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eXeem Lite Public Beta Released
TheKarateMaster writes "Just days after the release of eXeem Open Beta comes eXeem lite 0.19 Public Beta. Much like with KaZaA, the official version of eXeem comes chock full of spy/adware -- specifically, cydoor. eXeem lite is spyware free and free of bloat -- and free. Version .20, which should fix a few minor bugs, is expected 'in next coming days.' (read: soon)"
Whilst this is excellent news indeed, I fear only the so called "computer savvy" will reap the benefits of this (ie no spyware). There are a lot of people out there who seemingly click at random through the World Wide Wreckage, completely and utterly naive of the dangers they face. And there are others who just can't be bothered to protect themself from spyware, data loss, scams, identity theft, etc.
Does this sound familiar:
Clueless user: Hrm, that looks like a good idea. Click. Install. Now why is my computer slow and always crashing? Better call my tech boy genius neighbor!
Tech boy genius neighbor: OMFG what did you do!?
I commend the software venders that do their best to protect those who need protecting the most. Even Microsoft is looking into integrating Spyware search and destroy tools into Windows. It pays to get with the times!
Somebody please write an Azureus plugin for Exeem!
To be fair, they kind of screw themselves over asking for donations, given that their users are exactly the people too cheap to pay for music/tv/games/whatever.
From the FAQ There are currently no versions of eXeem(TM) for Linux or Mac. No way to install spyware on my Linux box? Awwww, what a shame!
eXLax - Exeem without the crap.
How long until the eXeem makers either sue or try to ban lite users from the network?
quidquid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
If only Bram Cohen would had licensed the original bittorrent under the GPL (rather than the MITL), people would not be able to profit so easily from his work.
Granted, the trackerless protocol surely took some work, but the base BT protocol (and its implementation) was the revolutionary thing.
I hate companies providing adware software like Kazaa or Exeem, that promise you heaven on earth, and actually offer subpar programs, that would have much more quality as an opensource project (see eDonkey vs eMule).
Easy fix, easyer than DLing and maintaining a differant client...
:)
Delete files in c:\windows\system32\AdCache
Set all user permissions on folder c:\windows\system32\AdCache to deny (no access)
block/deny:
*cydoor.com/*
*cms.com/*
It doesn't complain if the ads are not comming in, it just throws them up
...
eXeem lite is spyware free and free of bloat -- and free
This isn't Free (libre) software, so while it is nice that it doesn't cost anything, neither does the official eXeem, so it is not better in that respect.
As for the claim that the official version comes with spyware and that this "lite" version doesn't - several posters have already said they couldn't find any spyware after installing eXeem.
As for eXeem-lite, if I can't see the source, why should I believe the site that claims it is spyware-free? Because the say so?
I learn from all my mistakes, I intend to be a genius at the end of my life.
Sure, it is much HYPED app. But I've yet to hear about how great it actually is. Who even said it will catch and deliver? Why eXeem lite and not X lite, when X can be any ad-sponsored program on ZeroPaid?
And while we on it. Why so many Slashdot articles on this? Promote it when eXeem is worth it.
I'm sympathetic to your point, but this seems to be the wrong discussion to be making it in. Check out clause 7.b. of the eXeem license agreement. Users of the software agree not to redistribute or modify it. What are the people who made eXeem lite doing? Redistributing a modified version. Even if you use the software only to distribute 100% legitimate, public domain or freely redistributable stuff, you're still commiting copyright infringement by using eXeem Lite!
Information doesn't want to be anthropomorphized. -AC
Wait... if they have the ability to 'ban (lite) users from the network', then they have the ability to 'ban individuals engaging in the act of distributing copyrighted works without prior permission to do so'.
Which means that they would become a prime target for whichever media copyright maintenance agency applies to them.
Unless I'm missing something.
eXeem is NOT related to Bittorrent in any way. It does not use the Bittorrent protocol nor an extension of it. It is yet another P2P application/network that is trying to captilize on an already popular application/network/protocol. Considering that it is closed source, Windows only, spyware stricken, and leeching off of Bittorrent's popularity, it would be wise to boycott eXeem.
If you want to use a P2P application that combines the swarming of Bittorrent with distributed indexing, searching, and tracking, try one of the eDonkey apps such as aMule, eMule, eDonkey2000, etc. Many of them are open source, spyware free, and run on multiple platforms. Since the eDonkey network has been around for a long time, it is filled with a variety of content. However, Bittorrent is still the fastest P2P protocol for raw data transfer, so don't drop it, just find a few good torrent sites.
One of BitTorrent's strengths was that it was very difficult to spoof content. IE - If you trusted the tracker, you knew exactly what you were downloading. Given eXeem's new "everyone's a tracker" marketing, is it now vulnerable to spoofing? If a user posts a malicious file under an alternate name, what's to prevent everyone from downloading it? Are there safeguards to protect the network from being flooded with invalid files?
Functionally, how is eXeem different from other P2P clients? My idea of what goes on is; You do a search across all files shared on the eXeem network, pick a file you like, and start downloading from peers. That's roughly the same thing with Kazaa, etc. What's the advantage of using eXeem?