| Comment Number: | OL-100005 |
| Received: | 11/8/2004 5:03:06 PM |
| Organization: | WiredSafety.org |
| Commenter: | Parry Aftab |
| State: | NJ |
| Agency: | Federal Trade Commission |
| Rule: | Notice Announcing Public Workshop and Requesting Public Comment and Participation |
| Docket ID: | Not yet available |
| Attachment: | OL-100005.pdf Download Adobe Reader |
Comments:
I am a lawyer, specializing in Internet privacy and security law. I am also a child advocate, author and The Privacy Lawyer columnist for Information Week Magazine. Most of my time is donated to helping Internet users of all ages surf more safely, privately and securely. As the founder and executive director of WiredSafety.org, the world's largest online safety and help group, I devote a tremendous amount of my time to running a worldwide all-volunteer ogranization that helps people with problems they encounter online and educating them about secure and private online use. I am submitting this comment in my personal capacity and on behalf of WiredSafety.org. P2P is a very valuable technology. It permits large files to be sent to multiple end-users and allows consumers to share media and content. But there are many risks inherent in the technology (largely relating to consumers not understanding the security settings and computer-safety practices). So much time has been spent focusing on the copyright issues and P2P that the more traditional risks, such as malicious codes, making private files available to others inadvertently and computer security. And It is essential that we not throw the technology out with the bathwater. And, we have to separate the technology itself from misuses and abuses of the technology by those who are pirating music and other copyrighted content. Most interactive technologies are abused these days. And educating consumers, epsecially children, about safe and responsible technology use is crucial to stemming those abuses. Our new program, InternetSuperheroes.org uses Marvel's popular super heroes and super villains to deliver the messages of good cybercitizenship. This message is as important to adults as it is to young people. That said, I have attached a recent article I have written about P2P security and privacy risks. The first two paragraphs are set forth below: Most articles about the risks of P2P focus on piracy and copyright issues. Few have taken the time to explore other risks the technology poses and solutions to those risks. In addition to traditional P2P technologies, such as Kazaa, eDonkey and Morpheus, many of the new instant messaging technologies have P2P features and allow the sharing of files, even very large media files, such as videos. While both P2P and, more obviously, IM applications with P2P feaures have many benefits, like most other Internet-related services and applications, there are risks. Luckily, there are solutions for most of these risks if you know what to look for. Since it was first launched a few years ago, P2P has been demonized for facilitating music, movie and software piracy. But putting the piracy issues aside for the purposes of this article, what are the risks associated with using P2P in a home and in a business or school environment? These risks include 1. infecting your computer with malicious codes, such as viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware and unwanted adware, 2. illegal, harmful and child-inappropriate content, 3. making your computer more vulnerable to hacking and other intrusions, 4. allowing others to make your computer into a drone capable of attacking other websites and servers, 5. corrupted files or misrepresented content and 6. sharing private files, unintentionally, with others. There are ways to avoid these risks, if you are forewarned and use the right software and security precautions. These same tips apply to IM P2P applications. Respectfully submitted, Parry Aftab, Esq. aftab.com theprivacylawyer.blogspot.com wiredsafety.org (see attached article)