For the Indian consumer, 720p emerged as the "Goldilocks" resolution. It offered high definition (HD) clarity that was a significant upgrade from the standard definition (480p) of cable TV and pirated VCDs, yet it was manageable in terms of file size. A 720p rip of a Bollywood film could fit comfortably on a standard USB drive or a dual-layer DVD, and it could be streamed or downloaded without consuming the exorbitant mobile data costs that were prevalent at the time.
Free file-sharing sites often bundle malicious software that can compromise personal data.