Most places offer ssl encryption with newsgroups etc these days and personally i wouoldnt touch a p2p link if you paid me, p2p is full of fake crap viruses and god knows whatever else no newsgroups are the thing to use.
Also on some newsgroups these days you can get vpn (virtual private networking) like giganews
Virtual private network - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Those hide your ip address and wahtever your downloading under huge encryption and would be classed as a must in the future.
"Your ISP can see what files you have downloaded but they would pretty much have to break any copyright rule themselves to see if the file is actually illegal.
My advice is don't believe any of the shit that is put out in front of you. With all the ISP's fighting for customers , you honestly believe that your ISP is going to terminate your service and lose your monthly payment yeah right aint going to happen."
Not true at all they can tell what you download and obviously from where with deep packet inspection software which ntl was using and maybe still is, and an isp has to by law if asked pass on any data you have or are downloading to the filth etc if a court order is gained.
Think you will find in the next months to years lots of people beliving what you have just written only to find a whooping great bill on your doorstep one day with a court date attacthed if you cant prove you did not download whatever..
vpn and ssl will keep you much safer.