While I agree completely with releases of software such as KaZaA Lite, that go the extra mile to remove unwanted spyware and just plain-rude BDE from one of the best P2P clients on the best P2P network, I feel that the removal of ads needs to be addressed.
KaZaA Lite also offers a “Hosts File” download, allowing you to copy a special file into your Windows directory. What this file then does it prevents you from accessing anything from the URL’s contained within. All the URL’s in this file are advert-related.
“Woohoo” I hear you cry. But think about it for a second. Think how many programs and websites you use that cost you absolutely nothing, including news and reviews resources like this one. As I write, I see a burstnet banner which is helping pay for this very site.
As more and more people implement these Host Files, more and more people are getting a “free ride”. Most images on a website use more bandwidth than any advertising banner! Another thing to note is that the Host File will NOT stop popups in many cases – using a simple freeware popup killer is much more effective, and by allowing banner ads to still show, you’re doing your bit to pay for a wealth of free resources.
So next time you’re on a free site or service, and all you see in place of banners is an “x”, just think. The more popular these Host File alterations become, the harder it will be for the free Internet as we know it to survive. Personally, I wish the maker of KaZaA Lite would put a single banner back into the software (which causes no harm to us, no popups or whatnot) so he could pay his server bills… then maybe the site would be online again?
It’s your call, I’d love to hear what you have to say.
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