Google hack creates peer-to-peer network
Found on CNet News on Tuesday, 10 July 2007
A video posted to YouTube in April offers a primer on how to use Google to pilfer music and video files in less time than it takes to download them from a peer-to-peer service.
The how-to video focuses on what is known as an "index of" search and shows users how to direct Google's search engine to locate files from unprotected computer systems, many of which are found on college campuses. University students around the country often store music on their schools' computer networks.
Ruska's formula also worked at Yahoo and other search engines, according to the FT. Record labels have always maintained that downloading unauthorized music files violates copyright law.
It's disapointing that CNet thinks this is something new; it's so old that it has a beard already. Johnny listed it long ago, but it looks like everything that's old automagically turns into something new as soon as someone posts it on Youtube. And it's not a "hack" and not a "peer-to-peer network". Otherwise every search would be hacking the Internet, and every website visit would be P2P sharing; it's just the basic usage of Google. I can already see the next breaking news: "Reverse gear detected! Watch the Youtube instructions to see this amazing hardware hack for cars!".