Exposure of Sensitive Files in File Sharing Networks

Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing networks continue to rank as some of the most popular Internet applications in use. Their ability to pool the resources of thousands or millions of users makes them extremely attractive for a number of uses. However this convenient and rapid accessibility to files is not without its dangers. In particular, users that accidently or unwittingly share private files can find their personal information rapidly downloaded by anonymous users all over the world. In this work, we investigate the accessibility of a small number of common privacy-sensitive files on the EDonkey2000 and Kad file sharing networks. Our experiences show that with only a minimum of effort, it is possible to find files with highly sensitive personal information. We also highlight some of the privacyand security-related risks associated with the public disclosure of each of these files.