The Scheme to Discredit BitTorrent

By John C. Dvorak

One of the most fascinating and popular protocols and P2P file-distribution systems on the Internet is BitTorrent, first released in 2001. Continuous improvements led to its emergence as a force in 2003; by early 2005 it was perhaps the dominant protocol on the Net, second only to TCP/IP itself. The problem is that no big company controls it, and Microsoft, asleep at the wheel, let it slip too long to do much about it. So now I suspect Microsoft is playing dirty to discredit the thing. There is no other explanation for the recent series of coincidental stories and events.

BitTorrent is the brainchild of algorithm and logic junkie Bram Cohen, a certifiable genius who saw that radical thinking was needed if P2P was ever going to work well in mass-market environments.

Swarms. What Bram managed to figure out was a way to maximize throughput on P2P file distribution that went beyond server-centric methods, multicasting, edge buffering and all the other schemes that have come and gone. Moreover, this idea ends up not costing the person distributing the file a lot of bandwidth, because the file itself goes into the Net, becomes what is called a swarm, then uploads and downloads itself all over the place in bits and pieces from machine to machine. When you begin to download a file using BitTorrent, your machine immediately starts uploading the exact same file to someone else. This process is kind of like the fission demonstration with the mousetraps and the ping-pong balls, since your download becomes enhanced by others and you get multiple download streams. Meanwhile, you are still delivering bits from your file. Data is flying every which way and higher demand makes it work better!

Microsoft Takes Aim at BitTorrent. The process for doing this is nontrivial, although Cohen claims it's not that complicated. That said, he also tells me that nobody else seems to get it right, in particular Microsoft with its Avalanche project, which he calls vaporware and wrong. "They just do not get it," says Cohen. "They have no clue about how the protocol works. I don't know if they can't read the source or have not really looked at the code or documentation, but they do not understand it." To emphasize this issue he just posted a rebuttal to the Microsoft Avalanche research document in his blog this morning.

Meanwhile, we are hearing about Avalanche as though it is in beta. Articles begin to emerge about the product just as some dubious articles appear all over the Net about how BitTorrent has something to do with spyware. Interesting coincidences indeed.

Simple Lies, Told as Fact. There is no spyware in BitTorrent. There is no way BitTorrent is being tricked into delivering spyware. We hear that BitTorrent files are "infected." What specific to BitTorrent is infected? Is it the BitTorrent initiation files? Or is it the payload? If it's the payload (the media file, for example) then what's it got to to do with BitTorrent per se? Nothing, that's what.

Someone took an executable file, which in one instance is distributed as a Family Guy episode. Instead of just being an .avi or .mpg file, it's an .exe or some other executable. Executing the file results in a load of spyware being installed. So again I ask what's this got to do with BitTorrent per se? If BitTorrent didn't exist this file could still be traded in any number of ways. Nothing would change. BitTorrent in this instance is merely the download mechanism. You'd STILL get the spyware if you used something other than BitTorrent. Spotlighting BitTorrent is a cowardly way to discredit the product.

The Root of the Accusations. This was all begun by a Microsoft MVP character named Chris Boyd, who is always described as a "renowned" security expert. By whose standards is he renowned? Has he written books? Academic papers? Articles? What exactly besides blogging? So where does this assertion come from? The blog?

He posted his BitTorrent discovery on his security blog here. He discovered that the Aurora spyware is on machines that also have BitTorrent installed and implies that BitTorrent has more to do with it than a casual coincidence. Does this guy know that BitTorrent is a downloading system and people who do a lot of downloading tend to have it on their machines? The cause and effect logic here eludes me. Is he saying it's impossible to get Aurora without BitTorrent?

Whatever the case, someone managed to get his discovery of spyware (spyware is news?) into CNet News, eWeek, and IDG News service, as well as hundreds of blogs talking about how BitTorrent was an "adware distribution vehicle." Hey, BitTorrent will distribute whatever you choose to distribute. How is this news? This all happened just as the once skeptical, now wishy-washy Register (which also reported on the BitTorrent issue without questioning it) reported on Avalanche being oh-so-superior to BitTorrent.


For a good laugh view the Avalanche PowerPoint slide show. It shows all sorts of graphs as if Avalanche is actually in the wild being used. I have never seen such a crock in my life. Can you say "dry lab?"

Where Is the News Reporting? What bothered me the most about this episode was that there was no reporting whatsoever regarding the BitTorrent as spyware claims or even the credibility of the renowned MVP Chris Boyd. It was basically parroting a leap-of-faith accusation in a blog that somehow developed into these eventual talking points: Use BitTorrent and you'll get spyware. BitTorrent sucks, and oh, Microsoft has something better, although it's never been shipped—but it's better!

Does this sort of media irresponsibility and laziness ever end? Or why don't we just shoot everyone doing good work, lie about the facts, and turn everything over to Microsoft and its Redmond compound? The only defenders of BitTorrent I saw regarding this issue were buried here and there on Slashdot. They sure were not in the newsrooms—or the blogs for that matter. All the stories I saw were disgraceful.

"Where Is the News Reporting? - Does this sort of media irresponsibility and laziness ever end?"

(No sh*t! --and, applicable to a LOT more than just this particular story.)

(Good eye Mr. Dvorak.)

...and I am starting to wonder what has happened to the Register lately too.

"Does this sort of media irresponsibility and laziness ever end?"

No. That's why we stopped believing the media.

Even John Lennon said at one point:

"I don't believe in Beatles"

(...crap, now I went and depressed myself.)

There IS no Santa Clause.

We MUST grow up and realize this fact at some point in our life.

...I am just now realizing it deeply and emotionally myself.

and I am getting my keyboard wet with tears.

GOD DAMNIT I HATE THE RIAA BASTARDS FOR FUCKING UP OUR DREAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe if we work HARD now our grand-kids can have a more equitable world.

DO IT FOR THEM!!!

Go write a fucking song. Right now, while you're still distraught.

with apologies to david alan coe

I was drunk, the day my kid got out of prison
so I logged on and shared some files to ease the pain
but before I get me a copy of the family guy
the spyware caused my machine to crash again
so I'll run spybot as long as it's still freeware
and I won't ever use kazaa again

sorry. I don't give good legal advice either

That also works with Roadhouse Blues, Capt, as long as you sing some of the lines twice.

The news people say they read these blogs. If so what are they doing with the the information. are they investigating it??

If you're out there email us, P2Pnet, The Register or any of the others out there and let us know you're not all incompetent.

I wonder if journalistic integrity 101 or investigative journalism 101 are taught anymore in college.

roadhouse blues eh?

how about this..


well, I woke up this morning and I downloaded britney spears
but I caught me a virus and I feel like a dick with ears
so I'm going to the courthouse cause my settlement is in arears

they say I owe, baby I owe
cause I was a downloadin ho'
and they want most of my dough
so I'll go----- and pay them off


hmmm, nope not getting any better

still taking requests until I get sued...

o god. mac davis used to do this on tv.

and the worst part is there really aren't too many people left alive who remember that. tell me I'm not really that old..


sob sob whine

I used Bit-Torrent quite a bit (no pun intended) while I was in Korea last year. Spyware was not an issue (hell, my two boys inadvertently download a lot of spyware from game websites targeting children - but I've never received spyware from Bit-Torrent).

Bit-Torrent is great for downloading large files which are popular. Its biggest weakness is that it is not very suitable for smaller files (like, for example, individual music tracks) because the 'swarm' cannot easily sustain itself over a long period of time with files under, say, 50 megs. Also, if a file is large but not popular, then a decent 'swarm' may never fully develop.

Bit-Torrent has been demonized by the big content holder, especially the MPAA. But individual web sites which "legally" offer large files for public consumption have found that Bit-Torrent is a great way to distribute without consuming too much of the web site's own bandwidth.

"But individual web sites which "legally" offer large files for public consumption have found that Bit-Torrent is a great way to distribute without consuming too much of the web site's own bandwidth."

Most notably, didn't the last big first person shooter get pre-released as a torrent that could be activated once the game had hit it's shelf date? The gaming industry has been really keen on using BT for pre-releases because it makes them more revenue and frees up store pre-release space for brick and mortar retailers that couldn't meet the demand. It would be nice if the software industry could tell the music and movie industry to stuff their whining, but I doubt that's going to happen.

Ooh, speaking of which, it's time for my daily fragging. Whee.

HL2 - and althrough it was a torrent, the publisher used a very slightly different protocol and propritary client. Probably because they didn't want to be associated with any software that as a reputation as pirate-friendly.

The activation system, Steam, is universally considered to be one of the most intrusive, unwanted DRM programs ever released.

captdunsel - Give me a second verse, and I'll record it.

give me an hour or so

george, here you go.

I found a new way to download,
But they tell me it’s a steal.
I got all my favorite music,
And it was a real good deal.
So now I’m going to the courthouse,
And maybe gonna do some – time.

Yeah in the back of the courtroom,
I hid among the rows.
But they still found me out,
And now I think I’m hosed.

They sue all the people
Who listen to backstreet boy’s

they say I owe, baby I owe
cause I was a downloadin ho'
and they want most of my dough
so I'll go----- and pay them off

You gotta load, load, load,
You gotta download, all the night.
Load, load , load
You gotta fill my ipod tonight.

I got Slim Shady.
Got Disco Lady.
Got Crowded House.
And Modest Mouse.
But now they want to sue me.
Put the screws to me.
And how.

well, I woke up this morning
and I downloaded britney spears
but I caught me a virus
and I feel like a dick with ears

so I'm going to the courthouse
cause my settlement’s in arears

they say I owe, baby I owe
cause I was a downloadin ho'
and they want most of my dough
so I'll go----- and pay them off

(alternative chorus)
they say I owe, baby I owe,
they even took all of my clothes
and they want half my soul
And I know ----- I can't pay them off.

sorry, I should have finished this this morning when I was on a roll. somehow you just can't ever go back.

53 minutes.

Let me know if it works. I wanna hear this.

I love the Doors -- I wanna hear it, too!!! Please, George, please!!!!! Captdunsel--great!

Nice, capt. I look forward to hearing it, too, George.