5 ms·

Does this site really start downloading a 124MB torrent right after opening the page (sintel.torrent)? If so, why would that be a good idea to do?

• technoblue 11y ago
  It's a relatively small download (for desktop) and it demonstrates its simplicity.
  • CyberDildonics 11y ago
    It might be good to show a download of something like a 1MB video file that you could turn on. Tying a 120MB download to reading about what you are showing to people is ridiculous.
    • lazaroclapp 11y ago
      A 120MB video downloading and playing in real time as a torrent is a lot more impressive than a 1MB clip. A page showing a 120MB video that is not DDOSed by making it to the front page of Hacker News is even more impressive ;) This is also not different (on desktop) from visiting a Youtube channel page which has an auto-play "intro" video. I just hope this at least tries to detect device/connection type before starting on cellphone. Wonder if there is an HTTP 'connection-metered' header or something like that...
      • DanBC 11y ago
        I can turn off autoplay on YouTube. I know, when I visit youtube, that it's going to be bunch of video.
  • seba_dos1 11y ago
    I wouldn't be very happy if I opened it in the background tab on a metered connection (say, 3G).
  • thejosh 11y ago
    Except when it just blew through my data allowance for mobile..... Just have a demo page for this. Crazy
  • thegenius2000 11y ago
    120MB is no small deal when you're using a 50MB data bundle on a crappy Kenyan ISP, on your phone. There should definitely be a prompt, I just lost half my day's data (before I stopped it). Edit: changed "your" to "you're" ;)
    • dabeeeenster 11y ago
      WHAT? You mean you're not sat in a cafe in San Francisco?
      • rmc 11y ago
        Or a coworking open plan space?
      • user_0001 11y ago
        oh the horror, the horror!
• profmonocle 11y ago
  I really think WebRTC should require explicit permission from the user, same as the geolocation and push notification APIs. This tech has a lot of potential, but I don't like the idea that any site can add my browser to a P2P network without my knowledge.
  • iheartmemcache 11y ago
    This should be default behavior but in Firefox: URL box -> about:config <RET> Set _media.peerconnection.enabled_ to false.
    • ComodoHacker 11y ago
      Doesn't work for me with FX 42.0. While https://www.browserleaks.com/webrtc https://www.browserleaks.com/webrtc shows "disabled".
    • unicornporn 11y ago
      A handy extension for FF for enabling/disabling: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/happy-bonobo-disable-webrtc/ https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/happy-bonobo-disabl... EDIT: funny, even though I disabled WebRTC using it, the torrent from the site still automatically downloads...
  • lifthrasiir 11y ago
    More accurately, the browser should monitor the data usage in the current page (including iframes and possibly subsequent pages in that domain) and cut and request an explicit permission when it reaches a high water mark.
  • cysun 11y ago
    The major issue I see here is that someone can upload and make you share a copyrighted material. It could cost you lots of money. I wouldn't be surprised if it will be abused...
    • ethbro 11y ago
• vortico 11y ago
  I agree with you, but the average Medium blog post is around 3-8MB, so this isn't an unusual flaw.