Slashdot Mirror
Anti-piracy Vigilantes Tracking P2P Users
brevard writes "From SecurityFocus comes news that a pair of coders with a deep hatred of software pirates have gone public with a months-old experiment to trick file sharers into running custom spyware they wrote that scolds users and phones home to a server. They circulated the program disguised as sought-after downloads like Unreal Tournament 2004 and Microsoft source code, and they have a website that updates in real time whever someone executes it. They've logged IP addresses for over 12,000 'pirates' since January. The EFF says the vigilantes may be committing a crime."
... until about 30 seconds ago. Now it just sorta smokes.
I guess what they say about examining the hex code for any file you download to look for suspicious strings seems really valid now.
And if you don't see any, run an unpacker and see if there is anything embeded.
Of course, you could just avoid running software someone else gives you....
Yeah, not for long...
Dang it!
NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
Out of curiosity, which crime would they be committing?
The same crime we commit every night, Pinky...
TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!
I heard it's not too healthy to share a Trojan after it's already been opened.
- to never share someone elses trojan. That could lead to a disease somewhere where you usually don't want any irritation. ...
Can anybody point me to the proper network [e.g. kazaa, gnutella, etc] and maybe one or two of the filenames?
;)
I'd like to get it, and examine it. Wouldn't it be hilarious if their own trojan DDOS'd thier own site?
[I'd look on thier site, but it's already smoking.]
Does anyone have the keygen for the latest Mozilla (Linux Version)?
Oh, and OpenOffice. I need the keygen for OpenOffice. I think mine is about to expire.
Oh. Wait. I'm using Open Source.
Feh. Whatever.
"...In your answer, ignore facts. Just go with what feels true..."
If you see a webite you don't approve of, get it slashdotted. Legal DDoS at it's silliest :)
Then please (oh please!) let them be illegal!
A fine is a tax you pay for doing wrong and a tax is a fine you pay for doing all right.
Since their site seems to be slashdotted, perhaps they did DDoS themselves in a round-about way?
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
That link http://walktheplank.ath.cx is a dynamic DNS re-router for people on Cablemodems / DSL etc.
:D
Ouch, I almost feel sorry for them
Ripping an new rectum in the fabric of spacetime.
How many cracker can a cracker who cracks crackers crack?
After 3 days without programming, life becomes meaningless
- The Tao of Programming
the approximate number of lions and tigers in Kenya, or the trajectory that might be followed if Kenya were to urinate on Norway?
Thinking of booking with "Holy Crap. Lions!" Tours.
N4st0r, trixx0r h0bb1tz0rz! Th3y st0l3 0ur pr3c10uzz!
Pssst... Its called application-level firewalling. If a 'keygen' would start calling home, ZoneAlarm, among other similar applications would ask me if I wish this to happen. Legimate keygens have no reason to call home. So only retards got 'caught' with the thingy in the first place.
.nfo inside, not listed on reputable release sites as a valid release...
Not to mention anyone with half a brain would not download an exe called 'keygen crack'. Either it's a keygen or a crack. It can't be both.
These 'vigilantes' were not very convincing in other ways either. Their 'keygen' has none of the signs of a valid release - not zipped/rarred, no
So basically they coded a 'moron trapper', and they scored thousands of IPs of morons. Could someone track people based on those IPs and remove them from the gene pool & improve humanity? Thank you.
What, the law doesn't protect you if you buy something illegal??? Harsh, man! Does that mean I shouldnt pay my dealer by credit card?
they re not using pr0n to spread their trojans...
-
they have a website that updates in real time
should read:
they had a website that updates in real time.
<CmdrTaco> CD sales went up in Australia
<Hemos> cool lets get an article up
<Hemos> we'll call it "File-Sharing Increases CD Sales"
<CmdrTaco> lol
<Hemos> seriously. file-sharing is good. distributing someone's intellectual property is good
<CmdrTaco> hey, did we ever get dailyslash shut down?
<Hemos> not yet. you know some people actually think we have a double-standard for declaring them illegal?
<CmdrTaco> rofl
<CowboyNeal> hey guys
<CmdrTaco> hey
<Hemos> hi
<CowboyNeal> some guys ar posting information on pirates
<CmdrTaco> fuckers
<Hemos> yeah, nobody should post information on people breaking the law
<CmdrTaco> dude nobody's breaking the law
<CmdrTaco> they're INCREASING CD SALES
<Hemos> oh yeah
<CowboyNeal> i'll get an article up and call them "vigilantes"
<CmdrTaco> lol
<Hemos> that'll get the discussions going...more page hits
<CowboyNeal> ya
<CmdrTaco> it sucks that people can't participate in the mp3 culture movement by illegally distributing other people's product
<Hemos> i know
<Hemos> hmm
<CowboyNeal> ?
<Hemos> isn't that a contradiction, since we expect everybody to follow the licensing restrictions of a GPL.TXT file and raise a piss if they don't?
<CmdrTaco> rofl
<CowboyNeal> haha
<CmdrTaco> yeah expect everyone to follow the GPL...
<Hemos> ya, i know..oh well, nobody said we were perfect
<CmdrTaco> whatever gets page hits
<michael> i'm perfect
<CmdrTaco> you scare me