Rapidshare and privacy

**procerus** · 02-14-2012, 11:00 AM

Hi,

I have asked Rapidshare do they record my IP address when I download files from theirs servers. They sent me this answer:

We currently record how much data is being downloaded from IP addresses and on what day its being downloaded. This information is logged for 90 days. There is no log recording what files users have downloaded.

Does this means that you can't get caught if you download files from Rapidshare. If they don't record your IP address, they don't have any proof, right?

Sorry if there's any spelling/grammar mistakes.

**heiska** · 02-14-2012, 03:31 PM

Yea that's right. Think about it, why would they even want to know exactly what files an IP address has downloaded? They have some very good reasons to not log that shit.

**anon** · 02-14-2012, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by heiska

Yea that's right. Think about it, why would they even want to know exactly what files an IP address has downloaded?

I think it was required by Swiss law, but don't quote me on that.

**heiska** · 02-14-2012, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by anon

Originally Posted by heiska

Yea that's right. Think about it, why would they even want to know exactly what files an IP address has downloaded?

I think it was required by Swiss law, but don't quote me on that.

Sources? It's illegal to collect ips of p2p (!=rapidshare) users in Switzerland, I think it would be pretty weird if rapidshare would be required to log that info knowing the strict privacy laws over there.

**procerus** · 02-14-2012, 07:25 PM

So it is totally safe to download from Rapidshare?

**zot** · 02-14-2012, 07:38 PM

The only reason why Rapidshare and other file hosts keep track of an account's download bandwidth and log IPs of downloaders is to prevent abuse -- like the kind that unauthorized account resellers commit. Usenet providers (especially ones that offer unlimited bandwidth accounts) do the same thing, for the same reason.

But more to the point, there is nothing illegal about downloading unauthorized copyrighted material -- it is uploading - and uploading alone - that gets people in trouble.

Bittorrent and other P2Ps upload as they download, which is what makes them dangerous.

**bogoff** · 02-14-2012, 08:04 PM

There used to be a page on RS that showed you traffic usage along with the IP of that usage - I'm no longer a premium member so I don't know if that still exists.

**trogger** · 02-17-2012, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by procerus

So it is totally safe to download from Rapidshare?

Yes, unless they are flat out lying about their ip logging policy.

uploading to rapidshare is riskier as they state that they do log ip's of uploaders.

it's a pity most file lockers won't state exactly what they log, hotfile we know logs uploaders AND downloaders(which makes them a no no in my book) and rapidshare state they don't log downloaders but most of the others don't give clear policies on what they log.