# Limewire **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limewire/376072 "2006-10-11T17:01:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limewire/376072/1 "2006-10-11T17:01:45Z")
What, if anything, can anyone tell me about this site. It is a shared site for downloading music/videoa /films and I’ve got info enabling me to download it for free. Is the site safe? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limewire/376072/2 "2006-10-11T17:05:19Z")
Run away. As fast as you can. One, it’s not legal. Two, the program you download will probably load all sorts of spyware, trojans, and crap onto your computer and slow it down, if not compromise all your personal info. And three, it’s illegal. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limewire/376072/3 "2006-10-11T17:10:59Z")
[QUOTE=Rico] Run away. As fast as you can. One, it’s not legal. Two, the program you download will probably load all sorts of spyware, trojans, and crap onto your computer and slow it down, if not compromise all your personal info. And three, it’s illegal. [/QUOTE] Ugh…must…resist…urge…to talk about forbidden SDMB topic… But, real quick, wrong, wrong, and wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limewire/376072/4 "2006-10-11T17:20:59Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] wrong, wrong, and wrong. [/QUOTE] P2P filesharing programs can be used for legal purposes. But the great majority of use is to illegally share copyrighted files among users. In regards to those points, this from the [eTrust Spyware Information Center](http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/Pest.aspx?id=453088059) (bolding mine): > [@](#): > > LIMEWIRE > > Summary: **A peer network used primarily for music file sharing**. In an organization, can degrade network performance and consume vast amounts of storage. **Is bundled with many spyware/adware products**. > > Category P2P : Any peer-to-peer file swapping program, such as Audiogalaxy, Bearshare, Blubster, E-Mule, Gnucleus, Grokster, Imesh, KaZaa, KaZaa Lite, Limewire, Morpheus, Shareaza, WinMX and Xolox. In an organization, can degrade network performance and consume vast amounts of storage. **May create security issues as outsiders are granted access to internal files. Often bundled with Adware or Spyware**. Your cites, please? ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limewire/376072/5 "2006-10-11T17:39:41Z")
[QUOTE=Rico] Run away. As fast as you can. One, it’s not legal. Two, the program you download will probably load all sorts of spyware, trojans, and crap onto your computer and slow it down, if not compromise all your personal info. And three, it’s illegal. [/QUOTE] Thanks, consider me law abiding and relieved that I asked about it first. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limewire/376072/6 "2006-10-11T17:58:37Z")
**Rico** , I’m curious. I was going to report this, but as a mod is already here, aren’t threads about P2P usually closed rather swiftly? ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limewire/376072/7 "2006-10-11T18:21:19Z")
This is really a question for GQ, so I’ll move it there. But, since the question in the OP has already been answered with the information contained within **Rico** ’s link, I think it’s safe to close it.