I've received several messages regarding XP SP2 being available via
BitTorrent. BitTorrent, for those who don't already know, is a
peer-to-peer file downloading browser help app. Someone puts up a file
on a website which others want to download. People click on that link,
and from there they start receiving fragments of the file from peers
and/or the originating site. The idea is that everyone who is
downloading, or has downloaded, can contribute something to others who
are downloading the same file. BitTorrent uses an SHA1 hash to verify
that what you receive is an identical copy to what was put up.
It does not, however, do anything to verify that was is made available
is actually what you think it is, or what you want. Further, it assumes
that there is a legal right for anyone other than the owner (in this
case, Microsoft) to make the file available to others.
There-in lie the problems, and the reason I've been hesitant to mention
BitTorrent.
According to the site which was hosting links to XP SP2, Microsoft has
used DCMA to force them to remove the links. They have chosen to comply.
BitTorrent information and downloads can be found here;
<http://bitconjurer.org/BitTorrent/index.html>
The site which was offering XP SP2 via BitTorrent is here;
<http://sp2torrent.com/>
I'm neither condemning, nor endorsing, BitTorrent. Its concept is
excellent for creators of content to give out downloads. Unfortunately,
that's not the only way its being used. YMMV.
Cheers,
Russ - NTBugtraq Editor
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