How paranoid are you?

[Cabalo]

I'm quite paranoid, I must admit.
I think I've explained some of my countermeasures in some threads in the past, but they range from encrypted HDDs, Server 2003 with a LOT of tweaking (trying to get courage to move on to 2008 Server, but the fact I have RAID0 HDDs is holding me back), especially firewalling with IP filtering+logging and packet sniffing (wireshark rules). Some basic shit on the router, as MAC filtering + WPA2-PSK in my wireless (i know, i should use certificates, but I can't bother doing that).
As for trackers, I use most of them, excluding public ones, where I get my shit from RS etc. I do use a IPfilter.dat in paranoia level, though I know it blocks many valid IPs, I feel somewhat safer.
There are quite some other ones that I'm missing now, but would need too much detail to go into.

Small rule of thumb: I don't touch Workprints, neither CAMs. They suck anyway.

If you guys wanna have fun, use Vuze, install it an IPfilter, and go fetch some very popular albums and movies from public trackers. Then go watch the cheer amount of IPs being blocked and banned. You'll have a laugh.

[brento]

not really too paranoid, even after receiving a seize and desist letter a few years back. however, if I want something from a public tracker I usually try and download it with a seedbox and download it from ftp.

[Purple_Ice]

....So the question is, to what extent would you go to to mask your activities?

Why should I tell you all my secrets?
I know you work for F.A.C.T. I know YOU shut down uk-t so that you could lure me here, to this site, so that you can watch me, I know you're watching me!

In all serious though, I used to get all my gear from a private site and felt secure enough in that. Now I'm using more public trackers. Never got a letter from an isp, although my mate has had two.

PI

[Totti]

I feel extremely secure here in Israel everyone d/l illegally and the government doesn't do a thing about it. I would even say that Israel is one of the safest places in the world to d/l illegally

[kooltilldend]

couldn't care less really...ok i was somewhat paranoid when I was in the States but back here I really don't give a damn

[wheeloftime]

Not really paranoid about getting caught downloading as I figure with so many millions torrenting I've probably got more chance of winning the lottery than getting caught.

I do tend to avoid signing up to all the new sites that constantly appear in threads on this site though. Setting up a fake site would seem to me to be a really easy way for the authorities to get peoples details - although I don't know whether that would be classified as entrapment.

[Funkin']

It was terible..that's why i hate smoking weed

Paranoia hits me too if I stopped smoking for a prolonged period of time. But it only lasts your first couple two or three times. Then it goes away and you just enjoy the mellowness.

Like Cabalo, I gotta admit I'm pretty paranoid myself. So what I did to make myself feel more secure is that I shifted more towards using forums(RS, MU, etc) and newsgroups. I still use bt. But when I do, I try to use the sites with small userbases. This gives me a sense of security. Even if it is a false sense.

[sez]

nvm

[TrollinThunder]

When I first started downloading, I felt uploading was the bigger problem, so I wouldn't seed at all after my download completed in order to avoid getting in trouble. After a few weeks I felt a bit more comfortable with downloading and uploading.

My dad got a few notices while downloading through dht or something in the Vuze client. I helped him out as soon as I heard. I think being in NY with a fast home connection means we're more likely to connect with bad peers. That fact plus the fact that my career path would be put in jeopardy if I were caught make me relatively careful.

At first I used smaller sites. Then I stopped liking smallish sites for reasons other than their security benefits. Now I tend to use newsgroups more. But I like bigger swarms and have used some insecure torrent sources. I'm a bit concerned about using Pretome because I know there are tons of US users and I could be an easy target.

With dvr and the fact that I'm downloading a lot fewer movies, so I feel I'm not putting myself at risk as often. Very soon I won't be downloading at all. Once I graduate I'll just reopen netflix.

[susiserken]

not at all for now.