SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - February 4, 2009) - Viewers who tuned in to CNN's Internet coverage of the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama may not have realized they were helping CNN distribute video to other viewers' PCs, according to a story in today's Windows Secrets Newsletter. Editorial director Brian Livingston says first-time viewers of CNN's online live videos are prompted to download peer-to-peer (P2P) software that may subject users to increased ISP charges.

"The software CNN installed on viewer PCs isn't really necessary to view the content and people aren't adequately notified of what they're downloading," says Livingston. "Using peer-to-peer applications to stream video may become a common practice, but the way a major network like CNN is using it should raise concerns from viewers and Internet service providers alike."

The P2P application used by CNN is Octoshape Grid Delivery and is managed by Octoshape ApS located in Copenhagen, Denmark. Octoshape has been previously used in Europe to stream live feeds of events including the Eurovision Song Contest and the UEFA Cup. Windows Secrets cites Mike Wise, group technical advisor for platform R&D at Turner Broadcasting Systems, CNN's parent company, as affirming that the presidential inauguration marked the first time Octoshape was used in the U.S. on such a large scale. "We're their first big United States customer, at least that I know of," Wise is quoted as saying.

The full text of the article as well as instructions for removing the Octoshape application can be found at http://WindowsSecrets.com/2009/02/05/ts.

Seattle-based WindowsSecrets.com publishes a free, weekly e-mail newsletter with over 400,000 subscribers. A longer, paid version is available for a contribution determined by the subscriber. Published since 2003, the newsletter reveals tips and tricks to get the most out of Microsoft Windows. Employing six full-time staff members, WindowsSecrets.com publishes the work of several contributing editors, including Fred Langa, Woody Leonhard, Ryan Russell, and Susan Bradley. For more information, visit www.WindowsSecrets.com.