I have one simple question: Does using Limewire leave a local computer/network vulnerable to any kind of hacking, and if so, what protective measures can be taken?

Note that I ask this not because I'm "scared", but because I wont be able to download and use Limewire until I can prove to or at least convince my parents that there is minimum risk involved. Yes, they're that sort.

LimeWire is the least vulnerable gnutella client because it's written in Java. This means it's essentially invulnerable to the worst kind of networked security problem, buffer overflows.

It is impossible for someone else to take control of your computer solely because you're running LimeWire.

Now -- it may happen that you download an executable that has a virus in it, but that's not because of LimeWire. It even warns you about attempting to download something that may contain a virus.

Well, fortunately, I'm running Mac OS X so I can laugh in the face of .exe s.


Thanks for that, I'll see if it works...

Well, my parents STILL wont believe it ... yeesh... this is gonna take a written essay...


I'd still welcome any help, especially if it works...

Tell them to learn how to program, download the source, review it, and compile it themselves. (Or tell them you'll become a programmer, make lots of money, and do it for them.)

LimeWire is completely open source, so every single bit of the program that is being run can be reviewed by knowledgable people to ensure that it does nothing mischevious.

I'll try telling them the thing about the open source etc etc...

Telling them to learn how to program etc etc would just be suicide for me...



Well, either "Thanks" or "Thanks for trying, but keep trying"... depending on whether or not it works...