Avoid Downloading Fake Files

The RIAA and fellow goons have recently began to step up efforts to flood the network with fake files. Usually this happens to newer releases to increase the viability of people buying the product first.

However with a little diligence, their efforts can be neutered. An effort to counter the fake file flooding is explained here

Borrowing HEAVILY from CoalDust post in my forum:

Read the Thread here for full details

Join a Chat channel, it is a source of uncorrupted files from fellow room members. And lays the groundwork for organization and updates.

Specific Tips to spot Fakes

Find Alternates

Find alternates searches by HASH values, therefore misnamed files will show up in a search, this enables one to verify if a file is misnamed or not. Also there will be the few misguided users who share it with the name FAKE added to its title. It searches for files that match the one your are trying to download. Just right click the file in transfer window and choose Search for Alternates.

In the above example you can see the top line has the filename, the one below has the hash value. This will cause WinMX to search for matches regardless of filename. As it finds them , click them in the search window to add to the active download.

Clicking UserTab in Search

Another way to spot fakes is to click on the Users tab in search as this will show all the users sharing the same file names multiple times. To really take advantage of this, it is best if the Users expanded by default setting was enabled.

Due to the nature of their shared files being garbage, they never build up a queue. People sharing the real file will have people in line, so look for users who are actively uploading to other people (A whois will tell you that info).

Previewing a Download

MP3 Right click on your download as your getting it, and select Play , this will allow you to confirm its the correct file.

Video file incompletes can be played by using Avi Preview

ALBW file contents can usually be viewed by trying to unwrap it after a few % of the download are complete.

Other Suggestions

When you download a fake file, remember to UN-share it so no one downloads it.(Resist the urge to write "Real" or "Not Fake" in the file name, as the flooders do this too).

Something a lot of people are overlooking, is that by leaving the search box open on one of these flooded titles will drop all your primaries, by tying up all the network. Click stop as soon as the files go over 1000 and refine your search, by bitrate, title , connection type.

Shortsighted ISPs

Some ISPs have been blocking common p2p ports for a while now.the typical ways to counter such problems are to change ports (Click here) to ones not used by WinMX, (6699 tcp, and 6257 udp), not using those ports will give you a good chance to avoid the filtering system they use. Once you have changed the ports restart WinMX for the change to take effect.

Retarded ISPs

Now these are the real pieces of work. They are not blocking specific ports at all. They are dropping Packets selected on the header. They typically allow downloading, but no uploading. Others are even more restrictive and block all significant traffic. My advise to anyone using such an isp, is to find another one. It borders on fraud to sell a service and then in private do everything you can to inhibit people from using it.

The Internet Service Providers I have seen these issues crop up with are as follows:

Cox
Optimum Online
Charter
NVI
shaw Insight


I would be remiss if I didn't recognize CoalDust, vittijr and Faceby88 for their contributions to this page.

There is a database of hashes, which my daughter KM :D has proven very helpful in getting off the ground. With MxHashish, it is a snap to generate a list of all the files you have shared in just a couple minutes, regardless of shared size.