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Mr. Robot 'Plugs' uTorrent and Pirate Release Groups (torrentfreak.com)

Posted by msmash on from the pirates-ftw dept.

From a TorrentFreak report: The latest episode of award-winning TV show Mr. Robot includes a nod to online pirates. The main character Elliot is shown pirating a movie using uTorrent, while his movie folder lists movies from various pirate groups including YIFY. The group in question appreciates the "bad ass" mention, while another group casts doubt on the hacker's choice of BitTorrent client.
As the screenshot shows, Elliot uses a recent version of the popular BitTorrent client uTorrent, showing a house ad for an upgrade to uTorrent Plus. In the "movies" folder, which is also shown, we can see various other movies complete with release group tags such as YIFY, PRiSTiNE, DiPSHiT, RARBG and CRiTERiON.

70 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. don't trust uTorrent by rocqua · · Score: 5, Informative

    I stopped using uTorrent when the upgrade bundelled rootkit-like adware.

    Sure, my fault for just clicking next and not un-checking that box, but when a wrong upgrade requires a complete wipe of windows, a product has lost my trust and support.

    1. Re:don't trust uTorrent by VanGarrett · · Score: 1

      Do you have a suggestion for a different client? I originally chose Torrent, because it was lightweight and unobtrusive, but those qualities have been lost over time, but I just don't use it often enough to be assed to go do the research on a new client, myself.

      --
      Learning about brewing beer, by brewing beer.
    2. Re:don't trust uTorrent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      qBittorrent?

    3. Re:don't trust uTorrent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      qBittorrent, open source, lightweight, and unobtrusive.

    4. Re: don't trust uTorrent by ezfranca · · Score: 4, Informative

      Deluge. The best one right now. Clean, lots of features, plug-ins and the client server mod works wonderfully.

    5. Re:don't trust uTorrent by fisted · · Score: 2

      rtorrent

      --
      CLI paste? paste.pr0.tips!
    6. Re:don't trust uTorrent by Mister+Transistor · · Score: 2

      I still use it for your stated reasons - just use an older, more trustworthy version (before BitTorrent got bought out). I use version 2.2 from 2010, and it works great, no rootkit, no ads.

      --
      -- You are in a maze of little, twisty passages, all different... --
    7. Re:don't trust uTorrent by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 4, Informative

      transmission on linux works well.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    8. Re:don't trust uTorrent by Pax681 · · Score: 4, Informative

      qBittorrent?

      THIS.. the nice interface of utorrent without all the adware crap!

    9. Re:don't trust uTorrent by bspus · · Score: 2

      Tixati, preferably the portable edition
      Cross platform too, the real deal not like utorrent.
      Includes a very good web server and interface. I have mine visible on the internet so I can add torrents from anywhere, anytime

    10. Re: don't trust uTorrent by Z00L00K · · Score: 2

      Deluge.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
    11. Re: don't trust uTorrent by amiga3D · · Score: 2

      I like Deluge on Windows and Mac but Transmission on my Linux box.

    12. Re:don't trust uTorrent by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      Usually upgrades provide bug fixes and nice new features and performance improvements. Once a project like uTorrent goes off the rails it's time to move on to an alternative.

    13. Re: don't trust uTorrent by GameboyRMH · · Score: 3, Informative

      +1, Deluge is the best for Serious Business torrenting.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    14. Re:don't trust uTorrent by GameboyRMH · · Score: 2

      I'm using an old version too because...legacy software problems.

      Many years ago, uTorrent was the best torrent client available by far, especially for Windows. I was using it back then and I'm still using it because getting off of it is hard, especially when you have a torrent collection which by RIAA/MPAA math should've single-handedly destroyed the world's economy. I've made two big migration attempts to Deluge but the first time I ran into a deal-breaking bug in Deluge and the second time I screwed it up (uTorrent is running in WINE which complicates things). Hopefully the third time will be the charm.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    15. Re:don't trust uTorrent by ArchieBunker · · Score: 2

      Why did you upgrade? Just find an old version like 2.2.1.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    16. Re: don't trust uTorrent by kamapuaa · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Serious Business Torrenting" - I'll file that one next to "Jumbo Shrimp" and "Family Vacation."

      --
      Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
    17. Re: don't trust uTorrent by Yvan256 · · Score: 2

      The best family vacation available is to rent a place for yourself for a month in another country.

    18. Re:don't trust uTorrent by louden+obscure · · Score: 2

      rtorrent and screen.

      --
      Serenity now, insanity later.
    19. Re:don't trust uTorrent by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 3, Informative

      Mac user here. second Transmission

    20. Re:don't trust uTorrent by kuzb · · Score: 2

      "but when a wrong upgrade requires a complete wipe of windows"

      Why the fuck is this "informative" - it's best buy tech support levels of stupid.

      --
      BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
    21. Re:don't trust uTorrent by goose-incarnated · · Score: 2

      Do you have a suggestion for a different client? I originally chose Torrent, because it was lightweight and unobtrusive, but those qualities have been lost over time, but I just don't use it often enough to be assed to go do the research on a new client, myself.

      I have a VPS that runs the transmission daemon with a web interface. Once stuff is downloaded there (a few minutes for a movie) I use a firefox download manager plugin to fully saturate my internet connection downloading to my home.

      This allows me to us the cheapest internet plan which has a poorly performing and highly contended link - because the data is being downloaded on port 80, I attract no attention from my ISP, and because it's downloading in chunks a single timeout does not render the rest of the file useless. I just re-download that chunk.

      It does mean that I have to plan in advance, though. If I want to see something tomorrow night I have to ensure that I start downloading before I go to bed. It's not too bad, though - in this way I normally download around 25G per month on an internet plan that costs the equivalent of $10/m (+ $5 for the VPS).

      --
      I'm a minority race. Save your vitriol for white people.
    22. Re:don't trust uTorrent by kosmosik · · Score: 2

      > Do you have a suggestion for a different client?

      Transmission-daemon running on server and any client utilizing transmission API (like Transmission Remote GUI on Windows).

    23. Re: don't trust uTorrent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Unless you use https, your ISP will see the filename.

      But they usually don't care, only if they receive copyright complaints against you.

    24. Re: don't trust uTorrent by Falos · · Score: 1

      Some STILL won't care. Their business with you is a cozy exchange of cash and connectivity, easy money for little effort in most areas. They're more worried about that than lip service requisite to tell courts "Fuck off, we just sell connectivity."

      Shit, even the harassment agency might not care. The ISP says "Yes, letter sent, shoo." and the HA gets to put a Confirmed tick mark on the metrics their broker can wave around.

      Then they can tell the fleeced studio "We protected you from $800,000 in potential damages, so our contract is a big win for you! Sign here for another year!" and, of course, spin the same noise to prospective clients.

    25. Re:don't trust uTorrent by youngone · · Score: 1

      I second (or third) qBittorrent.

    26. Re:don't trust uTorrent by mobby_6kl · · Score: 1

      It's like 16 megabytes, this is around 150 of the (older) utorrents.

    27. Re:don't trust uTorrent by mt2mb4me · · Score: 1

      I use deluge, GNU opensource, It is a little clunky, but it is the clunkyness that comes from not having a focus group involved. It works great.

    28. Re:don't trust uTorrent by omnichad · · Score: 1

      If you're on Linux, just use Transmission. It has the better web interface if accessing remotely or from another device.

    29. Re:don't trust uTorrent by omnichad · · Score: 1

      Best Buy tech support would at least try System Restore - and succeed.

    30. Re:don't trust uTorrent by dywolf · · Score: 1

      I second (or third) qBittorrent.

      All in favor say aye

      --
      The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
    31. Re: don't trust uTorrent by WallyL · · Score: 1

      Downloading different linux distros? I do that for business.

    32. Re:don't trust uTorrent by tezbobobo · · Score: 1

      aye

    33. Re:don't trust uTorrent by K10W · · Score: 1

      Do you have a suggestion for a different client? I originally chose Torrent, because it was lightweight and unobtrusive, but those qualities have been lost over time, but I just don't use it often enough to be assed to go do the research on a new client, myself.

      most I know switched to likes of deluge and is what I use on my linux box but I've been using tixati on my windows box for some time now and much prefer it in many ways.

    34. Re: don't trust uTorrent by jbrizz · · Score: 1

      Anything libtorrent based (like qbtorrent) is likely to bottleneck on your CPU if you have an older CPU and a fast connection. Transmission is much faster.

    35. Re:don't trust uTorrent by jomcty · · Score: 1

      Transmission

  2. wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's no MYTH that Mr. Robot is showing some CLASS around here.

  3. Episode title names by porges · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Considering that all of the episode titles are designed to look like filenames of torrents of themselves, this is hardly surprising.

    1. Re: Episode title names by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Series one was all movie file names. Mkv etc. Season 2 it's all encryption file formats.

  4. What OS? by Megane · · Score: 1, Funny

    Is that some Year of Linux on the Desktop going on?

    --
    #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
  5. Wait a minute! by fsagx · · Score: 3, Funny

    The first rule of Mr. Robot is: You do not talk about Mr. Robot.

    1. Re:Wait a minute! by OzPeter · · Score: 2

      The first rule of Mr. Robot is: You do not talk about Mr. Robot.

      Then what the hell are you doing with that post?

      --
      I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
    2. Re:Wait a minute! by brantondaveperson · · Score: 1

      And then, in case you really didn't get it, they play "Where is my mind" slowly on a piano on the second-to-last episode.

  6. Re: utorrent ? seriously? by Z00L00K · · Score: 1

    I prefer Deluge. But uTorrent is dangerous for the health of your computer since it carries malware. Even programs you build can get contaminated.

    --
    If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
  7. Why aren't they getting sued? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Seriously, representing movie piracy and showing it to the world like that, that's got to be some type of terrible offence for the big movie studio right?
    Oh I forgot, they can do whatever they want, it's only the little guy who download a single terrible movie that should get sued for millions in damages.

    1. Re:Why aren't they getting sued? by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

      Corporations might act like monolithic entities much of the time, but they are still composed of many individuals. Sometimes those individuals don't talk to each other. It's quite possible the people responsible for this scene are getting hauled up before the boss right now for a lecture of the importance of using only fictional brands without proper authorisation, followed by a lecture on why, though criminal characters are fine, their crimes should not be presented in a manner which be considered instructional.

    2. Re:Why aren't they getting sued? by fsagx · · Score: 1

      It plays right into the narrative. The torrent user is a dangerous criminal.

    3. Re: Why aren't they getting sued? by reanjr · · Score: 1

      Pretty sure USA is expecting and half encouraging you to pirate Mr Robot. It's a caché thing for them. Back in the day, networks neede a high quality evening news show to be relevant, even if the shows lost money. Nowadays, cable networks need a high quality, critically acclaimed show to be relevant, even if it means losing some money. Longt term, they don't want to be relegated to the garbage pile after a la carte becomes the norm.

    4. Re:Why aren't they getting sued? by jrumney · · Score: 1

      At least it makes me feel less guilty about my method of watching the series.

    5. Re:Why aren't they getting sued? by jrumney · · Score: 2

      Speak for yourself. I'm only half a dangerous criminal, and only when I'm not taking my meds.

    6. Re:Why aren't they getting sued? by Mouldy · · Score: 2

      The pirate release groups should sue! I doubt the people behind Mr Robot asked CRiTERiON for permission to use their brand name.

  8. when the show will start? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    it's cool the torrent reference, but when the show will get some speed?, the first four episodes have been.... underwhelming.

    1. Re:when the show will start? by NotAPK · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Absolutely agree.

      Don't want to ruin it (and I'm probably wrong anyway, speculation isn't a spoiler) but I think everything Elliot is doing right now is inside a fantasy world. Just like in the first season I think there's going to be some big reveal soon that will "blow our minds"(TM) but unfortunately I'm expecting it to be too little too late: they need to do something now!!

  9. init 1 by mejustme · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The better part of that episode is when Darlene is trying to get Elliot's attention. He's trying to brush her off, saying he's busy, and she stops him dead in his tracks by saying "init 1".

    Single user mode! E.g., "pay attention to me".

    I loved it! Had to rewind it to listen to her deliver that line again to make sure I heard correctly. The show is amazing that way.

    1. Re:init 1 by jmccue · · Score: 1

      init is not deprecated not in the system I am using now (BSD)

    2. Re:init 1 by theskipper · · Score: 5, Funny

      My wife was trying to get my attention last night and finally yelled "SystemD!!" in desperation. I immediately turned and instinctively shouted "you're a useless hipster pos!!".

      I ended up sleeping on the couch and she's seeing a divorce attorney tomorrow morning.

      Goes without saying but the moral of the story is to stick with init and stay far, far away from systemd.

  10. I also like the date by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Oct 31 being an in joke for nerds :)

    1. Re:I also like the date by umghhh · · Score: 1

      Inded - Pope Pope Clement XIV was born on that day.

  11. I'm dissapointed... by Greger47 · · Score: 1

    I expected Elliot to be elite enough to be part of the top site scene, grabbing his warez of choice through chained ftp-bouncers. All while enjoying free leech thanks to services rendered like writing up a couple of SecuROM and C-Dilla unpackers on the side of his regular network intrusion schtick.

    The thought of him crawling in the BitTorrent muck with us regular plebs just makes me sad. :(

    /greger

    1. Re:I'm dissapointed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I had a similar reaction. He'd be more likely to backdoor into a topsite, grab what he wants, and if thought the admins were a bit overzealous in collecting their fees (some topsites are quite affordable and run by cool down to earth people people, and some are run by elitist clowns who grossly overestimate their importance to the world) he'd start dropping bombs.

      The whole uTorrent thing was laughable as well. The least the writers could have done was made it 2.2.1 which is the only version that anybody with a clue would even consider using.

    2. Re:I'm dissapointed... by guyniraxn · · Score: 1

      Eh, doesn't that require a higher level of commitment than Elliot should care to partake in just for media?

  12. May we now pirate torrent episodes of Mr. Robot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Will the producers be "tolerant" and wink, or can we expect to be embroiled in a byzantine plot of pursuit and persecution like in the show?

  13. Re: utorrent ? seriously? by Paul+Carver · · Score: 1

    I don't use bit torrent, but if I did I certainly wouldn't run it on a computer that I used for anything else. When you say

    health of your computer

    I assume you're using the singular because you only run bit torrent on one computer, not because you only have one computer. If you don't have an old machine to wipe and dedicate to bit torrent then at least run it in a dedicated VM or a Raspberry Pi. Please tell me people aren't running bit torrent on computers that they use for anything of importance.

  14. Re:torrents are lame by wisnoskij · · Score: 1

    Which are fine for the new releases.
    But what if you want a movie from over a month ago? Or god forbid something really unique like Leprechaun in the Hood (2000).

    --
    Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.
  15. Re: Facts wrong by reanjr · · Score: 1

    But are Darlene and Elliot different people?

    Think about it...

  16. Kali desktop by duanco · · Score: 1

    I liked seeing the backtrack...err...kali distro desktop when they found Leslie dead in the back yard, ok so has nothing to do with topic but hey.

  17. Re:utorrent ? seriously? by antdude · · Score: 1

    No kidding especially when he used old school BitchX in this season! Text mode FTW!

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  18. An official forum thread... by antdude · · Score: 1

    https://forum.utorrent.com/top... ;)

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  19. Maybe Elliot hacked uTorrent and had their source by garompeta · · Score: 2
    I am really baffled by the consultant suggesting uTorrent for such an elite character.
    Really, what is the chance of an elite super paranoid libertarian anonymous hacker to be using Evil closed sourced rootkit ridden software?
    I would understand seeing that scene from Angela's screen, but Elliot? Really?

    A simple rule of thumb for screenwriters: ELLIOT USES ONLY OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE. PERIOD.

    The only twist that would salvage this mess is if Elliot hacked uTorrent, got their source code and compiled his own version.

  20. Re:Maybe Elliot hacked uTorrent and had their sour by K10W · · Score: 1

    I am really baffled by the consultant suggesting uTorrent for such an elite character. Really, what is the chance of an elite super paranoid libertarian anonymous hacker to be using Evil closed sourced rootkit ridden software? I would understand seeing that scene from Angela's screen, but Elliot? Really?

    A simple rule of thumb for screenwriters: ELLIOT USES ONLY OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE. PERIOD.

    The only twist that would salvage this mess is if Elliot hacked uTorrent, got their source code and compiled his own version.

    I suspect the choice of client was from one of the other none techie writers who chose it because of the popularity so it was what they are familiar with. Doubt the tech consultant (who has been upgraded to writer now I heard) would if their history is true (industry consultant including for fbi) and because of how accurate in general the rest is; save for the gnome better than kde comment, tried using gnome and forks so many times since '98ish and I can't see why people love it so much, but admittedly it isn't technical thing but preference thing just got me the way it was stated like fact when I don't know any friends or family who prefer gnome and forks over alternatives.