James Delahunty
15 Apr 2010 17:27
New attention has been given to a BitTorrent exploit that surfaced in November last year following the passing of the Digital Economy Bill in the UK. The widespread belief - or hope - appears to be that this 86 lines of C# can actually make BitTorrent downloading untraceable.
The code, named SeedFuc*er (though not censored), can be used by a BitTorrent user to fake the IP address of a source where a file could be downloaded, or it could be used to flood a BitTorrent with dozens of fake peers.
The truth is this probably wouldn't help a user to escape identification at all, although it could be used as an annoyance for investigators by flooding them with fake peers and fake data. Tracking companies confirm what material is being shared and from where, so there is no reason to believe the 86 lines of code will make the slightest bit of a difference to a user.
However, changes in legislation or the outcomes of civil cases have had an effect on how some users share files. Napster's downfall was largely the centralized nature of its network and was then replaced with decentralized networks. Warnings and other threats prompted users to stop using public BitTorrent trackers and opt for private trackers instead.
Programs like PeerGuardian (or PeerBlock nowadays) also were developed and used as an attempt literally block investigators and others from making a connection to a computer. One of the biggest driving forces for file sharing technology has been the risks associated with it, and while there is risk (especially when it changes with the introduction of new anti-piracy laws) there will always be claims such as this one, that 86 lines of code is the magic bullet that will make you invisible.