Napster safety

[Pentax]

Hello!
My sister wants to install Napster, but I've heard it's unsafe.
What do you think?
Is it a way for hackers to get into our computer, and a way for viruses to spread?
Or would you say it's harmless?

Please help me, cos I really don't know what to say.
Thanks,
Pentax

[parksie]

Er...it's crackers :rolleyes:

And Napster is perfectly safe, as long as your system is set up safely to start with. Plus, you should already have virus protection -- it's foolish not to.

[Pentax]

Sorry, I know the difference between a hacker and a cracker, but on the other hand, I want neither of them to get into my computer.
To say "it's okay to hack a computer, as long as you don't break anything" is like saying "it's okay with burglary, as long as you don't steal anything".

And I have virus protection, but I'm still a bit worried.
How shall I set up the system safely?
Pentax

[chrisjk]

Napster is perfectly safe and is not used to spread viruses (virii??), and crackers/hackers/whatever don't use it to gain access to your PC. I've used it since Beta 3 and they are now on Beta 9 (last I heard) and I have had no problems. Get a cheap firewall if you're that concerned. http://www.zonealarm.com will do. It's free, but for a commercial app, get Norton Personal Firewall (that's what I have - more for the advanced user I think). It's about US$20. Honestly, there is nothing to worry about (apart from Napster is going down anyway:()

[parksie]

Hackers aren't the equivalent of non-thieving burglars :rolleyes: They're people who write code ;)

[billfaceuk]

Theres no real point in installing it as well lets just say the future don't look good.

[chrismitchell]

Instead of getting Napster.. Download AudioGalaxy Satelite. It is alot safer than Napster.

[kedaman]

chris, do you happen to get anything when you shell this:
telnet garlic.audiogalaxy.com 21
because i get "connection lost"