* [Blog](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog) * [Palo Alto Networks](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/corporate/) * [Firewall](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/firewall/) * P2P Networks: A Treasure ... # P2P Networks: A Treasure Trove of Data [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Forigin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F04%2Fp2p-networks-a-treasure-trove-of-data%2F) [](https://twitter.com/share?text=P2P+Networks%3A+A+Treasure+Trove+of+Data&url=https%3A%2F%2Forigin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F04%2Fp2p-networks-a-treasure-trove-of-data%2F) [](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Forigin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F04%2Fp2p-networks-a-treasure-trove-of-data%2F&title=P2P+Networks%3A+A+Treasure+Trove+of+Data&summary=&source=) [](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com//www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2008/04/p2p-networks-a-treasure-trove-of-data/&ts=markdown) \[\](mailto:?subject=P2P Networks: A Treasure Trove of Data) Link copied By [Matt Keil](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/author/matt/?ts=markdown "Posts by Matt Keil") Apr 15, 2008 2 minutes [Firewall](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/firewall/?ts=markdown) [file sharing](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/file-sharing/?ts=markdown) [p2p](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/p2p/?ts=markdown) ANALYSIS -- Music and video are not the only things you can find on P2P networks. Sure, everyone has heard about the massive loss of employee data caused by P2P usage but what about the less publicized loss of personal documents, billing information, and corporate IP? In this InformationWeek article, the author tests P2P networks for himself, searching the popular P2P networks for file types other than music and videos. The author was able to find personal information, court proceedings, billing data, social security numbers and intellectual property with seemingly relative ease. And it is the ease with which this information is found that should scare users into using extreme caution when installing P2P. As with any software, there is a possibility of configuration errors which may lead to accidental data loss. Don't think it can happen to you -- better double check just to be sure, because once the data is out there, it is never coming back. From a security perspective, P2P applications are notorious in their ability to bypass firewalls by hopping ports and tunneling other applications. And this is all the more reason why a corporate wide P2P usage policy banning or severely limiting its usage be put in place and enforced through best practices that combines technology, training and appropriate personal action notices. Click [here](http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206903417) to view the InformationWeek article. *** ** * ** *** ## Related Blogs ### [Cloud NGFW](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/cloud-ngfw/?ts=markdown), [Cloud Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cloud-security/?ts=markdown), [Firewall](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/firewall/?ts=markdown) [#### Modernizing Security on AWS: From Firewall Ops to Security Intent](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/modernizing-security-on-aws-from-firewall-ops-to-security-intent/) ### [Firewall](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/firewall/?ts=markdown), [Strata Network Security Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/strata-network-security-platform/?ts=markdown), [Zero Trust Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/zero-trust-security/?ts=markdown) [#### Powering the AI Enterprise with New Software Firewall Capabilities](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/powering-the-ai-enterprise-with-new-software-firewall-capabilities/) ### [AI Application Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/ai-application-security/?ts=markdown), [AI Governance](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/ai-governance/?ts=markdown), [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Firewall](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/firewall/?ts=markdown), [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/next-generation-firewalls/?ts=markdown), [Partners](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/partners/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown) [#### Palo Alto Networks Announces Support for NVIDIA Enterprise AI Factory](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2026/01/support-nvidia-enterprise-ai-factory/) ### [5G Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/5g-security/?ts=markdown), [Firewall](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/firewall/?ts=markdown), [IoT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/iot-security/?ts=markdown) [#### Protecting the Utility Grid's Digital Ecosystem, from Core to Edge to AI](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/protecting-the-utility-grid-digital-ecosystem-from-core-to-edge-to-ai/) ### [AI Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/ai-security/?ts=markdown), [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Endpoint](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/endpoint-2/?ts=markdown), [Event](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/event/?ts=markdown), [Firewall](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/firewall/?ts=markdown), [Non categorizzato](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/non-categorizzato/?ts=markdown) [#### See How We're Fortifying Cloud and AI at AWS re:Inforce 2025](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2025/06/fortifying-cloud-ai-aws-reinforce/) ### [AI Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/ai-security/?ts=markdown), [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Firewall](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/firewall/?ts=markdown), [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/next-generation-firewalls/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown) [#### Securing AI Agent Innovation with Prisma AIRS MCP Server](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2025/06/securing-ai-agent-innovation-prisma-airs-mcp-server/) ### Subscribe to the Blog! 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