Share (P2P)
Encyclopedia
is the name for a closed-source P2P
application being developed in Japan by an anonymous author. Since the author of Winny
was arrested, Share was developed as its successor, also focusing on higher security. Share functions in much the same manner as Winny, using encrypted caches, file names and IP addresses, and is based on the same node-organized architecture as Winny.
Share also features a plugin system. The plugins and PDK are readily available through the Share network. The PDK is written in Delphi.
Unlike Winny, Share allows users to specify up to 255 Cluster Keywords, though only 5 can be active at once (Winny only allowed 3 cluster words, and its system was more confusing). These are used to connect to nodes that have also specified the same Cluster Keywords. This allows users to maintain connections with nodes that are sharing files they might be interested in, while disconnecting from nodes that share content they are not concerned about.
Users can specify auto-download triggers and auto-block filters. The network also appears to have some sort of a "forgery warning" system to warn people about possible falsified data/files.
Like Winny, Share uses Trip IDs to verify the identity of a person sharing a file. A Trip is a sort of encrypted key that identifies a person is who they say they are. This allows users to decide whether or not they trust a person based on their previous sharing experience with them.
When a new version of Share becomes available, users are given a notice in the Share statusbar. When this happens, users can search for the new version on the Share network and download it from a reliable source based on Trip. This internal method of distribution makes it hard to find a copy of the software outside of the (presumed safely anonymous) Share network, since offering this software publicly could lead to unwanted attention from law enforcement agencies.
, Share includes an option for localization changes (labeling of buttons, etc.). The locale.txt file contains the information for a particular language and resides in the Share directory.
, Japan on 9 May 2008 for illegally uploading copyrighted files with Share. These were the first Share-related cases in Japan. Nevertheless, a research showed that there was no significant drop of on-line Share users after these arrests.
On 27 November 2008, another male Share user was arrested in Japan for illegally uploading Japanese TV drama with Share.
On 12 February 2009, the first two male Share users were caught for uploading Child pornography
with Share.
On 30 September 2009, multiple Japanese media reported that two men were arrested for uploading Nintendo DS
game software which include Square Enix
's Dragon Quest IX
. They are the first users arrested for uploading DS games.
On 30 November 2009, 10 Japanese men and 1 woman were arrested for sharing anime, music, movies, and games. Not all were the original uploaders.
On 31 March 2010, 62-year old Seiji Sato was spotted by a new p2p surveillance software for sharing "Avatar" and other movies.
On 14 January 2011, 18 people were arrested for sharing movies, anime, music, games and software.
Peer-to-peer file sharing
P2P or Peer-to-peer file sharing allows users to download files such as music, movies, and games using a P2P software client that searches for other connected computers. The "peers" are computer systems connected to each other through internet. Thus, the only requirements for a computer to join...
application being developed in Japan by an anonymous author. Since the author of Winny
Winny
Winny is a Japanese peer-to-peer file-sharing program which claims to be loosely inspired by the design principles behind the Freenet network, which keep user identities untraceable...
was arrested, Share was developed as its successor, also focusing on higher security. Share functions in much the same manner as Winny, using encrypted caches, file names and IP addresses, and is based on the same node-organized architecture as Winny.
Advantages
Share uses encryption to hide the identity of who is transferring or what they are transferring. It is non-centralized so it cannot be easily shut down and it supports multiple source "swarm" downloading. All files are transferred encrypted so they must be decrypted upon download completion. In the meantime they are stored in encrypted form in a "Cache" folder. This folder is also used to allow recently downloaded files to be shared among the network based on priorities.Share also features a plugin system. The plugins and PDK are readily available through the Share network. The PDK is written in Delphi.
Unlike Winny, Share allows users to specify up to 255 Cluster Keywords, though only 5 can be active at once (Winny only allowed 3 cluster words, and its system was more confusing). These are used to connect to nodes that have also specified the same Cluster Keywords. This allows users to maintain connections with nodes that are sharing files they might be interested in, while disconnecting from nodes that share content they are not concerned about.
Users can specify auto-download triggers and auto-block filters. The network also appears to have some sort of a "forgery warning" system to warn people about possible falsified data/files.
Like Winny, Share uses Trip IDs to verify the identity of a person sharing a file. A Trip is a sort of encrypted key that identifies a person is who they say they are. This allows users to decide whether or not they trust a person based on their previous sharing experience with them.
When a new version of Share becomes available, users are given a notice in the Share statusbar. When this happens, users can search for the new version on the Share network and download it from a reliable source based on Trip. This internal method of distribution makes it hard to find a copy of the software outside of the (presumed safely anonymous) Share network, since offering this software publicly could lead to unwanted attention from law enforcement agencies.
Criticism
Share is highly popular in Asia, but in the West some concerns have been raised.- In Japan, high speed Internet is more readily available than in most of Western Europe and North America. For this reason the minimum upload and download limits are set to 50 kB/s. Also, the cache system can use around 4 GB of free space at any given time to store cached downloads. This might be inconvenient for people with small hard drives.
- Share can be ported over to English and multiple other languages, rather than be resource hacked.
- As a closed source product, Share partially relies on security through obscuritySecurity through obscuritySecurity through obscurity is a pejorative referring to a principle in security engineering, which attempts to use secrecy of design or implementation to provide security...
. - Like many other P2P applications, Share downloads files in blocks. However Share can only export partially downloaded files in sequential manner. For example, if a file has 100 blocks and block 51 is missing, Share will not be able to export block 52-100 even if they are already downloaded. Winny does not have this limitation.
Download
Share cannot officially be downloaded from a website due to concerns of legality in Japan, though it is possible to obtain the application from some sources.Language localizations
Unlike WinnyWinny
Winny is a Japanese peer-to-peer file-sharing program which claims to be loosely inspired by the design principles behind the Freenet network, which keep user identities untraceable...
, Share includes an option for localization changes (labeling of buttons, etc.). The locale.txt file contains the information for a particular language and resides in the Share directory.
- An English localization for A82
- An English localization for EX2 (TCP version)
- An English localization for NT5 (UDP version)
- More English localizations for Locate/Hint/Readme/Info
- Spanish localization for EX2
Legal issues
Three Japanese people aged 21 to 41 were arrested in KyotoKyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, Japan on 9 May 2008 for illegally uploading copyrighted files with Share. These were the first Share-related cases in Japan. Nevertheless, a research showed that there was no significant drop of on-line Share users after these arrests.
On 27 November 2008, another male Share user was arrested in Japan for illegally uploading Japanese TV drama with Share.
On 12 February 2009, the first two male Share users were caught for uploading Child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
with Share.
On 30 September 2009, multiple Japanese media reported that two men were arrested for uploading Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
game software which include Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
's Dragon Quest IX
Dragon Quest IX
is a role-playing video game for the Nintendo DS released on July 11, 2009 in Japan. It is the ninth and most recent installment in the acclaimed Dragon Quest series created by Yūji Horii. The game was developed by Level-5 and published by Square Enix in Japan and by Nintendo in North America and...
. They are the first users arrested for uploading DS games.
On 30 November 2009, 10 Japanese men and 1 woman were arrested for sharing anime, music, movies, and games. Not all were the original uploaders.
On 31 March 2010, 62-year old Seiji Sato was spotted by a new p2p surveillance software for sharing "Avatar" and other movies.
On 14 January 2011, 18 people were arrested for sharing movies, anime, music, games and software.