Speed and performance on a network (or highway) is inversely proportional to the amount of traffic carried - that is: more traffic, slower speeds. Performance is based on volume of traffic.

Like a highway, a data network is shared by all the users who have access to it. In other words, there are no reserved or express lanes. The more bandwidth any one student uses, the less there is available for the rest of the user population. Bandwidth is shared.

What are peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs?

P2P file sharing programs are designed to let people easily exchange music, movies, video and other files over the Internet. Some common programs are KaZaa, Gnutella, iMesh and eDonkey. Many of these programs are used to distribute copyrighted materials and thus violate copyright laws.

What effect do peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing apps have on bandwidth?

The same effect that a herd of elephants have on a small watering hole: They use it all. Every last bit of bandwidth that is available will be sucked up by file sharing applications. Peer-to-peer apps have no shame about what they use when it comes to using bandwidth.

How do file sharing apps use so much bandwidth?

The size of the files being shared and the act of sharing combine to eat up a network's limited amount of bandwidth. File sharing apps like KaZaA have two aspects, they act as clients, enabling you to download files from other participating systems, and they convert your computer into a server, allowing other clients to download material from you.

When you install a peer-to-peer application on your computer, the default installation process sets your computer up as a server. The net effect is that hundreds of thousands of users around the globe, who would otherwise have no interest in you or MSU-Northern's network, now want to utilize your PC and our bandwidth to download files. ANY media that exists on your computer is searched for by these programs and shared to the rest of the community of users.

It's a bit like throwing a barbecue and having everyone who smells the smoke drive down your street, park in your driveway, and come into your backyard. Only the smoke isn't limited to your neighborhood. It travels around the world and everyone who likes what you're cooking is free to come. In very short order, the carrying capacity of your street, not to mention your backyard, is exceeded. File sharing apps can have a significant adverse effect on your PC's performance.

While you're trying to use your computer, dozens of other users are accessing your disk and making demands on your memory and CPU.

What about privacy and security concerns associated with P2P apps?

Privacy concerns are real. Many users of file-sharing programs have inadvertently made highly personal information available to other users. Once one personal file is discovered on a P2P user’s computer, a feature on Kazaa called “Find More from Same User” will reveal every file being shared on that user’s computer. Use of this feature can result in the disclosure of a wide range of highly personal information about the user ranging from tax returns, medical files, legal documents, personal correspondence, business files and more.

Many P2P apps also contain spyware, that can monitor your Web browsing habits or record your passwords, credit card
data, and adware which causes advertisements to appear. KaZaA bundled a back door into their distribution that would allow them to create a network within a network using the millions of systems that have installed their software. (more on spyware & adware)

KaZaA and other peer-to-peer file-sharing apps are also the targets of viruses, worms and Trojan horses.

So... How can I reduce my use of the 'Net?

The best way to avoid being a bandwidth hog is to remove (uninstall) all peer-to-peer file-sharing programs from your computer.
  Instructions for Windows Users
  Instructions for Macintosh Users

If you insist on keeping your file-sharing programs on your computer, learn how to use them so that you do not use up more than your fair share of the University's network resources. That is, make sure that they are not set to share files over the network or to start automatically every time you turn on your computer.
  Instructions for Windows Users
  Instructions for Macintosh Users