Why block P2P software in the first place?
Our Computer & Network Use policy states that acceptable use “shows restraint in the consumption of shared resources.” P2P software is a major drain on campus technology resources. Left unchecked, P2P applications can and will consume all available campus network bandwidth. In fact, this happened at OHIO many years ago when the original Napster and Scour applications burst on the scene. Until controls were put in place, individuals couldn’t even check their e-mail reliably from campus because of the high traffic. P2P software also generates a disproportionate amount of work for the university’s Service Desk and IT Security staff, both through the side effects of spyware-laden clients and through the effort needed to respond to DMCA complaints filed against OHIO students by the entertainment industry.
