfee Total Protection™.
BitDefender’s June 2007 Top 10 malware list includes
BitDefender Lab’s Top 10 Malware Chart for June reveals that many computer users still do not have adequate protection
Puce.G and a newer version of the Rjump worm lead this month’s list
BUCHAREST, Romania – July 2, 2007 – BitDefender®, a global provider of award-winning antivirus software and data security solutions, announced today its Top 10 malware threats of June 2007.
With this month’s list of Top 10 malware threats only accounting for 39.75% of the total number of threats, perhaps the most outstanding finding is not a certain virus, but the way that the top malfeasants have been concentrated into a smaller percentage of the overall viruses developed in the wild.
The P2P worm Puce.G claims first spot once again in June, while the second place in the gallery of malware goes to a new version of the Rjump worm, displacing the older (B) version which held the same position in May.
Although it accounts for only slightly more infections than last month (4.17% vs. 3.82%), Netsky continues to show up high in the list, climbing this month to third place.
BitDefender’s June 2007 Top 10 malware list includes:
win32.worm.p2p.puce.g 9.57%
worm.rjump.k 8.21%
win32.netsky.p@mm 4.17%
win32.worm.vb.ymeak.a 3.68%
win32.worm.vb.dz 3.22%
win32.worm.rjump.b 3.16%
win32.wukill.e@mm 2.10%
worm.seduobot.a 1.99%
win32.worm.vb.nei 1.95%
win32.brontok.a@mm 1.70%
(Note: BitDefender’s June 2007 Top 10 list of malware accounts for 39.75% of the total number of all viruses seen in circulation.)
"It's worrying to see the same threats reported month in and month out. It appears as if many users still don't have adequate antivirus protection. A virus is extremely difficult to eradicate from the wild if it can keep finding new hosts,” commented Viorel Canja, head of BitDefender Labs.
For further details on the latest malware detected in the wild, please visit BitDefender’s Defense Portal site at: http://www.bitdefender.com/site/VirusInfo/realTimeReporting/.
Puce.G and a newer version of the Rjump worm lead this month’s list
BUCHAREST, Romania – July 2, 2007 – BitDefender®, a global provider of award-winning antivirus software and data security solutions, announced today its Top 10 malware threats of June 2007.
With this month’s list of Top 10 malware threats only accounting for 39.75% of the total number of threats, perhaps the most outstanding finding is not a certain virus, but the way that the top malfeasants have been concentrated into a smaller percentage of the overall viruses developed in the wild.
The P2P worm Puce.G claims first spot once again in June, while the second place in the gallery of malware goes to a new version of the Rjump worm, displacing the older (B) version which held the same position in May.
Although it accounts for only slightly more infections than last month (4.17% vs. 3.82%), Netsky continues to show up high in the list, climbing this month to third place.
BitDefender’s June 2007 Top 10 malware list includes:
win32.worm.p2p.puce.g 9.57%
worm.rjump.k 8.21%
win32.netsky.p@mm 4.17%
win32.worm.vb.ymeak.a 3.68%
win32.worm.vb.dz 3.22%
win32.worm.rjump.b 3.16%
win32.wukill.e@mm 2.10%
worm.seduobot.a 1.99%
win32.worm.vb.nei 1.95%
win32.brontok.a@mm 1.70%
(Note: BitDefender’s June 2007 Top 10 list of malware accounts for 39.75% of the total number of all viruses seen in circulation.)
"It's worrying to see the same threats reported month in and month out. It appears as if many users still don't have adequate antivirus protection. A virus is extremely difficult to eradicate from the wild if it can keep finding new hosts,” commented Viorel Canja, head of BitDefender Labs.
For further details on the latest malware detected in the wild, please visit BitDefender’s Defense Portal site at: http://www.bitdefender.com/site/VirusInfo/realTimeReporting/.
New Malware could take root in your PC
The new RootKit malware can extend its roots deep into your system and draw sustence from your files and registries A root kit is a set of tools used by an intuder after cracking your system. They help the attacker maintain access to your system and use it for malacious purpose, they can also harness your computer to attack other systems and can record your private informations such as password.
Free download.
Last week, Net security specialist McAfee placed a free download that can sniff out such hostile codes
its a 1.4MB software.
Download it from http://vil.nai.com/VIL/STINGER/RKSTINGER.ASPX
Or Click here
Free download.
Last week, Net security specialist McAfee placed a free download that can sniff out such hostile codes
its a 1.4MB software.
Download it from http://vil.nai.com/VIL/STINGER/RKSTINGER.ASPX
Or Click here
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