If you are using popular download tools such as LimeWire, Bearshare, Etomi, Kazaa, Emule, Morpheus, Torrent site and others, this document if intended for you to read.

P2P can be a source of great joy when it comes to getting your long-lost favorites..... however it has many hidden DANGERS!

This by no means is a list of ALL the threats, but I will try to keep you up to date as much as possible here, concerning the many hidden (or NOT so hidden!) viruses, and OTHER "crudware" that awaits you at every search! At times, a thousand or more "crudware" pop up for every song, and if the song is a rare one, thousands of "crudware" may appear..... and NO song!

First off, before naming any of the actual "problems", here's a few things that will help you! We'll just say, for example, we pull up P2P, and wish to download "Don't Sleep In The Subway" by Petula Clark. First.... here's a stern warning! NEVER and I say NEVER attempt to install P2P (or Morpheus, or any other similar program), unless you have fully-updated virus protection! Just ONE CLICK on some of these will put your computer out of order PERMANANTLY if you are not protected! Many of these evil programs will masquerade themselves to resemble as closely as possible what you typed in as a search.... and that is GOOD news, as we will see here shortly! Sadly however there's no easy way to spot these bad items, especially when just starting out.... and many items will leave you wondering "To click or NOT to click" on a particular item, but here we will try and expose items NOT to click on! The following items are produced by "losers" who have NO LIFE, and seek to destroy your computer!

It is wise to avoid all WMA's! Most (but not ALL!) "Crudware" appear as WMA's, and even if the selection seems as real as EVER.... it may open a "suprise" website requesting you obtain a license. DON'T! This will save you a bunch of HASSLES later! Yes.... There ARE some "valid" WMA's out there.... but be very careful!

Legal Music Downloads

The following services provide legal downloads in North America and Uk/IR.

• iTunes Music Store North America and Uk/IR (requires download of iTunes for Windows or Mac)
• Nettmusic MP3s (160 Kbps, 192 Kbps) of Nettwork Music Group artists, including Sarah McLachlan. Prices are in US dollars.
• HearsayMusic.ca sells MP3s of Canadian independent artists
• Sheeba Store is Jane Siberry's site to sell her music as MP3s (128 Kbps, 192Kbps). Set your own price.

The three below are all Windows-only, using WMA files.

• PureTracks.com
• ArchambaultZik.ca
• Napster North America and Uk/IR

Sympatico, Telus, FutureShop ("Bonfire") and Aliant use PureTracks for their music services. Telus is also providing something they're calling PureRadio.

• www.mytelus.com/music/
• sympaticomusicstore.puretracks.com/en/ (or sympaticomusicstore.ca)
• bonfire.puretracks.com (FutureShop.ca)
• aliant.puretracks.com ("Aliant Music Store")

Other Music Sites

• Jazzpromo is a site that promotes Canadian jazz. It has free MP3s (requires registration).
• Revolution Music North America and Uk/IR Independent music. Free MP3s.
• UmbrellaMusic Canadian Music Lives Here
• music.sympatico.ca has lots of resources.
• ca.music.yahoo.com from Rogers/Yahoo