[META] If I first import files into my drive and then download, can I be caught for downloading TV shows?

[-] -Badger2- | 38 points | Jan 16 2017 00:26:26

The only way your ISP is going to send you a letter is if you're using torrents (without a VPN)

The way bittorrent works is you download a part of the file from somebody and you upload the parts of the file you've already downloaded to people who don't have it. Here's a visualization.

For this process to work, everybody has to be able to see each other's IP addresses, and that's why people get letters from their ISP.

HBO or whatever company that holds the rights sees, "Oh, somebody with the IP address 123.456.78.90 is downloading Game of Thrones, let's send their ISP a letter, then your ISP goes "okay, the account that was using that IP address at that time was Steve Smitherson." and then they send Steve Smitherson a letter that says, "Hey, don't do that anymore."

If you use Mega, or any other site where you're just downloading off a server instead of using "Peer to Peer" downloading, then HBO never knows about it, so they can't snitch on you to your ISP, and your ISP doesn't know or care what you're doing.

TL;DR: You're safe, and yes, even if your ISP was snooping, if it's encrypted they wouldn't be able to tell what you're downloading.

[-] kolt54321 | 9 points | Jan 16 2017 00:34:39

That visualization thing is freaking cool. Also, explanation is on point. Thanks!

[-] CesiumRain | 3 points | Jan 16 2017 03:08:28

HBO or whatever company that holds the rights sees, "Oh, somebody with the IP address 123.456.78.90 is downloading Game of Thrones, let's send their ISP a letter, then your ISP goes "okay, the account that was using that IP address at that time was Steve Smitherson." and then they send Steve Smitherson a letter that says, "Hey, don't do that anymore."

Also, if you live in Canada, your ISP might forward a letter to you from the copyright holder, but they can't (by law) disclose your name to them. From a legal standpoint you can completely ignore any letter you get from a copyright holder with no repercussions.

The lawyers that send these notices know this, so they came up with a clever way of identifying who's behind a specific IP address. They will get your ISP to forward you a very scary sounding letter/email that has a unique ID number in it. You will be instructed to visit a website and enter in your information along with the unique ID number, so you can pay a (relatively) small fine, instead of them going after you in court. Boom, now the copyright holders know who you are and can start to really fuck with you.

If you ever get one of these letters or emails don't respond or click any links found inside them, and they'll never find out who you are.

[-] ButtGardener | 2 points | Jan 16 2017 04:15:22

god damn Steve Smitherson!!

its because of him hollywood actors are becoming homeless!

[-] [deleted] | 1 points | Jan 16 2017 01:19:17

[deleted]

[-] -Badger2- | 1 points | Jan 16 2017 01:21:26

Right, but that's kinda beyond the scope of an ISP sending you a letter.

[-] [deleted] | 1 points | Jan 16 2017 01:26:59

[deleted]

[-] -Badger2- | 1 points | Jan 16 2017 01:32:31

Will my ISP send me a letter.

[-] [deleted] | 2 points | Jan 16 2017 01:39:55

[deleted]

[-] -Badger2- | 1 points | Jan 16 2017 01:43:07

I'm answering within the scope of OP's question in a forum primarily used for sharing movies. I would assume that's what they're talking about here.

[-] [deleted] | 1 points | Jan 16 2017 01:45:03

[deleted]

[-] -Badger2- | 2 points | Jan 16 2017 02:25:46

Yeah, I'd just use a VPN. They cost like $40 a year.

[-] Davemeddlehed | 1 points | Jan 16 2017 02:37:22

The worst thing that can happen with filehosting, since most of them are based overseas, and not subject to US laws, is a DMCA claim that gets the file in question taken down. They can't subpoena for IP addresses, or any of that.

[-] tototo31 | 1 points | Jan 18 2017 04:32:01

I literally just spent the last 15 minutes messing with the visualization

[-] sirber | 1 points | Jan 19 2017 18:44:56

Tribler is a tor-like torrent client. It's slower but is more private. Works with any torrent.

[-] iBobRoss | 32 points | Jan 15 2017 23:56:19

yea, they'll probs send assassins straight to your house

[-] retardCAPTCHA | 8 points | Jan 16 2017 05:00:50

and then put you in a dungeon and do all kinds of horrible stuff to you

[-] metaz69u | 4 points | Jan 16 2017 08:36:49

....Like eat broccoli!

[-] GardenHosepipe | 1 points | Jan 16 2017 20:36:22

Will they send Jason Statham? He's the only person I am scared of.

[-] Lord-Taco | 20 points | Jan 16 2017 00:01:56

You're not going to get caught downloading from mega

[-] generalecchi | -2 points | Jan 16 2017 09:00:26

You're not going to get caught downloading from anywhere

[-] Lord-Taco | 3 points | Jan 16 2017 13:45:35

If you don't use a VPN on torrents you most certainly will.

[-] 3r0z | 8 points | Jan 16 2017 00:20:12

You don't get caught downloading. You get caught uploading. People get caught when they use torrents because they are uploading while they download, thus distributing. You won't get a letter for downloading from mega.

[-] -Badger2- | 2 points | Jan 16 2017 01:36:51

Well, that's not exactly true. Some countries the illegal part is uploading copyrighted data, not downloading it.

If you're in a country where downloading is illegal too, they can still see your IP even if you're not uploading anything and you can still get caught.

[-] Angusk | 2 points | Jan 16 2017 01:41:25

It doesnt matter if "they" know what you are downloading, as downloading isn't the problem, "distribution" to others is the problem that can get you in trouble, and downloading for yourself is not distribution.

Uploading to others while using bit-torrent IS distribution.

[-] masterown35 | 1 points | Jan 16 2017 06:42:19

Pretty much everything that people said about the torrents and such. Although I have heard(not sure how true it is) that companies have kind of given up on it because of the hassle they have to go through.

[-] [deleted] | -1 points | Jan 16 2017 00:05:35

[deleted]

[-] 4stringsamurai | 1 points | Jan 16 2017 19:16:06

With the way Hollywood is treating him? You'll probably get a medal for pirating movies once he's in office.