Are there penalties for illegally sharing films, music and other entertainment on the internet?

Yes, there are potentially very serious penalties for those illegally sharing film, music, TV and video. This is covered by civil law in the UK and may also in some circumstances be a crime. People who do it could face legal action resulting in damages and payment of costs.

Is the law changing on downloading and file-sharing?

Yes, in addition to existing penalties, a new law has been passed by Parliament to protect copyright on the internet. From 2011, internet subscribers whose accounts have been identified as being used for unlicensed file-sharing will be sent a series of notifications by their internet service provider. These will advise that their IP address has been used for unauthorised activity. If illegal use continues, legal action may follow.

Apart from copyright, what are the other risks involved in the illegal downloading of film, music, TV and video?

Illegal file-sharing programmes and websites pose greater risks to your computer or mobile phone than legitimate sites. Alongside media files, users often unwittingly download viruses and spyware. They can also inadvertently share personal computer files, containing financial information, with other users, potentially putting themselves at risk from identity theft. Also, some files are purposefully misnamed on file-sharing and peer-to-peer networks to trick people into downloading them.

Filtering tools that can block offensive content on websites are not effective when these illegal services are used leaving children at risk of exposure to unsuitable or harmful content.

Some peer-to-peer software lets users "chat" with other filesharers, most of them strangers. For guidance about chatting on the internet see Childnet's www.chatdanger.com website.

Where can I get more information about the security risks of illegal file-sharing?

Your ISP can give advice about the effects of using illegal file-sharing programmes. There have been many examples of computers becoming infected with viruses, malware and spyware after people have used P2P networks for music file-sharing. Many ISPs provide software that can protect people against these risks.

'Sorted' is Childnet's guide to information security online for teens - www.childnet.com/sorted.

How can I prevent my internet connection being used for illegal file-sharing?

There are some basic steps you should take. Your ISP should provide information on how to protect your WiFi connection, including details on how a password can be set up to limit access to your connection.

Parental controls on software systems can also be activated to block access to specific websites. It's also a good idea to make simple rules for whoever is using your computer and your network, so they don't upload or download illegally.