Editing LimeWire (section)

== Criticism ==

Prior to April 2004, the free version of LimeWire was distributed with a bundled program called '''LimeShop''' (a variant of TopMoxie), which was [[spyware]]. Among other things, LimeShop monitored online purchases in order to redirect sales commissions to Lime Wire LLC. Uninstallation of LimeWire would not remove LimeShop.  These objections were addressed in 2004 with the removal of all bundled software in LimeWire 3.9.4.<ref>[http://www.limewire.com/english/content/features_history.shtml Lime Wire » Features History<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318180325/http://www.limewire.com/english/content/features_history.shtml |date=March 18, 2006 }}.</ref>

In LimeWire versions before 5.0, users could accidentally configure the software to allow access to any file on their computer, including documents with personal information. Later versions of LimeWire disabled unintentional sharing of documents or applications. In 2005, the US Federal Trade Commission issued a warning regarding the dangers of [[peer-to-peer file sharing]] network usage, due to the risk of [[identity theft]] and lawsuits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/06/p2p.shtm |title=FTC Issues Report on Peer-to-Peer File Sharing |publisher=Ftc.gov |date=September 26, 2007 |access-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-date=February 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212065921/http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/06/p2p.shtm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

For example, a 2007 identity theft scheme involving LimeWire was discovered in what the U.S. Justice Department described as its first case against someone accused of using file sharing computer programs to commit identity theft.  The perpetrator had used LimeWire to search other people's computers for inadvertently shared financial information, which he used it to obtain credit cards for an online shopping spree.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/u-s-arrest-puts-spotlight-on-file-sharing-risk-1.644921 U.S. arrest puts spotlight on file-sharing risk].</ref>

One investigation showed that of 123 randomly selected downloaded files, 37 contained [[malicious software|malware]] – about 30%.<ref>PC Pro Magazine, September 2008 issue, p. 109.</ref> In mid-2008, a Macintosh [[Trojan horse (computing)|trojan]] exploiting a vulnerability involving [[Apple Remote Desktop]] was distributed via LimeWire affecting users of [[Mac OS X]] [[Mac OS X v10.4|Tiger]] and [[Mac OS X v10.5|Leopard]].<ref>[http://www.macworld.com/article/134084/2008/06/securemac.html Firms discover Trojan horse targeted at Mac OS X].</ref> The ability to distribute such malware and viruses was reduced in versions of LimeWire 5.0 and greater, whose default search settings excluded executable files.

After several years of opposing software bundling, LimeWire released an Ask.com-powered browser toolbar in 2010, which was automatically installed unless a user opted out.<ref>[http://blog.limewire.org/?p=361 Limewire Blog] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627080546/http://blog.limewire.org/?p=361 |date=June 27, 2010 }}</ref>  LimeWire automatically received a cryptographically signed file, called simpp.xml, containing an IP block list. It was the key technology behind the now defunct cyber security firm [[Tiversa]] which is alleged to have used information from the network to pressure prospective clients into engaging the company's services.<ref>[https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/11/04/a-cybersecurity-firms-sharp-rise-and-stunning-collapse A Cybersecurity Firm's Sharp Rise and Stunning Collapse] By Raffi Khatchadourian. The New Yorker, November 4, 2019.</ref>