Software Superstore - Attacks On Peer-2-Peer Networks

Many peer-to-peer networks are under constant attack by people with a variety of motives.

Examples include:

poisoning attacks (e.g. providing files whose contents are different from the description)
polluting attacks (e.g. inserting "bad" chunks/packets into an otherwise valid file on the network)
freeloaders (Sometimes known as 'Leechers') (users or software that make use of the network without contributing resources to it)
insertion of viruses to carried data (e.g. downloaded or carried files may be infected with viruses or other malware)
malware in the peer-to-peer network software itself (e.g. distributed software may contain spyware)
denial of service attacks (attacks that may make the network run very slowly or break completely)
filtering (network operators may attempt to prevent peer-to-peer network data from being carried)
identity attacks (e.g. tracking down the users of the network and harassing or legally attacking them)
spamming (e.g. sending unsolicited information across the network- not necessarily as a denial of service attack)

Almost all attacks can be defeated or controlled by installing good anti-virus and anti-spyware/adware software. This way whenever you download a file, it is automatically detected by the software before you open it, or before it is finally saved to disk.

attacks on peer-2-peer networks