Major problems with ISP and downloading.

Apparently I am a glutton for bad things happing to me all at once. My internet got shut off along with my cable service (its all integrated together) this happened once before and it was actually something on my ISP end and a week later (today) it happens again, well I called and i be damned if I didn't get busted for downloading "illegal material" via file sharing programs (utorrent). I actually got off with a "slap on the wrist" (which is why I am able to post this now) but now I am wondering if I need to steer clear of torrents and utorrents from here on out, but am I safe to doing direct downloading?

I am actually even a bit concerned about downloading anything period basically so I don't get anyone else in trouble e.g. if my downloading is being tracked somehow and I download a game from here I get RomU in hot water. is that possible? I been doing stuff like this for well over 15 years and I've never gotten "caught" or questioned about it from any ISP.

Of course it was my stupidity for downloading what I did from a site I really haven't used before so I was asking for it in the first place but I don't know what to do, should I give it all up or am I just being paranoid and should just be more careful in the future?

Anyway I might have posted this in the wrong section but my actual question was would there be away to "hide" my IP so I don't get caught so easily. But if this doesn't fit feel free to move it to where it might belong or lock it. I feel that I am just ranting because I am still a bit disturbed with the events that happened. So pay me no mind If this read was a big waste of time I am just having a bad day

[EDIT] It keeps getting better I forgot to add that after this incident my ISP wanted a voice recorded statement from me that I have no "file sharing" programs installed on my computer and that I will not in the future install said programs to download illegal software,movies,mp3s ect to my computer and if I fail to abide to these terms my ISP will be permanently terminated and with current fees due which included early termination fees and the matter turned over to the court systems and yadda yadda yadda. I swear I think I am being watched but I think I will be ok just as long as I steer clear of torrents and downloading programs like Utorrent. Maybe.

 

Re: Major Delima with ISP and downloading.

Where do you put the ipfilter.dat file?

-and-

where to get it?

 

Re: Major Delima with ISP and downloading.

here's a cool program that does it for you.
http://isohunt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=746721#746721
just run it once a day.

 

Re: Major Delima with ISP and downloading.

Do you guys think I am save doing direct downloads like from Megaupload/Rapidshare or even from here? I think for now after all that BS that happened Yesterday[read original post] I am going to lay off torrents for a while in case I am being monitored.

 

Re: Major Delima with ISP and downloading.

Can they even tell what you're downloading from megaupload and rapidshare? I mean, if I rename an iso to "insanecrazy's super awesome file," do they actually see what the file is, or just what I renamed it to?

lay off for a little bit. I usually download one game, rest a week, download another, rest a week.
I throttle my connections too if that matters...

 

Re: Major Delima with ISP and downloading.

It's Dilemma.
You should also tell them to fuck off as all internet browsers are file sharing and that they're dumb fucks.