Members Of Secretive Group Indicted In Piracy Plot

[Spotted Horse]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/ptech/02/01/r...reut/index.html

CHICAGO, Illinois (Reuters) -- A group of cyber-pirates stole copyrighted software, games and movies in what law enforcement authorities on Wednesday termed a "massive" theft for their own pleasure, not profit.

The indictments were announced by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in Chicago against 19 members of the underground piracy group known as "RISCISO," led by Sean O'Toole, 26, of Perth, Australia.

Another member of the group implicated in the FBI's investigation, dubbed "Operation Jolly Roger," was Linda Waldron, 57, of Barbados. Extradition will be sought for both.

As many as 60 members of the group, many of whom work in the computer field and live across the United States, tapped into their tightly controlled computer servers loaded with stolen merchandise that would fill 23,000 compact discs and was valued at $6.5 million, prosecutors said. Initially, the stolen software was sent to servers set up overseas.

Edited February 1, 2006 by Spotted Horse

[zer0buRn]

holy smokes. seems as though a lot of busts has went down this year already...

[Teddy Rogers]

23,000 CD's! That is a lot of pleasure if its not for profit but what can you expect of a courier group. I think this comment sums it up, "These were copyright violations on a massive scale"...

Ted.

[cektop]

As long as it's just server busts we're fine. That's not a nice was to "share" anyway. Tho, those BitTorrent leeces are starting to **** me off too. I currently have ratio 30 on 2 GB file, and I cant shut it down coz theres only 2 seeds.

[Teddy Rogers]

You also have to take in consideration that they got busted by an informant working for the FBI who was the owner of one of the servers they were running. All their members were logging on and IP's were being tracked and logged for months.

What also didn't help them was the fact that they were also cracking view once preview movies so the people who provided them with the previews got taken down. Sounds to me from what I've read and heard they were specially targeted by the FBI...

Ted.

[Gunslinger]

yeah i think your right ted, plus the subject touched on earlier .... that is an awfull lot of software for personal use so to speak ... no profit .... yeah sure ! thats why they were targeted i am sure, its the ones that do this on such a massive scale as this that have the greatest affect on the profits, so it will be them that they want removed.... so i'm sorry, but i dont beleive that no profit thing at all

[Sigma]

Does this make you guys worry at all?

[cektop]

Why would it? There are many better, easier, and honest way to earn money if you have good knowledge of reverse engeneering, and programming. Our members are not selling warez (as far as I know). I have no such worries.

[CUDiLLA]

To do reverse engineering and then sell the stuff whereever else and earn money with it isn't the motivation from the ppl they do this! They do it just for fun, or to test her skills! btw that was my motivation to start learning the basics of cracking!

I think SnD-Team members haven't other motivations to do this, I am right?

Greetz, CUDiLLA!

[Teddy Rogers]

Lets put it this way; for me personnally I've put a lot of time, money and effort in to SnD and I have asked for nothing out of it other than satisfaction and this goes for many others in the team. SnD was setup to be a fun and friendly team only...

Ted.

[Sigma]

Cracking is illegal is it not? Or just in the US?

Ya, I know groups selling for money are the ones going to get hit. That much is obvious

[cektop]

Well, it depends. I dont know for all countries. I know that in some countries it's allowed to modify whatever is on your computer, but if it's copyrighted, you cant distribute the modification. Like you can make backup copies of CDs you legaly own.

[Sigma]

So writing a patcher is legal then?

[Teddy Rogers]

It is probably out-dated now because I recall it being updated or amended to a couple of years ago but some of it should still be relevant. Of course this information depends where in the world you live and if your own countries laws even care about this matter:

http://207.218.156.34/fravia/legal.htm

Ted.

[kryho]

Why would it? There are many better, easier, and honest way to earn money if you have good knowledge of reverse engeneering, and programming. Our members are not selling warez (as far as I know). I have no such worries.

if there is so many torrents so it gives no profit i think

but i know some people who crack dongle for money

[Guest sLayer]

its legal in some countries like Russia

[cektop]

I didn't mean to crack for money. There is a huge difference between reverse engeneering and cracking. I don't know why we even use that term.

You can do code protection, data type format recovery, code speed optimisation etc...

And about torrents, you would be suprised if you saw how many people don't know how to use it.

[Blah]

spring time is usually the time for busts...thee must be a reason for that...

i read elsewhere about the leader of razor1911 was out of jail and trying to get his life back to normal..he couldnt even get hired for a job..pretty sad stuff for those sceners when they get caught..

torrents are cool and all of that but the one thing i dont understand is with these logs they have..why do they do that..??(i think all torrent sites have logs)....

im waiting for some guy to make torrent leaching invisible or a way to make up a differant ips...