on the bottom left of my limewire search page is a green oval containing a number. It is a "shared files count", what does this number indicate. I realize that this sounds like a real dumb question, but I am new to all of this and can't find anything in the pdf file to explain what it means. Is it files I have gotten from others, files others have gotten from me, both? Also, do I have to do anything for others to get files from me. How do I protect myself from people seeing private files?

The green oval indicates the number of files you currently are sharing.

If you did not ask Limewire to scan for mediafiles when you installed, then the only folder shared is the Shared folder which Limewire creates and a folder in preferences that only has to do with people downloading Limewire itself. All files that you download go into the Shared folder.

You can add or remove folder by going to Tools-->Options-->Sharing or altenatively going to your library and pressing shared files.

how do I know what files people have gotten from me? I did not ask for limewire to scan for mediafiles. While using limewire is it possible to keep my files private. What if I have files that I don't feel comfortable sharing?

Exactly as Sleepless said..... The only files that are not private are those you are sharing, and as you did not ask Limewire to scan for media files ... this is by default your save or download folder. Unless you change this all others can see is your downloaded files. You can share other files as he described and you only share what you want to. There is no question whatsoever of you having to or needing to share anything that feel uncomfortable about.

If you go to tools>options > uploads> Clear uploads and unmark the box, you can see all the uploads in the monitor pane while and after they happen.

I am reminded here of stories the BBC come up with sometimes about p2p users loosing their life and identity, and wonder if something like this frightens you. If you have your Limewire set up correctly and use all the protection that a Windows computer user should always use, your computer is almost invisible to the outside world apart from your shared files and them alone.

Almost???? well yes, no computer connected to the internet is 100% safe, whether using p2p or not. Nothing is in this word I'm afraid

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To get Phex Click on the Fox

Excluding the incomplete folder for a moment, the only files you are sharing are listed in the Library window & are coloured black. How to Share Folders (click on link)

Right-clicking any file or folder in the LW Library window will give you the choice of share or not share. If someone was not sharing to you, then you'd have nothing to download, so remember that!!! Share & share alike ... if not for sharing there'd be no p2p (peer to peer). So allow sharing of partial downloads, sharing of completed downloads, & anything else you wish to share. So long as it's what you want to share. These are the norm. Only share what you want to. But remember to keep within the community of sharing not leeching.