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Researchers Warn of Possible BitTorrent Meltdown

Posted by kdawson on from the domino-effect dept.

secmartin writes "Researchers at Delft University warn that large parts of the BitTorrent network might collapse if The Pirate Bay is forced to shut down. A large part of the available torrents use The Pirate Bay as tracker, and other available trackers will probably be overloaded if all traffic is shifted there. TPB is currently using eight servers for their trackers. According to the researchers, even trackerless torrents using the DHT protocol will face problems: 'One bug in a DHT sorting routine ensures that it can only "stumble upon success", meaning torrent downloads will not start in seconds or minutes if Pirate Bay goes down in flames.'"

3 of 294 comments (clear)

  1. Mixed Feelings by hags2k · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I can't help but have mixed feelings about that. While I don't condone copyright violations or ever recommend the service to others, the pirate bay has been very influential in terms of stirring up some major debates about digital content, which I think is a good thing.

  2. A FEATURE, not a bug... by nweaver · · Score: 0, Redundant

    For all those who go "But BitTorrent has noninfringing usages", having PirateBay go away will have no effect on the legitimate torrents. Its only the pirate-trackers that will melt down.

    So for those interested in legitimate P2P content delivery, this "meltdown" would be a feature, not a bug, because as long as BitTorrent is almost all piracy, it is easier to make a case for traffic management.

    --
    Test your net with Netalyzr
  3. High Time by b4upoo · · Score: 1, Redundant

    It's the right time to develop torrent protocols that are multi source and multinational in such a way that individual governments can do nothing to disrupt them. We also need to protect those less able at computing by using untraceable ISPs and encrypted methods of delivery such that no accusation of infringement can be made.
              So it's a call to white hats, black hats, gray hats and people who just love freedom to get busy, write the code and get it into the hands of just about everyone. Keep in mind that everyone from kiddies to grandmas like to download so stupid-simple interaction with such torrent systems is the right way to build.