Peer-To-Peer News - The Week In Review - October 7th, ’23

[JackSpratts]

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October 7th, 2023




Russia Plans to Try to Block VPN Services in 2024 - Senator

Russia's communications watchdog plans to block Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) from March 1 next year, a Russian senator for the ruling United Russia party said on Tuesday.

Demand for VPN services soared after Russia restricted access to some Western social media after President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Senator Artem Sheikin said an order from the Roskomnadzor watchdog would come into force on March 1 that would block VPNs.

"From March 1, 2024, an order will come into force to block VPN services providing access to sites banned in Russia," Sheikin was quoted as saying by state news agency RIA.

Phone calls to the number listed by Roskomnadzor as its press service were answered by a voice message with the Bobby McFerrin song "Don't Worry Be Happy". An emailed request for comment got no immediate reply.

Sheikin said that it was particularly important to block access to Meta Platforms (META.O), which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

"I would like to note that it is especially important to restrict citizens' access to the products of Meta which is recognised as an extremist organization," Sheikin added.

He stressed that this order also applies to those VPN services that give access, in particular, to Instagram, which is banned in Russia.

Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Mark Trevelyan
https://www.reuters.com/technology/r...or-2023-10-03/






New Group Attacking iPhone Encryption Backed by U.S. Political Dark-Money Network

A new, well-funded pressure group is fighting to get Apple to weaken iPhone privacy protections in the name of catching child predators.
Sam Biddle

The Heat Initiative, a nonprofit child safety advocacy group, was formed earlier this year to campaign against some of the strong privacy protections Apple provides customers. The group says these protections help enable child exploitation, objecting to the fact that pedophiles can encrypt their personal data just like everyone else.

When Apple launched its new iPhone this September, the Heat Initiative seized on the occasion, taking out a full-page New York Times ad, using digital billboard trucks, and even hiring a plane to fly over Apple headquarters with a banner message. The message on the banner appeared simple: “Dear Apple, Detect Child Sexual Abuse in iCloud” — Apple’s cloud storage system, which today employs a range of powerful encryption technologies aimed at preventing hackers, spies, and Tim Cook from knowing anything about your private files.

Something the Heat Initiative has not placed on giant airborne banners is who’s behind it: a controversial billionaire philanthropy network whose influence and tactics have drawn unfavorable comparisons to the right-wing Koch network. Though it does not publicize this fact, the Heat Initiative is a project of the Hopewell Fund, an organization that helps privately and often secretly direct the largesse — and political will — of billionaires. Hopewell is part of a giant, tightly connected web of largely anonymous, Democratic Party-aligned dark-money groups, in an ironic turn, campaigning to undermine the privacy of ordinary people.

For experts on transparency about money in politics, the Hopewell Fund’s place in the wider network of Democratic dark money raises questions that groups in the network are disinclined to answer.

“None of these groups are particularly open with me or other people who are tracking dark money about what it is they’re doing,” said Robert Maguire, of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW. Maguire said the way the network operated called to mind perhaps the most famous right-wing philanthropy and dark-money political network: the constellation of groups run and supported by the billionaire owners of Koch Industries. Of the Hopewell network, Maguire said, “They also take on some of the structural calling cards of the Koch network; it is a convoluted group, sometimes even intentionally so.”

The decadeslong political and technological campaign to diminish encryption for the sake of public safety — known as the “Crypto Wars” — has in recent years pivoted from stoking fears of terrorists chatting in secret to child predators evading police scrutiny. No matter the subject area, the battle is being waged between those who think privacy is an absolute right and those who believe it ought to be limited for expanded oversight from law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The ideological lines pit privacy advocates, computer scientists, and cryptographers against the FBI, the U.S. Congress, the European Union, and other governmental bodies around the world. Apple’s complex 2021 proposal to scan cloud-bound images before they ever left your phone became divisive even within the field of cryptography itself.

While the motives on both sides tend to be clear — there’s little mystery as to why the FBI doesn’t like encryption — the Heat Initiative, as opaque as it is new, introduces the obscured interests of billionaires to a dispute over the rights of ordinary individuals.

“I’m uncomfortable with anonymous rich people with unknown agendas pushing these massive invasions of our privacy,” Matthew Green, a cryptographer at Johns Hopkins University and a critic of the plan to have Apple scan private files on its devices, told The Intercept. “There are huge implications for national security as well as consumer privacy against corporations. Plenty of unsavory reasons for people to push this technology that have nothing to do with protecting children.”

Last month, Wired reported the previously unknown Heat Initiative was pressing Apple to reconsider its highly controversial 2021 proposal to have iPhones constantly scan their owners’ photos as they were uploaded to iCloud, checking to see if they were in possession of child sexual abuse material, known as CSAM. If a scan turned up CSAM, police would be alerted. While most large internet companies check files their users upload and share against a centralized database of known CSAM, Apple’s plan went a step further, proposing to check for illegal files not just on the company’s servers, but directly on its customers’ phones.

“In the hierarchy of human privacy, your private files and photos should be your most important confidential possessions,” Green said. “We even wrote this into the U.S. Constitution.”

The backlash was swift and effective. Computer scientists, cryptographers, digital rights advocates, and civil libertarians immediately protested, claiming the scanning would create a deeply dangerous precedent. The ability to scan users’ devices could open up iPhones around the world to snooping by authoritarian governments, hackers, corporations, and security agencies. A year later, Apple reversed course and said it was shelving the idea.

Green said that efforts to push Apple to monitor the private files of iPhone owners are part of a broader effort against encryption, whether used to safeguard your photographs or speak privately with others — rights that were taken for granted before the digital revolution. “We have to have some principles about what we’ll give up to fight even heinous crime,” he said. “And these proposals give up everything.”

In an unusual move justifying its position, Apple provided Wired with a copy of the letter it sent to the Heat Initiative in reply to its demands. “Scanning every user’s privately stored iCloud data would create new threat vectors for data thieves to find and exploit,” the letter read. “It would also inject the potential for a slippery slope of unintended consequences. Scanning for one type of content, for instance, opens the door for bulk surveillance and could create a desire to search other encrypted messaging systems across content types.”

The strong encryption built into iPhones, which shields sensitive data like your photos and iMessage conversations even from Apple itself, is frequently criticized by police agencies and national security hawks as providing shelter to dangerous criminals. In a 2014 speech, then-FBI Director James Comey singled out Apple’s encryption specifically, warning that “encryption threatens to lead all of us to a very dark place.”

Some cryptographers respond that it’s impossible to filter possible criminal use of encryption without defeating the whole point of encryption in the first place: keeping out prying eyes.

Similarly, any attempt to craft special access for police to use to view encrypted conversations when they claim they need to — a “backdoor” mechanism for law enforcement access — would be impossible to safeguard against abuse, a stance Apple now says it shares.

Dark-Money Network

For an organization demanding that Apple scour the private information of its customers, the Heat Initiative discloses extremely little about itself. According to a report in the New York Times, the Heat Initiative is armed with $2 million from donors including the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, an organization founded by British billionaire hedge fund manager and Google activist investor Chris Cohn, and the Oak Foundation, also founded by a British billionaire. The Oak Foundation previously provided $250,000 to a group attempting to weaken end-to-end encryption protections in EU legislation, according to a 2020 annual report.

The Heat Initiative is helmed by Sarah Gardner, who joined from Thorn, an anti-child trafficking organization founded by actor Ashton Kutcher. (Earlier this month, Kutcher stepped down from Thorn following reports that he’d asked a California court for leniency in the sentencing of convicted rapist Danny Masterson.) Thorn has drawn scrutiny for its partnership with Palantir and efforts to provide police with advanced facial recognition software and other sophisticated surveillance tools. Critics say these technologies aren’t just uncovering trafficked children, but ensnaring adults engaging in consensual sex work.

In an interview, Gardner declined to name the Heat Initiative’s funders, but she said the group hadn’t received any money from governmental or law enforcement organizations. “My goal is for child sexual abuse images to not be freely shared on the internet, and I’m here to advocate for the children who cannot make the case for themselves,” Gardner added.

She said she disagreed with “privacy absolutists” — a group now apparently including Apple — who say CSAM-scanning iPhones would have imperiled user safety. “I think data privacy is vital,” she said. “I think there’s a conflation between user privacy and known illegal content.”

Heat Initiative spokesperson Kevin Liao told The Intercept that, while the group does want Apple to re-implement its 2021 plan, it would be open to other approaches to screening everyone’s iCloud storage for CSAM. Since Apple began allowing iCloud users to protect their photos with end-to-end encryption last December, however, this objective is far trickier now than it was back in 2021; to scan iCloud images today would still require the mass-scrutinizing of personal data in some manner. As Apple put it in its response letter, “Scanning every user’s privately stored iCloud content would in our estimation pose serious unintended consequences for our users.”

Both the Oak Foundation and Thorn were cited in a recent report revealing the extent to which law enforcement and private corporate interests have influenced European efforts to weaken encryption in the name of child safety.

Beyond those groups and a handful of names, however, there is vanishingly little information available about what the Heat Initiative is, where it came from, or who exactly is paying its bills and why. Its website, which describes the group only as a “collective effort of concerned child safety experts and advocates” — who go unnamed — contains no information about funding, staff, or leadership.

One crucial detail, however, can be found buried in the “terms of use” section of the Heat Initiative’s website: “THIS WEBSITE IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY Hopewell Fund AND ITS AFFILIATES.” Other than a similarly brief citation in the site’s privacy policy, there is no other mention of the Hopewell Fund or explanation of its role. The omission is significant, given Hopewell’s widely reported role as part of a shadowy cluster of Democratic dark-money groups that funnel billions from anonymous sources into American politics.

Hopewell is part of a labyrinthine billionaire-backed network that receives and distributes philanthropic cash while largely obscuring its origin. The groups in this network include New Venture Fund (which has previously paid salaries at Hopewell), the Sixteen Thirty Fund, and Arabella Advisors, a for-profit company that helps administer these and other Democratic-leaning nonprofits and philanthropies. The groups have poured money into a wide variety of causes ranging from abortion access to opposing Republican tax policy, along the way spending big on elections — about $1.2 billion total in 2020 alone, according to a New York Times investigation.

The deep pockets of this network and mystery surrounding the ultimate source of its donations have drawn comparisons — by Maguire, the Times, and others — to the Koch brothers’ network, whose influence over electoral politics from the right long outraged Democrats. When asked by The Atlantic in 2021 whether she felt good “that you’re the left’s equivalent of the Koch brothers,” Sampriti Ganguli, at the time the CEO of Arabella Advisors, replied in the affirmative.

“Sixteen Thirty Fund is the largest network of liberal politically active nonprofits in the country,” Maguire of CREW told The Intercept. “We’re talking here about hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Liao told The Intercept that Hopewell serves as the organization’s “fiscal sponsor,” an arrangement that allows tax-deductible donations to pass through a registered nonprofit on its way to an organization without tax-exempt status. Liao declined to provide a list of the Heat Initiative’s funders beyond the two mentioned by the New York Times. Owing to this fiscal sponsorship, Liao continued, “the Hopewell Fund’s board is Heat Initiative’s board.” Hopewell’s board includes New Venture Fund President Lee Bodner and Michael Slaby, a veteran of Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns and former chief technology strategist at an investment fund operated by ex-Google chair Eric Schmidt.

When asked who exactly was leading the Heat Initiative, Liao told The Intercept that “it’s just the CEO Sarah Gardner.” According to LinkedIn, however, Lily Rhodes, also previously with Thorn, now works as Heat Initiative’s director of strategic operations. Liao later said Rhodes and Gardner are the Heat Initiative’s only two employees. When asked to name the “concerned child safety experts and advocates” referred to on the Heat Initiative’s website, Liao declined.

“When you take on a big corporation like Apple,” he said, “you probably don’t want your name out front.”

Hopewell’s Hopes

Given the stakes — nothing less than the question of whether people have an absolute right to communicate in private — the murkiness surrounding a monied pressure campaign against Apple is likely to concern privacy advocates. The Heat Initiative’s efforts also give heart to those aligned with law enforcement interests. Following the campaign’s debut, former Georgia Bureau of Investigations Special Agent in Charge Debbie Garner, who has also previously worked for iPhone-hacking tech firm Grayshift, hailed the Heat Initiative’s launch in a LinkedIn group for Homeland Security alumni, encouraging them to learn more.

The larger Hopewell network’s efforts to influence political discourse have attracted criticism and controversy in the past. In 2021, OpenSecrets, a group that tracks money in politics, reported that New Venture Fund and the Sixteen Thirty Fund were behind a nationwide Facebook ad campaign pushing political messaging from Courier News, a network of websites designed to look like legitimate, independent political news outlets.

Despite its work with ostensibly progressive causes, Hopewell has taken on conservative campaigns: In 2017, Deadspin reported with bemusement an NFL proposal in which the league would donate money into a pool administered by the Hopewell Fund as part of an incentive to get players to stop protesting the national anthem.

Past campaigns connected to Hopewell and its close affiliates have been suffused with Big Tech money. Hopewell is also the fiscal sponsor of the Economic Security Project, an organization that promotes universal basic income founded by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes. In 2016, SiliconBeat reported that New Venture Fund, which is bankrolled in part by major donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, was behind the Google Transparency Project, an organization that publishes unflattering research relating to Google. Arabella has also helped Microsoft channel money to its causes of choice, the report noted. Billionaire eBay founder Pierre Omidyar has also provided large cash gifts to both Hopewell and New Venture Fund, according to the New York Times (Omidyar is a major funder of The Intercept).

According to Riana Pfefferkorn, a research scholar at Stanford University’s Internet Observatory program, the existence of the Heat Initiative is ultimately the result of an “unforced error” by Apple in 2021, when it announced it was exploring using CSAM scanning for its cloud service.

“And now they’re seeing that they can’t put the genie back in the bottle,” Pfefferkorn said. “Whatever measures they take to combat the cloud storage of CSAM, child safety orgs — and repressive governments — will remember that they’d built a tool that snoops on the user at the device level, and they’ll never be satisfied with anything less.”
https://theintercept.com/2023/10/01/...at-initiative/






European Telecom Groups ask Brussels to Make Big Tech Pay more for Networks

• BT, Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica CEOs among those calling for internet traffic drivers to contribute to investment
• The European Commission has said perhaps €200bn of additional investment is required to meet its connectivity targets

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu and Javier Espinoza

Europe’s biggest telecoms companies have called on the EU to compel Big Tech to pay a “fair” contribution for using their networks, the latest stage in a battle for payments that has pitched the sector against companies such as Netflix and Google.

Technology companies that “benefit most” from telecoms infrastructure and drive traffic growth should contribute more to costs, according to the chief executives of 20 groups including BT, Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica, who signed an open letter seen by the Financial Times. It will be sent to the European Commission and members of the European parliament.

“Future investments are under serious pressure and regulatory action is needed to secure them,” they warned. “A fair and proportionate contribution from the largest traffic generators towards the costs of network infrastructure should form the basis of a new approach.”

They added that regulators need to take action to help secure future investment, with telecoms groups having to spend billions to support the rollout of 5G and upgrade to full-fibre networks.

Signatories included Timotheus Höttges at Deutsche Telekom, Christel Heydemann at Orange, José María Álvarez-Pallete at Telefónica and Pietro Labriola at Telecom Italia. It was also supported by outgoing BT chief executive Philip Jansen, his successor Allison Kirkby, who is currently chief executive at Telia, as well as Vodafone’s chief executive Margherita Della Valle.

They suggested that a payment mechanism might only make demands on “the very largest traffic generators” with a focus on “accountability and transparency on contributions . . . so that operators invest directly into Europe’s digital infrastructure”.

The so-called fair share initiative has been picking up support in Brussels, with the European parliament in June “call[ing] for the establishment of a policy framework where large traffic generators contribute fairly to the adequate funding of telecom networks without prejudice to net neutrality”.

The commission has said perhaps €200bn of additional investment is required to meet its connectivity targets of 5G in all populated areas and full gigabit coverage across the EU by 2030. The commission opened a consultation in February but the expectation of results by June has been delayed.

According to the letter’s signatories, data traffic has increased by an average of 20 per cent to 30 per cent each year — primarily driven by a “handful” of large technology companies. Telecoms groups expect this growth to continue but said it was unlikely to result in a corresponding return on investment under current conditions.

The letter’s signatories claimed that Big Tech companies pay “almost nothing for data transport in our networks” while some cloud providers charge customers “up to 80 times as much for the onward transport of data from the cloud”.

Tech groups have previously opposed fair share proposals and argued they already invest in internet infrastructure including subsea cables and data centres as well as content and services.

Daniel Friedlaender, head of CCIA Europe, which lobbies on behalf of the tech industry, argued telecom groups “have grown thanks to exciting content and services developed by creative and tech firms”.

“Now they’re trying to fool Europe into providing them with extra cash. Telcos want to get their networks fully subsidised by the same firms who have helped them grow and thrive,” he said. “Ultimately, these telecom giants want to make European consumers pay a second time through network fees, coming on top of their subscription.”

The executives’ letter also called for an overhaul of telecoms regulation, with executives asking policymakers to accept “the need for scale to avoid market fragmentation”.

The industry is waiting for a decision from the commission on a proposed Orange and MasMovil joint venture in Spain, regarded as a test case for regulators’ tolerance of further consolidation across Europe.

A commission spokesperson said that its recent consultation covered the issue of “fair contribution” to network costs. “This is a complex issue and any decision should be made by understanding the underlying facts and figures.”
https://www.ft.com/content/0ba810a2-...9-0faa745f59c6





Greek Pay-TV Piracy Tops €160m
Chris Dziadul

The pirating of pay-TV content in Greece has been estimated to be worth up to €160 million a year.

Quoting the country’s National Telecommunications and Posts Commission (EETT), Ekathimerini reports that revenues from such activities range from €90 million to €160 million.

While the number of legitimate pay-TV subscribers to Cosmote, Nova and Vodafone TV currently stands at 1.2 million, the number of those who access pay-TV illegally services has been estimated to be anything between half a million and 900,000.

Typically, the latter pay €15 a month for such services.

Ekathimerini notes that the scale of pay-TV piracy in Greece has recent been highlighted by the dismantling of two pirate rings. One had operated for eight years, had 13,000 customers and made revenues of €25 million.
https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2023...cy-tops-e160m/





How To Download Mega Files Without Mega
Chrissie Bogue

Introduction

Welcome to the world of digital file sharing. With the advent of cloud storage services, it has become easier than ever to store and share files online. One such popular cloud storage platform is Mega. Mega is known for its generous storage space and robust security features, making it a go-to choice for many users.

However, if you’ve ever tried to download files from Mega, you might have encountered some limitations. Mega imposes restrictions on free users, such as download limits, waiting time, and bandwidth restrictions. These limitations can be frustrating, especially when you’re in a hurry to get your hands on an important file.

If you’ve been wondering how to download Mega files without using the Mega platform, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll explore alternative methods that allow you to bypass these limitations and download Mega files with ease.

Before we delve into these methods, let’s take a closer look at Mega and the reasons behind the restrictions.


What is Mega?

Mega is a cloud storage and file hosting platform founded by Kim Dotcom and launched in 2013. It offers users a seamless way to store, share, and access their files from anywhere with an internet connection. Mega provides a generous amount of free storage space, currently offering 15 GB to free users.

One of the standout features of Mega is its approach to privacy and security. Mega uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that your files are securely stored and transferred. This means that only you, the user, have access to your files, and even Mega itself cannot decrypt or view your data.

In addition to security, Mega also prioritizes user independence. Unlike other cloud storage platforms, Mega does not rely on third-party file hosting services. Instead, it hosts its own infrastructure, making it less vulnerable to shutdowns or interruptions caused by external factors.

Mega offers web-based access to your files, but it also provides desktop and mobile applications that allow for seamless integration with your devices. This makes it convenient to access and manage your files on the go.

While Mega excels in many areas, it does have some limitations for free users. Mega imposes restrictions on download speed, file size, and bandwidth usage for non-paying users. These limitations are in place to incentivize users to upgrade to one of their paid plans, which provide additional benefits and fewer restrictions.

However, if you’re not in a position to upgrade to a paid plan or simply don’t want to, don’t worry! There are alternative methods to download Mega files without using the Mega platform, and we’ll explore these methods in the following sections.


Why can’t I download Mega files?

If you’ve encountered difficulties downloading Mega files, you’re not alone. Mega enforces certain restrictions on free users to encourage them to upgrade to a paid plan. Here are some common reasons why you may experience limitations when trying to download files from Mega:

1. Download limits: Mega imposes download limits for free users to prevent abuse and ensure fair usage of their services. These limits can vary based on factors such as your location, IP address, and previous download history. Once you reach your download limit, you’ll have to wait for a specific period before you can resume downloading.

2. Waiting time: In addition to download limits, Mega also implements waiting times between downloads for non-paying users. This means that after downloading a file, you might need to wait for a specific duration before you can initiate another download.

3. Bandwidth restrictions: Mega restricts the bandwidth or data transfer speed available to free users. This limitation ensures that the platform can accommodate the needs of all users without compromising the service quality for paid subscribers.

4. File size limit: Mega has a maximum file size limit for non-paying users. If the file you’re trying to download exceeds this limit, you will need to either upgrade your account or find an alternative method to overcome this restriction.

5. Unavailability of certain features: Some features, such as parallel downloading or resumable downloads, may only be available to paying users. As a result, free users might not have access to these convenient features, making the download process slower and less efficient.

It’s important to note that these limitations are in place to sustain Mega’s business model and encourage users to upgrade to their paid plans. If you find that these restrictions hinder your productivity, there are alternative methods you can explore to download Mega files without relying solely on the Mega platform. We’ll discuss these methods in the upcoming sections, so keep reading!


Downloading Mega files without Mega

If you’re looking for ways to bypass the limitations imposed by Mega and download files without using the Mega platform, you’re in luck. There are alternative methods available that can help you overcome these restrictions. Let’s explore these methods below:

Method 1: Using Mega downloader websites: There are several online services and websites that act as intermediaries, allowing you to download Mega files without using the Mega platform directly. These websites work by providing you with a unique download link that bypasses Mega’s limitations. You simply need to enter the Mega file link into the website, and it will generate a new link for you to download the file.

Method 2: Using browser extensions: Another way to download Mega files without Mega is by using browser extensions. There are extensions available for popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox that enable you to bypass download restrictions. These extensions work by intercepting the download requests and optimizing the download process, allowing you to download Mega files without encountering the usual limitations.

Method 3: Using third-party download managers: If you prefer a more comprehensive solution, you can use third-party download managers that support Mega downloads. These download managers come with advanced features such as multi-threaded downloading, resume capability, and accelerated download speeds. By utilizing a download manager, you can bypass Mega’s limitations and enjoy a smoother and faster downloading experience.

Method 4: Using command-line tools: For users comfortable with the command line interface, there are command-line tools available that enable you to download Mega files without using the Mega platform directly. These tools utilize the Mega API to fetch and download files from Mega. While this method requires some technical expertise, it provides a flexible and efficient way to bypass download restrictions.

By exploring these alternative methods, you can overcome the limitations imposed by Mega and download files without relying solely on the Mega platform. Choose the method that suits your needs and technical proficiency, and enjoy a more efficient and unrestricted downloading experience!


Method 1: Using Mega downloader websites

If you’re looking for a simple and convenient way to download Mega files without using the Mega platform directly, using Mega downloader websites is a great option. These websites act as intermediaries, allowing you to bypass Mega’s limitations and download files seamlessly. Here’s how you can use Mega downloader websites:

1. Find a reputable Mega downloader website: Start by finding a reliable Mega downloader website. There are several options available, so make sure to choose one that is trusted and has positive user reviews.

2. Copy the Mega file link: Once you’ve selected a Mega downloader website, go to the Mega platform and find the file you wish to download. Copy the file’s link or URL from the address bar of your browser.

3. Paste the link into the Mega downloader website: Go back to the Mega downloader website and paste the link you just copied into the provided field or box on the website’s homepage.

4. Generate a new download link: After pasting the link, the Mega downloader website will process it and generate a new download link for you. This new link bypasses Mega’s limitations and allows you to download the file without restrictions.

5. Download the file: Click on the generated download link or button provided by the Mega downloader website. This will initiate the download process, and you should be able to save the file to your device without any limitations or interruptions.

Using Mega downloader websites is a straightforward and user-friendly approach to download Mega files without hassle. However, keep in mind that these websites may have their own limitations or restrictions, so it’s essential to choose a reputable website that offers reliable services.

Remember to exercise caution when using any third-party websites, as they may pose potential security risks. Be vigilant and ensure that the website you choose is trustworthy and reputable. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to have up-to-date antivirus software for further protection.

Now that you know how to use Mega downloader websites, you can easily bypass Mega’s limitations and enjoy unrestricted file downloads. So, give it a try and experience a seamless and convenient downloading process!


Method 2: Using browser extensions

If you prefer a more integrated solution to download Mega files without going through the Mega platform directly, using browser extensions can be a great option. These extensions enhance your browsing experience by enabling you to bypass download restrictions and enjoy smoother and more efficient downloads. Here’s how you can use browser extensions to download Mega files:

1. Install a compatible browser extension: Start by checking if there are any browser extensions available for your preferred browser that support Mega downloads. Popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox often have a range of extensions to choose from. Visit the browser’s extension store or marketplace and search for “Mega downloader” or similar keywords to find relevant extensions.

2. Choose a reputable extension: Once you’ve found Mega downloader extensions, it’s important to choose one that is reputable and has positive user reviews. Look for extensions that have been regularly updated and well-maintained to ensure compatibility and reliability.

3. Install the extension: Click on the “Install” or “Add to browser” button to install the chosen Mega downloader extension. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation process. You may need to grant certain permissions for the extension to function correctly.

4. Access Mega file: Go to the Mega platform and find the file you want to download. Click on the file to initiate the download process as you normally would.

5. Use the extension: If the Mega downloader extension is properly installed and integrated with your browser, it should detect the Mega download and automatically optimize the process. The extension may override the download restrictions imposed by Mega, allowing for faster and uninterrupted downloading.

6. Enjoy unrestricted downloads: Once the extension is active and integrated, you should be able to download Mega files without encountering the usual limitations. The extension may provide additional features such as parallel downloading, resumable downloads, and improved download speeds, enhancing your overall downloading experience.

Browser extensions offer a user-friendly and seamless way to overcome the limitations imposed by Mega. However, it’s important to exercise caution when installing extensions and ensure that they come from trusted sources. Always review the permissions required by the extension and consider reading user reviews to assess its reliability and security.

With the right Mega downloader extension, you can enjoy convenient and unrestricted file downloads directly from your browser. Give it a try and experience enhanced downloading capabilities!


Method 3: Using third-party download managers

If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution to download Mega files without limitations, using third-party download managers is a great option. These download managers come with advanced features that can bypass Mega’s restrictions and provide a faster and more efficient downloading experience. Here’s how you can use third-party download managers to download Mega files:

1. Find a compatible download manager: Start by researching and finding a reputable third-party download manager that supports Mega downloads. There are several options available, both free and paid. Look for download managers that specifically mention Mega compatibility in their features or supported platforms.

2. Install the download manager: Download and install the chosen third-party download manager on your device. Follow the installation instructions provided by the download manager’s website or installer.

3. Configure the download manager: Open the download manager and navigate to the settings or preferences section. Look for options related to adding download sources or supported platforms. Configure the download manager to allow downloads from Mega by adding your Mega account credentials or specifying the Mega platform as a supported source.

4. Access Mega file: Go to the Mega platform and find the file you wish to download. Copy the file’s link or URL from the address bar of your browser.

5. Add the Mega link to the download manager: In the download manager, find the option to add a new download or add a new URL. Paste the copied Mega file link into the provided field and initiate the download process.

6. Enjoy accelerated downloads: The third-party download manager will optimize the downloading process and may utilize advanced techniques such as multi-threaded downloading and segmented downloading. These features can significantly enhance download speeds and ensure a smoother downloading experience.

7. Monitor and manage downloads: Use the download manager’s interface to monitor the progress of your downloads and manage them as needed. You may have the option to pause, resume, or prioritize downloads, giving you more control over your file transfers.

Using a third-party download manager provides a comprehensive solution for downloading Mega files without restrictions. These download managers often come with additional features such as download scheduling, download acceleration, and integration with popular browsers.

Keep in mind that some third-party download managers may have limitations themselves, such as restrictions on the number of simultaneous downloads or download sizes. It’s important to choose a download manager that suits your needs and meets the requirements of the files you wish to download.

By utilizing a third-party download manager, you can overcome the limitations imposed by Mega and enjoy unrestricted and efficient downloads. Give it a try and experience a seamless downloading process!


Method 4: Using command line tools

If you’re comfortable with the command line interface and prefer a flexible and efficient method to download Mega files without using the Mega platform directly, using command line tools is a viable option. These tools utilize the Mega API to fetch and download files from Mega, providing you with more control and customization options. Here’s how you can use command line tools to download Mega files:

1. Install a compatible command line tool: Start by finding a reliable command line tool that supports Mega downloads. There are several options available, such as `megatools` or `megals`, which can be installed on various operating systems.

2. Configure the command line tool: Once you’ve installed the command line tool, you’ll need to configure it by providing your Mega account credentials. This step usually involves entering your Mega username and password within the tool’s configuration options.

3. Access Mega file: Launch the command line tool and navigate to the desired directory where you want to save the Mega file. Use the tool’s commands to access the Mega platform and browse through your files to locate the specific file you wish to download.

4. Initiate the download: Use the appropriate command to initiate the download of the Mega file. This command typically requires the file’s unique identifier or URL as an argument, along with any additional options specific to the command line tool you’re using.

5. Monitor the download: Watch the progress of the download as it happens in the command line interface. Most command line tools provide real-time feedback on the download progress, displaying details such as download speed, file size, and estimated time remaining.

6. Customize and manage downloads: Command line tools often offer additional customization options, allowing you to tailor the download process to your preferences. For example, you may be able to specify the number of parallel connections, set bandwidth limits, or specify the output file name.

Using command line tools to download Mega files requires some technical proficiency and familiarity with the command line interface. However, it provides flexibility and control over the downloading process, allowing you to overcome restrictions and customize your downloads as needed.

Keep in mind that command line tools may have their own set of limitations or requirements. Make sure to review the documentation of the specific tool you plan to use to understand its capabilities and any potential constraints.

By utilizing command line tools, you can harness the power of the Mega API and download files directly from Mega without the limitations imposed by the Mega platform. Give it a try and experience a versatile and efficient method of downloading Mega files!


Conclusion

Downloading Mega files without using the Mega platform directly may seem like a challenge, given the restrictions and limitations imposed on free users. However, with alternative methods at your disposal, you can bypass these limitations and enjoy a seamless and unrestricted downloading experience.

In this article, we explored four methods to download Mega files without Mega: using Mega downloader websites, utilizing browser extensions, employing third-party download managers, and leveraging command line tools. Each method offers its own set of advantages and may cater to different user preferences and technical proficiencies.

Mega downloader websites act as intermediaries, providing you with a new download link that bypasses Mega’s limitations. Browser extensions enhance your browser’s capabilities, allowing you to download Mega files without restrictions directly from your browser. Third-party download managers offer comprehensive solutions with advanced features for faster and more efficient downloads. Command line tools provide a customizable and flexible approach for those comfortable with the command line interface.

When using these alternative methods, it’s important to exercise caution and choose reputable sources. Verify the credibility of Mega downloader websites and browser extensions, and ensure that third-party download managers and command line tools come from trusted developers or communities.

Remember to respect copyright laws and only download files that you have the rights to access or share. Additionally, keep your devices and software up to date with the latest security patches and antivirus protections to mitigate any potential security risks.

By exploring these alternative methods, you can overcome the limitations imposed by Mega and enjoy a smoother and more efficient downloading experience. Choose the method that suits your needs, technical proficiency, and comfort level, and embark on a journey of unrestricted file access and sharing.

So, go ahead and try out these methods to download Mega files without Mega, and enhance your file sharing capabilities today!
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Until next week,

- js.



















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