If you're thinking about linking to a file-sharing streaming movie website,

[MineralMan]

think first about this from the Terms of Service notice on DU:

Don't do anything illegal.
Do not post messages which violate any U.S. laws (eg. linking to illegally-shared files, attempting to organize hacking or DOS attacks, libel/slander, etc.).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=termsofservice

Whether you think piracy of copyright-protected material is good or bad, it remains illegal. If there's a site streaming a movie or music that hasn't been released into the public domain, then that site is illegally sharing that movie or music. You may well think that copyright protection is wrong and that all intellectual property should be freely distributed. That doesn't change the fact that it's illegal to publish, share, or download copyright-protected material.

DU prohibits links to such websites. Clearly it does. It's right there in the TOS. It's a good idea to follow the simple rules in the TOS on this website. It's simple to follow. Just don't link to those websites. Not sure if a streaming site is legal? Well, if the movie's still in the theaters and hasn't even been released to DVD, then it's not legally being streamed. Same with music.

On the user side: If you're watching streaming movies from these pirate file-sharing websites, keep in mind that your ISP keeps records of what you do on the internet. Right now, the FBI and other agencies aren't actively looking for people who do this, but that isn't always true, and some people have paid dearly for this stuff in the past. Is it worth the risk?

[MindPilot]

1. +1,000,000. I would go even farther...

If you are running any kind of file-sharing software, go buy a new hard drive. Take your old one and destroy it as thoroughly as possible.

The fact is if you are running file-sharing software, you are being monitored, and you are simply begging to be caught up in the next big hacker/child porn/human trafficking sweep.

[MineralMan]

2. Yes, that's another risk of using illegal file-sharing sites.

You may well not know what is being put on your hard drive. Those sites are doing illegal things, so why would people think that streaming movies is the only illegal thing they do? Good point.

Any time you give a site permission to send things to your computer you put yourself at risk. If you stick with trustworthy, legal sites, you'll usually be fine, although not always. Some websites that are otherwise OK might download malware on your computer, even without knowing they're doing it. But you can protect against that with malware blockers.

People who do illegal things often do more than one kind of illegal things. It comes with the territory.

[uppityperson]

3. is this happening on DU?

[MineralMan]

6. It happens from time to time.

It did today, but the person who posted the link self-deleted after being informed.

[NightWatcher]

4. Side note (threadjack). Do you know anything about using proxy servers?

to avoid regional sports blackouts when streaming games?

I want to get the MLBTV premium, but where I live in Jacksonville and it says that I'm too close to Miami to be able to stream the games, thus blacked out. I see where there are things you can do to alter where it looks like you are (ip address). I'm a little weary about taking steps to do something that MLB doesn't want me to do.

I now return you to your post.

[MineralMan]

5. I know about proxy servers. I don't use them, though.

I don't watch sports on TV, though, so I have never had that problem.