File sharing programs are used to directly or indirectly move files from computer to computer through a network (Internet) While popular in describing client-server disk sharing this term is more commonly associated with P2P sharing of information.

P2P typically operates across a network like Gnutella or Bittorent. Whatever the network they may be either big or small, these file sharing networks come in all shapes and sizes. You should make sure you know which file network you’re going into as many of these networks contain advertising software which can infect your computer; otherwise known as Spyware.

There are six basic categories of file shrinking client types. Let’s investigate them:

1) centralized clients – with a faster search and download function these types of file sharing sites are the quickest and easiest to get on and get off of. They should be easy as their one negative is that on them you’re venerable to legal maneuvers or even DDOS attacks. DDOS are “distributed denial of service” this affects your computer on multiple fronts at the same time, causing confusion and ultimately shut down.

2) Decentralized clients – these are more reliable than the centralized clients and they don’t typically shut down. The only bad part about these is that they are much slower than centralized client systems

3) Decentralized tracker-based clients – Very fast; these are typically used to offer new, larger files for download; thought the downside of this is that, being so new, they’re not centrally searchable and often times the man gets there first and shuts them down before anyone’s even viewed them.

4) Anonymous P2P – these are great as they allow the uncensored, free flow of information and ideas; the negatives are nearly as strong; questionable or illegal material is able to be exchanged easier than on other networks and anonymous networks are sometimes slower than regular P2P because of cost.

5) Multi-network clients – these are great as they allow connection to more than one network; the things that’s a detraction is that changes often happen without your knowledge and you need to keep current.

6) Private file sharing networks: these are run by the proprietor and are accessible only if you know who’s operating them. This is great because the quality of the content is as good as the quality of the person; and yet, if you don’t know the person then there’s no way for you to access the network!