I’ve heard that a program called mIRC is really useful for getting files. I’ve also heard that you can easily get hacked from it or get viruses. How true are these statements? Also, I have a router so I can use my cable modem on multiple computers. Is this an adequate firewall?
mIRC is an IRC program – Internet Relay Chat. It lets you talk with other people real-time (like AOL instant messenger, only you’re usually talking to a group of people unless you choose to talk privately). You can send and receive files from others chatting, but you never know what you’re getting.
If you’re looking for program files, go to http://www.hotfiles.com or http://www.tucows.com ; they’re safer.
The router probably won’t hurt, but to be safe, get ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonelabs.com). It’s free.
You’re not at any security risk just from running mIRC. However, many of the scripts commonly used with mIRC are major security risks, intentional or otherwise, and of course, if you run any program that you get from any source other than the original manufacturer, you’re putting yourself at great risk. You’re also probably breaking copyright laws. One wise rule to live by is to never do anything that can get the FBI after you.
mIRC is like any other program and IRC is like any other network. As long as you follow basic rules of security and common sense, bad things usually don’t happen. If you run around accepting executable files from anyone and everyone, yes, you may get a virus. Just don’t run executables and disable macros in word.
As for getting files, IRC probably has anything you could ever want on a fileserver somewhere. The problem is getting to it. Unlike Napster, you must query individuals one by one for files, and they may well refuse to give them. They also might demand you upload files in exchange. If you know the right people and can get into the right channels, it’s all gravy. However, it is more of an effort.
Go to http://www.mirc.co.uk to get a better explanation than I could ever give. Pay special attention to info on f-serve, which seems to be what most interest you.
There is all manner of illegal files available on IRC. People sometimes set their computers up as file servers for anyone (or a select few) to access. Like any chat network there is file-transfer.
As Trucido has said, the problem is finding it and, more importantly, getting it. Even if you find the file you want, you will likely have to wait in a queue of people. Anywhere between one or two and several hundred files may be queued up before you.
Often, in order to actually get the files, you have to leave auto-accept on (or else you have to be at your 'puter the moment a file comes through). When you turn that option on, anyone can (and will) send you random files, including viruses. You absolutely must run a Virus checker that checks all incoming files, and never run anything that you didn’t ask for. Sometimes even then things can go bad.
When I used IRC regularly I had to do a clean install about once every 2 to 3 months because of viruses and whatnot. It just depends on how important it is to you to pirate software and whatnot. I decided mIRC wasn’t worth the hassle. And, of course, it is illegal.
mIRC may not be your best bet if you want to trade files. The original protocol used on IRC to send files (DCC - Direct Client Connection) is very inefficient over a high-latency connection, like a modem. Basically, it sends a small piece of the file, waits for the other side to say “ok, now I have 2400 bytes”, then sends another piece, etc.
This would be a good idea if the Internet protocols themselves didn’t already make sure that the data gets there - but they do. All the waiting is pointless, and when you’re sending over a modem, it adds up very quickly. DCC transfers are often one-fourth the speed of FTP or HTTP transfers.
The good news: there’s been another protocol for the past five years or so, called TDCC (Turbo DCC). It eliminates the waiting, so TDCC transfers are just as fast as FTP.
The bad news: mIRC doesn’t support TDCC, only regular DCC. In fact, it’s basically the only IRC client these days that doesn’t support TDCC.
But there’s more good news: IRC clients are basically interchangeable, like web browsers. You can connect to the same servers, join the same channels, talk to the same people, and get the same files with another client - but you can also use whatever new features that client offers, like TDCC.
I don’t want to seem crass, so I won’t recommend my own… but Stroud’s has a pretty good list of IRC clients.