Is it safe to use Popcorn Time?

[Xpdin]

Hi,

I am a new Linux user.

Tell me please could it be any issues for the stability and the safety of the system to download and install Popcorn Time from here (https://popcorntime.io/) ?

Thank you.

[vasa1]

Depends on your definition of safety.

As people have asked before, did you check the 'net for what is being written on the subject?

In your question over here "Is it safe to use Popcorn Time? (http://askubuntu.com/questions/647262/is-it-safe-to-use-popcorn-time)", one answer has tried to cover some of the consequences.

[Christopher_Walker]

No, it does not seem so. So long as you don't run it under root privileges it is unlikely it would cause any problems. Ubuntu's repositories, while they do provide a rather complete set of software, obviously can not package everything there is. Not all third party software makes it into the repos. It should be safe to use. Just exercise due caution, and if you have any problems, kill the process in system monitor.
EDIT: It should, however, be mentioned that this software does appear to download torrents, as well as *SEED* them. I would suggest reading about the use of torrents, and the legality of downloading copyrighted movies in your country. While this will *not* effect the stability of your system, it could potentially lead to unwanted legal problems. This is a risk which only you can decide whether is worth taking.

[Xpdin]

Depends on your definition of safety.


I am not very sure about this, but maybe it could be possible for example the developers or any other peoples which could "break" this software to access my system, or my network?


No, it does not seem so. So long as you don't run it under root privileges it is unlikely it would cause any problems.

Tell me please Chrisopher_Walker as long as when Linux starts with the normal user and ask for my password, which is the same as the root password, that's mean that I use the system as a simple user. And if I don't install if from the terminal, without logging as a root, it should not be any problem? I will try to use it only accessing the executable file "Popcorn-Time" after unpacking Popcorn-Time-0.3.8-0-Linux-32.tar.xz.

It should be safe this way for my system?

Thank you.

[monkeybrain20122]

Get it from a ppa. https://launchpad.net/~webupd8team/+archive/ubuntu/popcorntime But it is basically a script to download from your link, saves you the troubles for manual updating. On the other hand instead of downloading a .deb you can just get a tarball from your link, which would not install in your root file system (click binary to play) That maybe "safer" (but see below)

It is open source with many eyes on it,--this is definitely true because it is very active with many forks, though some forks for Windows only with additional 'secret sauce' may be dubious-- so it is safer than flash and a whole bunch of other things you may use IMO. But if you are paranoid then don't use it, there is no 100% assurance in life. Also, in some jurisdictions it may be illegal (or as legal as downloading movies from torrents, as it is actually a torrent client), so if you are worried that the secret police may drag you away screaming and kicking again don't use it. I think that covers all grounds. :)

[Xpdin]

It means it's against the forum rules to talk about it?

[monkeybrain20122]

It means it's against the forum rules to talk about it?

Well probably but we did already. ;) There is no more to add to the topic anyway.

[Bucky Ball]

It means it's against the forum rules to talk about it?

It means you should be aware of this, from the forum Code of Conduct:


Material that suggests illegal activity or contains illegal content is also forbidden. We do not support circumventing TOS, EULA, etc here. Such threads will be closed and offending users will be penalised with infractions and warnings.

So far, you haven't mentioned what you're downloading, but as Popcorn Time is used specifically to download movie torrents, and as you've had ample answers to your original query, both here and on askubuntu, there is nothing more to add, so I think we can close this thread.

Thread closed.