Peer-to-peer (P2P) network file sharing can be a great way to access other people's music and games, but anytime you decide to share files, you need to be careful. Once you download the P2P software, it can be tough to know just how many people are connected to your network. And in the course of downloading other people's files, you put yourself at risk for identity theft, downloading illegal files or accidentally installing malware that could leave your computer in need of virus removal.

Here are some ways to share files safely:

• Be careful when installing P2P. You'll need to be thorough. Go through all of the settings of the program, because if you don't, you could leave personal files open as "shared," making you very susceptible to identity theft.

Close the program as soon as you've finished downloading the files, and don't keep your computer in a shared network any longer than necessary. Clicking the "X" on the P2P program's menu won't always disconnect you from the file sharing network, so you must log out by clicking on "File" to quit the program properly. Make sure that the program doesn't automatically connect every time you turn your computer on, either. If it does, you'll need to adjust the settings.

Make sure your computer's antivirus and anti-spyware is up-to-date. That way, you can scan all of your downloaded files before opening them to check for any suspicious malware that may be embedded in the file. If the scan shows anything out of the ordinary, delete the file immediately.

If you think you may have downloaded a virus or another type of malware from file sharing, run a scan with your antivirus software. If anything suspicious turns up, you might want to contact your local Maryland virus removal center, as well. 

Be careful when installing P2P. You’ll need to be thorough. Go through all of the settings of the program, because if you don’t, you could leave personal files open as “shared,” making you very susceptible to identity theft. Fortunately, there are companies like LifeLock who offer identity protection, so if your personal files get stolen, you can be protected.