BitThief

Infobox Software
name = BitThief



caption =
developer = Distributed Computing Group at ETH Zurich
released = ?
frequently_updated = yes
programming language = Java
operating system = Cross-platform
platform = Java platform
language = English
genre = BitTorrent client
license = Freeware
website = http://dcg.ethz.ch/projects/bitthief/

BitThief is a Java-based BitTorrent client designed to download from, but not upload to, BitTorrent networks. It is freeware and cross-platform. According to the BitThief homepage, it is intended as a proof of concept that there are weaknesses in the current BitTorrent protocol, which can be exploited by "cheating" BitTorrent clients (such as BitThief itself).

Criticism

[http://www.webmonkey.com/ WiredWebmonkey] , a website operated by "Wired" Digital, called BitThief "straight-up nefarious and wrong." [cite web|url=http://www.webmonkey.com/blog/BitTorrent_Bullies%3A_BitTyrant_and_BitThief|title=BitTorrent Bullies: BitTyrant and BitThief|publisher=WiredWebmonkey|accessdate=2007-01-20] It has also attracted controversy due to its now documented feature whereby it collects information about the torrent files being downloaded by the client, such as total number of pieces available, size of the pieces and a hash of the torrent hash. [cite web|url=http://torrentfreak.com/bitthief-spies-on-their-users/|title=BitThief Spies on their Users|publisher=TorrentFreak|date=2008-02-21]

ee also

* BitTorrent

References

External links

* [http://dcg.ethz.ch/projects/bitthief/ BitThief homepage]
* [http://torrentfreak.com/bitthief-downloads-torrents-without-uploading/ BitThief Downloads Torrents Without Uploading] , TorrentFreak