Secure in the USA

[kopy]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to the USA soon for 6 months and will have a internet connection provided by Cox Communications. Location will be Arizona.

I was wondering if it's safe to download in the USA using these methods:

- Torrent using RC4
- Usenet without encryption
- Usenet with SSL 256bit
- HTTP downloads (rapidshare etc)
- FTP downloads

I would be grateful if you could tell me which of these are safe to use and don't get throttled by the ISP.
I cannot choose another ISP.

And if I get caught downloading can they sue(or fine me or punish me in any way) me since I'm not an American citizen? I'm from Europe

Kopy
Thanks in advance

[Grind$oFine]

I know people are always talking about how unsafe it is in the US to download this and that... but I'd say the United States make up a great portion of the downloading community.. anyone who knows how to work a computer enough to download, does download and people rarely have issues with the law. Don't worry about getting caught, if worse comes to worse Cox will send you a letter and tell you to stop.
The only people who get sued are those that download off of Limewire, and they only get caught every once in a while when the RIAA wants to scare people.

Edit: As for throttling, I have no experience with Cox, but I believe there is a way to work around it. If I think of where I read it, I'll be sure to post it here.

[phrenzy]

Again I have the same ISP and have had no issues at all.....Great speeds btw.....No throttling....

[slimdogp]

You'll be fine, I would advise against using huge amounts of bandwidth though, maybe try to keep your total transfer under 300gb/month

[pone44]

dl only what you own to backup, if scratched-ect;)..Something bout a moving rating-program,( Ask around-hint hint.lol) not sure? Saw posted in here, how to be more secure with BT.? Just do not visit shady sites(which i do not advise ever to do.)
:fst:

[Tokeman]

You'll be fine, I would advise against using huge amounts of bandwidth though, maybe try to keep your total transfer under 300gb/month

Most ISP's that I've worked with are more concerned with total download and not worried about upload much. This is becuase they cap the upload so low that its almost impossible to transfer to much by uploading.
I would agree to keep your download below 300GB though, I shoot for <250 myself.

[kopy]

You guys are some serious back-up, scratched cd DL'ers :D
I only do at a Max 30 to 50 gigs a month

thanks for all the replies

[mrnobody]

just don't use kaaza or limewire.

and if you still feel unsafe don't use public trackers.

[Zaxx]

Found that Cox throttles high usage accounts..dunno what they call high usage tho...

http://azureuswiki.com/index.php/Bad_ISPs#United_States_of_America

You can prolly find out all you want here:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/coxhsi

Hope this helps!

@phrenzy...I'll be moving back to AZ soon prolly. What kind of speeds does Cox deliver? Thx...

[colbert]

Most cable ISPs throttle in some form

[Fr33don]

Cox is my ISP, and I can't really say I am satisfied. Terrible upload speeds (imo) available in my area, I get 7mbps/512kbps but I'm upgrading to 12mbps/1mbps in the future.

WTB T1-T3 internetz.

[deuce6000]

It's illegal so I wouldn't say it's safe but i have been using Utorrent with PeerGuardian for about 4 years now with no problems at all.I don't have cox though so i don't know about them.

[Enlightened]

Kopy,.......U will be very "secure" in the Arizona Desert, LOL

BTW, welcome to the States.......

[Zaxx]

Talked to a user who has Cox in central AZ. He's got the fastest tier they offer 14Mb up/1.5Mb dn..but it may be a case of where you live, I dunno..

[That1Guy]

Talked to a user who has Cox in central AZ. He's got the fastest tier they offer 14Mb up/1.5Mb dn..but it may be a case of where you live, I dunno..
Could just be a guess but I think you/he meant 14mbit down/1.5 up ;)

[Zaxx]

Talked to a user who has Cox in central AZ. He's got the fastest tier they offer 14Mb up/1.5Mb dn..but it may be a case of where you live, I dunno..
Could just be a guess but I think you/he meant 14mbit down/1.5 up ;)

yep..that's the one...:wacko:

[kopy]

Thanks all :D does any of you know if hard drives get checked (for copies of bought movies, apps, games and music you have at home) at the customs?

[Tokeman]

Thanks all :D does any of you know if hard drives get checked (for copies of bought movies, apps, games and music you have at home) at the customs?

Considering they check laptops at the boarder, I would not risk it. Ship it to yourself :)

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080423-laptop-searches-at-the-border-no-reason-no-problem.html

[kopy]

Thanks all :D does any of you know if hard drives get checked (for copies of bought movies, apps, games and music you have at home) at the customs?

Considering they check laptops at the boarder, I would not risk it. Ship it to yourself :)

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080423-laptop-searches-at-the-border-no-reason-no-problem.html
guess i'm going to get Truecrypt running :D

[xtonart]

....

[cullen7282]

I'm in America and have never had any problems. I don't worry about maxing out my connection, have never received a letter either. Don't worry about it.

[Zaxx]

Thanks all :D does any of you know if hard drives get checked (for copies of bought movies, apps, games and music you have at home) at the customs?

Me and my wife flew back from england...she just wrapped her drives up in some clothes in her luggage for padding, all was fine. Dunno about taking them as on board luggage tho.