Hook's UT Place

**Hook**

Bandwidth Theft is a big problem on the internet.
By Hook

YOU MAY be one of the "Theives" and do not even know it!

To understand Bandwidth Theft, first we must answer - What is Bandwidth?

Bandwidth is the measurement of useage of a website, measured in bytes.
Bandwidth is ussually charged to the client by the Host or ISP (Internet Service Provider) and is usually Charged monthly.
Some Hosts or ISPs have plans that entail a Maximum Bandwidth usage per month for their clients.
If the client's website uses more bandwidth than the Maximum Bandwidth specified for the client's hosting plan, the client will be charged extra for the amount of extra bandwidth used each month or the client's web site may be shut down until the next monthly cycle starts.

How do we "use up" bandwidth?
When we go to a website, and the page starts to load, that uses bandwidth.
Every webpage, picture / graphic, midi file, streaming video, file downloads, etc., all use up bandwidth.

OK, that said, Now - What is Bandwidth Theft? ...

OK, for Example - If you find something you like at a web site, such as a picture, or a cartoon, or a piece of clip art, and you decide to "take it" and use it on your own web page, or post it in on a message board, and use the "copy and paste" method, you are stealing bandwidth.
This is even if the site is OK with using its files and images!
That item you took still remains on the server where you found it, and even though you are pasting it into another web page, it is still using bandwidth from where you got it or copied it from.

It is as if someone has tapped into their water line. The water useage is still being measured on their water meter, but the water is being used by their neighbors. That is theft.

Most people who "steal" bandwidth, do it completely unaware. They think that "Copying and Pasting" something actually creates a new copy on their own site or e-mail or message board, but it does not! It uses the original file from the original site's server!
They don't realize the huge costs incurred by the owners of the web sites or the web hosts.
Many sites are shut down or charged extra every month when they've exceeded bandwidth useage simply because of the theft from other sites.
Many free media sites have disappeared because of this problem. Free media on the internet is definitely jeopardized by this practice.
The cost can quickly exceed the limits of a budget and many sites have closed down as a result.

To prevent bandwidth theft, you MUST Save files, photos and graphics, etc., correctly.
Do not "copy" the graphic and "paste" it into any web page or other web media!
You MUST "right click" and select "save picture as" and save it to YOUR computer first before using it. This puts the item into a file on your own computer and disconnects it from the server and site where you got it from. From the file on your computer, you can upload it to your web page, message board, or personal albums or storage sites such as Photo Bucket online.

There are also a few other very good reasons why you should not "steal" bandwidth!
This also goes for "Hot Linking" to another file or graphic hosted elsewhere!
When you "steal" bandwidth by the copy & paste meathod, or when you "Hot Link" to another file or graphic hosted elsewhere, you must "rely" on the other site from which you obtained the graphic or file!
If that other site changes a webpage or file location, slows down or goes offline entirely, etc., your picture or file will no longer work.
This is what happens when images on your site or message board posting (even in your Signature on a forum) turns into those Blank Rectangles with the little Red "X" in them! It becomes a Broken Link! They SUck!
Some websites purposely change their URLs periodically to discourage "Bandwidth Theft" and "Hot Linking" to their files and images!
This leaves you with the "Little Red X" images on your site!

I (hook) personnally host any images for THIS and ALL MY sites/forums either on my own personnal web space I have through my ISP or Directly Hosted right on the Forums I own.
(See Our TFD Tutorial(s) here on How to Host your Own Images on your Own Forum) <- Coming Soon!!!

Note: Any item posted in Any Forum or Site Owned by myself (Hook) found "stealing" bandwidth will be deleted.
FYI: This of course does not include sites meant for online storage such as Photo Bucket or other File Storage sites!
Any questions regarding bandwidth theft should be directed to the management here at TFD.

Thank You for your Understanding! Very Happy

_________________
{xCBx}Hook Hook Pirate

(Site Administrator)
Hopelessly Addicted to UT99 & Mapping for it!

The NEW Forum Directory at: www.forumdirectory.freeforums.org

**Shadow342** · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:26 am Post subject:

Whoa, now I see why on most sites when you right click a pic or something it says "No Copying!" or something like that lol.
_________________
{xCBx}Shadow342 *Moderator*
CTF, BT, DM, and MH map maker.

JackO · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:37 pm Post subject: