Military Power

Bandwidth Theft ...

What is Bandwidth Theft?

Bandwidth Theft is a big problem on the internet.
Bandwidth Theft is sometimes also called "Hot-Linking" or "Hot-Pasting".

First of all, what is Bandwidth?
Bandwidth is the measurement of usage of a website, measured in bytes, and is charged, usually monthly.
Most web hosts allow a certain amount of bandwidth free to the client but charge for any usage over that amount.
NOTE: Some web hosts do allow unlimited bandwidth now days, but Bandwidth Theft can still cause problems for all the internet users by slowing down the internet!
When you go to a website, and the page starts to load, that uses bandwidth.
Every picture, graphic, midi file, streaming video, all use bandwidth.
All items that need to be downloaded and uploaded to and from the internet to your computer use bandwidth.

How is Bandwidth Theft done?
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.
That item remains on the original server where you found it, and even though you are pasting it to another web page, it is still using bandwidth from where you got it.
It is as if someone has tapped into their water line.
The water usage is still being measured on their water meter, but the water is being used by the neighbors.
Plus, it puts a clog in the water line!
That is both theft and vandalism!

What are the problems associated with Bandwidth Theft and why is it bad for everyone?
Most people who steal bandwidth, do it completely unaware.
Many people do not even know that Bandwidth Theft occurs when they copy and paste.
Many people also do not realize that Bandwidth Theft can and does dramatically slow the internet down for all users - even the offending user's web site slows down!
They don't realize the huge costs incurred by the owners of the web sites or the web hosts.
Many sites are shut down every month when they've exceeded bandwidth usage 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.
Some savvy web sites change some key URLs (addresses) regularly that foul up the links to hot-pasted items leaving the dreaded red "X" on the offending web sites.

How should we copy something from a web site so as not to steal bandwidth and also not to cause a slow down of the internet?
To prevent bandwidth theft, you MUST save photos and graphics correctly.
Do NOT ever copy the graphic and paste it into any web page.
You MUST "right click" and select "save picture as" or "save image as" and save the item to your own computer for use.
This puts the item into a file on your own computer and disconnects it from the origin's server.
This way, from the file you saved on your computer, you can upload it to your web page, message board, forums, or personal albums online.

In summary, Bandwidth Theft causes at least 4 big problems on the internet as follows...
1) It is Stealing or Theft!
2) It can Dramatically slow down YOUR web site if you do this because of all the extra downloading from other sites!
3) It can and does Dramatically slow down the internet for ALL of us because of all the extra downloading!
4) Hot-Pasted items copied this way are very UN-reliable as they can disappear leaving the dreaded red "X"s on the offending web sites!
5) Mainly, doing Bandwidth Theft causes problems for both the offender and the offended!
There is NO advantage to Hot-Pasting or Bandwidth Stealing - In fact, it causes you more problems!
It puts both sites, and all internet users, at a disadvantage!

Any item posted on this site found stealing bandwidth will be deleted.
Any questions regarding bandwidth theft should be directed to management.

Thank you for your understanding!

(This was posted previously on The Forum Directory, by Hook)

This is a good thing, having rules on Bandwidth Piracy. One question though: are we guilty (Military Power) of this? How can we cut down on it if we are?