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Megaupload, one of the most popular file sharing site on the Internet, has been shut down over piracy concerns. The website is one of the largest file sharing site, with servers located in different parts of the world. The fact that the site has servers located in Virginia (United States), gives enough reasons for the Feds to take action. The website is currently offline. News of the mega site shut down has come as a shock to the online community. It is clear that the crack down is targeted at the operator, and not the end user. Police had to break into Kim Dotcom's multi-million mansion in order to catch and retain him. The mansion is protected by sophisticated equipment, which the police has to navigate through. Even then, there is a highly secure "safe room" within the mansion that the police had to get into in order to get Kim Dotcom. File sharing is nothing new in the online community. Perhaps it was the scope of operations that make Megaupload the target. Unlike other file sharing sites, which mostly target corporations, Megaupload was said to hire people to deliberately upload pirated content on to its servers. It has been estimated that pirated content on the website has cost the industry over 500 million dollars. Industry experts commented that the case has set a precedent and that others who are operating similar services may be fearful of the same happening to them. There are several other large service providers like Google that offer file sharing services. However, these applications are targeted at corporations, and files are meant to be shared internally. Megaupload is different in this aspect, as it allows users to share files with the general public. A user can rip a copyrighted movie from a DVD, then upload it to the site to be shared with millions of visitors from all over the world. With servers located in different parts of the world, this makes it difficult for others to track the type of files that are hosted on Megaupload's servers. Since it appears that is little or no policing by Megaupload's operators on pirated content, the website has become a favorite nest for users to upload and share such content. Many are shocked by the news because on the front, the website appears to be legitimate in every way. In several instances, it has even be endorsed by popular celebrities. Many are concerned if other similar services will eventually be shut down as well. The services provided by Megaupload came to an abrupt halt after the Feds took action and caught Kim Dotcom. A quick visit to the site revealed a simple banner with 3 logos of the US authorities. The move has affected all users of Megaupload, including those who use the site for back up purposes. Users will now have to source for alternative services to host and share their files.
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