What is bandwidth, and why not to steal it.

Bandwidth, in simplified terms, is the number of hits to a website. For some places like Yahoo! Webrings there is no way to not be stealing their bandwidth they have done this. However, for most individuals, especially those who pay for their website, and for most companies bandwith is costing them money. The more they 'use' the more it costs.

Many people these days are embarking onto the internet for the first time. Every day, a 'newbie', enters the cyber world and they can't be expected to know everything immediatley, but there are some things you need to know, hopefully, before you make the mistake of stealing bandwidth.

When you visit a website and find an image or soundfile, or anything else you like and intend to use do the following. Download them (how-to), then FTP or upload them to your own website. You should never, for any reason, link directly to the contents found on someone elses server for the purpose of display on your site. You should however consider a link to their 'page' so that others may see where you got your stuff.

If you make any direct link to someone elses ISP, and they are paying for visitors to their own site they may also have to pay for visitors to your site. When a web browser has to go to other sites to display a pages images it will slow  down the load time.

You should be aware that you will most likely annoy or even anger the person you have stolen the bandwidth from. You should know that many web creators change the names of all their graphics on a regular basis to stop this kind of theft. So, in the end, you will not end up with the graphic you wanted, in fact you could end up with a graphic that says you were stealing bandwidth, such as one I use.

Don't be fooled into believing that you will not get caught, you most likely will. And when you do your ISP will most likely be notified about your actions. What action they take is up to them, but, I assure you that bandwidth theft is not looked upon kindly. Please, save yourself the grief and punishements; be a good net-citizen, and don't steal bandwidth.

Make your own deterant images:

I have some themes I use for images such as the one above. If you're looking to create some of the images like the one above there are some basic things to know.

1. Make your graphic the same size demension-wise as the graphi it will replace. This helps it to display well even if they've set width and height.
2. Make it stand out. A bold statement to grab the attention of the visitor to that page.
3. Make it a proud declaration. After all, if they aren't afraid to steal they shouldn't be afraid that everyone who visits their page knows it.
4. Humiliate the person stealing bandwidth and help combat the problem by showing the thief you aren't afraid to make them look bad.
5. Image logos I have used..
• Proud to be a bandwidth thief!
• Join me! Steal bandwidth
• I'm a bandwidth thief
• Proud member of Bandwidth Thieves Union, Local #197
  -- in this case any number will do, you usually need just 3 or 4.
• I steal bandwidth!
• I am stealing bandwidth
• Bandwidth stolen from: (insert your page here)

How to Download:

1. Image
1. The image displays on the page, put your mouse pointer over the image and right click
2. You should get a pull down menu. You will choose 'save' or 'save as'.
2. Image, Background or Sound
1. You will want to view the page information. This is generally located under 'View' from the top of your browser.
2. choose the image or sound you want and then right click on it and choose 'save' or 'save as'.

Created by Sunsleaf 01/15/01
Updated on 09/15/01