Files Transferred Recording

The Client records every exchange of information between one computer and another: searching, downloading, or uploading. For each Peer-to-Peer, FTP or HTTP transfer the Client captures, it records:

• Program used to transfer files

• Date and time the transfer was recorded

• Type of transfer: upload or download

• Name of the file transferred

• Type of the file transferred: audio, image, video, software program, compressed, or unknown file

File Transfer Events Recorded

The following types of file transfer events are recorded:

• FTP - File Transfer Protocol (FTP), is a standard protocol used to exchange files between computers over a TCP/IP network (such as the Internet or an Intranet). FTP is commonly used to upload files to a server and to download files to a local computer.

For example, when you create a web page, you upload it via FTP to a server to be displayed to the public on the Internet. When you update a program, you obtain the update file from a online server and download it via FTP to your computer.  

• HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a set of rules for transferring files - text, graphic images, sound, video, and other multimedia files - on the World Wide Web. HTTP makes its requests and responses over a TCP/IP network.

For example, as soon you connect to a web site using your browser, HTTP communication begins.  When you click a link, HTTP makes a connection to the requested URL.

• Peer to Peer (P2P) - Peer to peer communications allows direct file exchanges between two computers over the Internet. Unlike FTP, there is no concept of a formal "server."
  Several P2P protocols have been developed.

The well known Kazaa  protocol allows exchange of files between other computers using Kazaa. Applications using the Gnutella protocol include Morpheus, Gnucleus, LimeWire, Phex, Swapper, and XoloX, and rely on HTTP ports to transfer files.

Peer-to-Peer Programs Recorded

The most frequently exchanged type of file is music, but could include movies, pictures, software, or documents.  The P2P programs allow a person to search thousands of computers for the particular file they are looking for and to download it. In addition, files on your computer can be made available for any other person on the Internet to access and download. Issues to be concerned with this type of transfer are

• Access to pornographic pictures, video, and movies

• Illegal copies of copyrighted music, songs, graphics, movies, and software

• Use of computer resources to archive and exchange very large files

• Security risks of computer sharing with unknown Internet users

The Client Recorder will capture and record the search and file download activity from the most popular P2P programs, which provides the ability to monitor a computer's use in exchanging files.