Comparison of methods for file sharing
# Comparison of methods for file sharing

Comparison of methods for file sharing - The following tables compares the details of the different methods for file sharing.

| | Required download manager | Blocked ports |
| - | - | - |
| Peer-to-peer | P2P client | Common Issues with blocking ports. |
| Peer to mail | webmail or e-mail client | No problems with blocking ports (SMTP or HTTP) |
| File hosting service | Web browser or download manager | No problems with blocking ports (HTTP only) |
| Usenet | Newsreader |
| BitTorrent | BitTorrent or WebTorrent client | Common Issues with blocking ports. |
| IRC (DCC) | Web browser or IRC client | No problems with blocking ports (IRC 6667 or HTTP) |

## Security

| | Forced (simultaneous) providing for the collection | The probability of contracting a computer virus |
| - | - | - |
| Peer-to-peer | Yes | high probability of infected files. P2P networks are increasingly under surveillance of various organizations. |
| Peer to mail | No | Less likely infected files when using the verified sources |
| File hosting service | No | Less likely infected files when using the verified sources |
| Usenet | No | Less likely infected files when using the verified sources |
| BitTorrent | Yes | Files are checked by the community focused around the private tracker. Open trackers in no way guarantee the compatibility of the file with the description |
| IRC (DCC) | Yes | Low considering that we are downloading and sharing files with the fraternising people |

## Anonymity

| | Connecting with other users | Disclosures of your IP address |
| - | - | - |
| Peer-to-peer | Yes | yes, unless uses to anonymous P2P or connect to VPN |
| Peer to mail | No | Can uses proxy servers |
| File hosting service | No | Can uses proxy servers |
| Usenet | No | Can uses proxy servers |
| BitTorrent | Yes | yes, unless uses connect to VPN |
| IRC (DCC) | No | Can uses proxy servers |

## Availability of sources

| | Average speed of downloading files | Limitations | Global search |
| - | - | - | - |
| Peer-to-peer | The transfer speed often depends on the number of people you are connecting to | no | Yes |
| Peer to mail | High speed transfer without additional configuration | no | no, just internet forums |
| File hosting service | depending on server policy | Smaller transfer speeds if use free account | no, just internet forums |
| Usenet | Very restricted, if using free accounts | most servers is available to pay or invite only. | Yes |
| BitTorrent | The transfer speed often depends on the number of people you are connecting to | no | no, however does exist multi-search eg. torrentz2.eu or DHT crawlers like Btdig.com, experimental Tribler support global search thanks to gossip protocol |
| IRC (DCC) | The transfer speed depends on people you are connecting to | no | no, however does exist search eg. sunxdcc |

## veracity

| Protocol | Conformity of the description of the content | Verifying sources |
| - | - | - |
| Peer-to-peer | Search in no way guarantees the compatibility description file | None |
| Peer to mail | Files checked by the administration and user forums | A good description of the content and the quality of the file. When using unknown sources can fake. |
| File hosting service | Files checked by the administration and user forums | A good description of the content and the quality of the file. When using unknown sources can fake. |
| Usenet | Files checked by the administration and users | A good description of the content and the quality of the file. When using unknown sources can fake. |
| BitTorrent | Files are checked by the community focused around the private tracker. Open trackers in no way guarantee the compatibility of the file with the description | A good description of the content and the quality of the file. When using unknown sources can fake. |
| IRC (DCC) | Files checked by the administration and users | A good description of the content and the quality of the file. |
