Bandwidth Theft: A Guide

What is Bandwidth?

Let's explain what bandwidth is when you own a domain you have it hosted, and you are given a certain amount of space to store files, you are also given a certain amount of space for visitors a month. It's the visitors that use bandwidth. It's called the "bandwidth" band is the thickness of the pipe it's going through, and the width of it tells you how much of that band you are using. Internet users and cellphone users this can be called "Data Caps." Meaning the amount of data you surf, email, etc a month is limited. The same thing applies to websites. Let me explain simpler. Let's say a family is allocated 30GBs per month of bandwidth. That 30GB's is spread out for streaming, emailing, surfing, social media etc. Each time you do something on the internet you are downloading data IE bandwidth. You don't want to go over your data usage as it could end up costing you extra money on your bill.

Understanding Bandwidth Theft

What is Hotlinking?

To steal someone's bandwidth means to run off another one's server, other than your own. Never link to an image or file on someone else's server. Many demo sites get thousands of hits a week. If a person gets 2000 visitors a day to their site and if only 1/10 of those visitors linked to just one file on that server, that would be 200 people per day stealing bandwidth from them.

In just one month, that would be 6,000 people who have linked directly to a voice-over file. Even if they were on low traffic sites with only 10 visitors a day, they would be paying for the bandwidth of 60,000 hits a day for people who didn’t visit their site!

Over one month, that’s 1,800,000 hits, not counting email links. This high cost of popularity can shut down sites.

It's just not fair for anyone to expect us, the people who provide demos for everyone's enjoyment and benefit, to pay money out of our pocket for illegal linking because someone is too lazy to learn or to be bothered to do things right.

Why is it illegal?

Stealing Bandwidth is Illegal. People don't realize how easily they can be caught stealing bandwidth and images. Each time a file is called from the server, it is recorded in what is called a log file. If you link to a file on someone else's server, it records the web site that the file is called from, so if you link illegally to someone else's files, each time your page is accessed by anyone, that is recorded. You may think if you signed up with a free host you can get away with it. Perhaps you used a fictitious name and address when you signed up and used a free email account too. It doesn't matter. Every time you send an email; create, modify or add to a web site, your IP address is recorded by your ISP. Your IP address can easily be tracked to your ISP, who has logs of which account has used which IP address and on what dates. You are never completely anonymous on the Internet. These are the same files the FBI uses to catch child pornographers, hackers, and other nefarious types.

In conclusion, the law states: Log files are considered legal evidence and you can be sued for stealing bandwidth (or copyrighted property for that matter.) Damages are awarded up to $100,000 plus proven costs. Proof of monetary loss isn't necessary for damages to be awarded.

Legal Linking Practices

Another thing I would like to explain, to the many who are not sure what all this means. Sharing links via emails, linking back and/or saving a link to your favorite site does NOT constitute as bandwidth theft. All of that is perfectly legal and okay to do.

I have noticed many of you email me wondering if what they are doing is correct. Don't worry. You can share as many sites as you like as well as save them in your favorites. That's why we create pages. We want you to enjoy them. In my opinion, if one doesn't know about "direct linking" or doesn't know HTML, chances are you are NOT doing it.

Impact of Bandwidth Theft

Many of us who pay for our servers to host our sites sometimes pay extra for "others" who run off our servers. That is why we get upset. I do NOT think it is right that I or anyone else should have to pay for your pretty emails or web pages as well when you link directly to my files. There are many FREE servers the Internet offers. Stealing Bandwidth is no different than someone who illegally hooks up to your phone line, calls all over the world and you get stuck paying for their conversations. So please, on behalf of me and many others who have sites, free or paid for, DO NOT link directly to our files. Thank You =o)

Those of you who are thinking about linking directly to my graphics and running off MY server think about this...

Monitoring Bandwidth Theft

This server allows me to see exactly where my hits are coming from. It also tells me where my files are being pulled from. Every day I check these stats. Not because I care about my hits, but because I want to see who is STEALING MY BANDWIDTH. Recently I have decided to do something other than report these people. All I can say is if you think the voice files you are linking too are the voice-over files people are hearing when they view your site or email GUESS AGAIN and if I haven't gotten to certain ones, rest assured I will! It can be quite embarrassing to have people hear a page stating you're a "thief."

Consequences of Hotlinking

I feel this is a fair warning to those who do this. If all this does not work the next step is to send the information to my server, where I have been told legal action can be taken. They can also shut you down and you can lose your ISP forever.

How to Avoid Bandwidth Theft

  • Host files on your own server or a free hosting service.
  • Download files to your hard drive and upload them to your site.
  • Ask permission before linking to someone else's content.
  • Learn proper HTML to avoid hotlinking errors.

Those of you who do the right thing; I thank you and appreciate you using my voice files.

Learn More About Bandwidth Theft

This page was inspired by http://www.phenomenalwomen.com/donteventhinkaboutit/ Sadly her site is no longer active but the page is archived and brilliant!

Learn more about our services at Voice-Over Samples or contact us at Orders / Inquiry for guidance on ethical web practices.

Explore Amy Lynn’s background or listen to our Faith and Tech Bytes with Amy Lynn Podcast for more insights.