How does authorities track music downloading?

Question

I'm just a little paranoid about being tracked by the FBI or something for music files and movies. Do they have to be in your computer for them to charge you with it or do they know just by some sorta seed they planted?

Answer 1

Don't be paranoid.  If you do not do anything wrong,  then you will not be tracked.  Its simple as that.  

This isn't 1984,  Big Brother type of government.

BUT!  If you ==ILLEGALLY== download.  The proper authorities will know about surely enough.  They will have the ip address,  the item that was downloaded or uploaded, and other small info.  Authorities are now cracking down on the illegal downloading.  The big area is the movies and music.

Answer 2

This is easy.  The RIAA has a limewire account too.  They can see exactly what you have in your "Upload" folder.  

Answer 3

When you are using programs such as limewire you are not only downloading, but uploading as well. You are serving files to others. It would not be too much of a leap for law enforcement officials to be one of those connected. That is how the entertainment industry finds those who download their media and forced internet service providers to send cease and desist letters. Even when you aren't uploading you are still connected to another persons computer and you never know who's system it is. Some law enforcement will put "BAIT" files out there just to see who connects to the files and downloads them.

Answer 4

Depends on how you download it.  Usually they're a bit more worried about uploaders.

Answer 5

They use the same software you do and record IP addresses then they call your ISP and get your info.

For example comcast has a whole department dedicated to complaints for copyright infringement.

When a company sees you are sharing their music or software they call this number and comcast sends you an email telling you to stop.

I got one. I stopped.

Answer 6

Software