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I know there have been threads about torrenting in college but i cant find one that specifically addresses downloading zip files. This is my current method for downloading music but i just arrived at college and am using its network so is it a bad idea to download them and if so what is the best alternative.
.ZIP is just a file extension for compresses files.
In other words downloaded a .ZIP file is the exact same thing as download something like a .PDF file, they're just used there because you can't upload a plain folder full of music.
You have to upload a compressed folder (.ZIP) of music. In other words, yes, it is safe.
Its not based off what you download but how much you download. It costs the school to pay for all that bandwidth, so they'll put limits on your internetZ if you download too much shit.
I've also heard horror stories, or at least legends, of big brother-type school servers monitoring what sites you visit and somehow knowing that you're illegally downloading. If the school catches you, you get turned in. At least that's how it is at my school.
I download REALLY sparingly on the school network, only when I desperately need the music. Otherwise, I just make a list, wait till I get home, and do it there. It never hurts to play it safe.
I would actually suggest reading your schools policy on Internet use... Mine was outlined in my residence contract, make sure you read it so you somewhat know. Basically if you're doing something illegal they will be pissed, but downloading the new excision album (sept 12 wootwoot) won't get you expelled.
I'm pretty sure it is illegal for them to see WHAT you're searching and/or downloading, but they can see when, how much, and for how long you're downloading and uploading. They can easily tell when you're torrenting if you're dumn. If they see you've been downloading a 13.6 GB file for the last 14 hours while uploading like 2 GBs every 5 minutes on their fucking dank buisness class connection they're going to fuck you up. Also make sure you stop seeding after your download is finished.
Seeding is how people get caught downloading movies and shit. I've never heard of anybody getting in trouble for downloading software, but my sister's friend's boyfriend got a letter in the mail threatening to sue him for 100Gs unless he stops torrenting their movies which leads me to believe some ISP did some undercover snooping or something.
Actually now that I think of it, they probably can see your shit legally.
I've talked to a few kids that worked on school networks when they were in college. They can look at any connection history, and yes its legal, you are using their internet, they can look at it. It doesn't mean they will, those logs are huge. Usually how it goes is if they see one jack using a ton of bandwidth they will come to you and tell you to stop downloading shit. If they have a tight policy I suppose they could do more about it, but I've never known anyone to get kicked out of school for it. My suggestion is do your downloading on the wifi or in the library, it would take a shitload of effort to track you down in that case (unless you login to your wifi with a specific account). Just don't be downloading everything on the internet and you'll be fine. Also keep in mind when you are downloading midget porn, a tech somewhere could know you have some twisted fetish.