How do the RIAA catch people?

[nerouk]

hey there, i read on teletext the other day and it said about the RIAA going to catch about 500 file sharers or something and you read about a small minority of people getting caught and having to pay a massive fine or something and i was just wondering how they actually catch you because i no that if i ever got caught i would be incredibly gutted. i mean the only way they can find out is either by chance of searching your computer which they wudn't be able to do anyway, and the only way to trace your location would be your IP right? but how do they get a hold of it and how do they know if your file sharing etc. i'm not exactly an expert when it comes to networks and stuff. also suppose it was to do with them finding you via your IP, is there a way or a program to disguise your real IP with a fake one?

cheers. mark.
mark-harrington.tk

[shawners]

well they put a string around a mp3 that they happen to cleverly put on the floor.. ANd the unsuspecting file downloader sees it.. They walk up to it in a casual way, usually hooded.. And steal the mp3.. Running like a scared convict, they usually get shot in the butt with a buffalo riffle.. almost killing them instantly. And the mess is cleaned up before another unsuspecting file sharer comes along.

[Omyn]

Each ISP has a certain range of IP addresses, if your ip falls into one of them, all they have to do is find out who has registered that range of IP addresses, they contact the ISP for further information on you.

Everything you do on the internet uses your ip address, nothing is anonymous.

If your too scared to share, dont be a leecher.

[Malicious Intent]

You can see this FAQ from Tech TV. http://www.techtv.com/news/culture/jump/0,24196,3597645,00.html
I've never heard an American talk about teletext or use the word "gutted". If you are in the UK (or anywhere but America and perhaps Canada)you are worried about nothing.

[Malicious Intent]

OK - I just went to your website and you have a lot to learn. Firstly KMD is a nasty piece of work. Get yourself k-lite that doesn't spy on your surfing habits and doesn't keep throwing adverts at you:
http://www.zeropaid.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=16805 (read the first post and then skip to page 11).
Secondly look at this thread:
http://www.zeropaid.com/bbs/showthread.php?p=186770#post186770
Pay particular attention to the ad-ware and spy-ware bit as you need to tidy up the mess that KMD has made.
Hang around the site and watch the news stories.

[RJ5500]

Well, KMD isn't that bad.

Though K-Lite is far superior.

[killswitch1968]

1. RIAA installs and connects to whatever p2p client is hot these days.
2. RIAA makes a search for a popular (which means shitty) song off one of their labels.
3. RIAA downloads from several of the sources that come up.
4. After the downloads are complete, the RIAA checks to make sure the files are indeed what they say they are. This means someone made a copy of a file for another person which is above and beyond their fair use rights.
5. RIAA checks the logs of p2p to determine which IP addresses sent them the infringing files.
6. The IP address can be linked to a user by calling up the Internet Service Provider of the IP address and asking (or supoenaing) them
7. You're fucked.

The 'easiest' way to avoid this is to simply make it impossible to allow a downloader to determine an uploaders IP address. Unfortunately this has proven virtually impossibly; as a computer MUST know the address of the host computer, that is simply how the internet works.
What doesn't, and will never work, is encrypting the files. All that does is prevent THIRD PARTIES from seeing what OTHER people are downloading and uploading. So long as we can't block out ALL the RIAAs requests for downloads, or can't hide our IP address, they will always know if we are infringing.

[Malicious Intent]

Point 6 isn't true anymore. They have to file suit against the IP address and then asks the courts for permission to force the ISP who hosts it to say who it belongs to.

[Empire]

The 'easiest' way to avoid this is to simply make it impossible to allow a downloader to determine an uploaders IP address. Unfortunately this has proven virtually impossibly; as a computer MUST know the address of the host computer, that is simply how the internet works.
What doesn't, and will never work, is encrypting the files. All that does is prevent THIRD PARTIES from seeing what OTHER people are downloading and uploading. So long as we can't block out ALL the RIAAs requests for downloads, or can't hide our IP address, they will always know if we are infringing.

Wrong. You are suffering from "that's the way it used to be done" ignorance.

Here is how you work it.

1) Results from P2P search come back containing only the ip address of the supernode of index computer (not the computer actually holding the file).

2) Open TCP port on your computer to accept inbound connection.

3) Send request to supernode asking actual node that has the file to TCP connect to your computer.

4) supernode relays request to actual computer containing the file

5) computer containing the file contacts your computer via anonymous proxy.

6) computer containing the file sends you the file via anonymous proxy.

At no time does the receiver of the file know who the sender is.

One, and ONLY one P2P network uses this method.

Can you guess which one?

[killswitch1968]

1) Results from P2P search come back containing only the ip address of the supernode of index computer (not the computer actually holding the file).

2) Open TCP port on your computer to accept inbound connection.

3) Send request to supernode asking actual node that has the file to TCP connect to your computer.

4) supernode relays request to actual computer containing the file

5) computer containing the file contacts your computer via anonymous proxy.

6) computer containing the file sends you the file via anonymous proxy.

At no time does the receiver of the file know who the sender is.


Regardless a cpu MUST know the IP address of the person uploading the file. If it's a proxy then the 'proxy' is guilty of copyright infringement. Just because it was a relay makes no difference. The RIAA can then subpoena the proxy and determine who uploaded the file as well. Just another step. Not to mention adding more people in this string make it exponentially slower. Despite my 'ignorance' you still need the IP address.
Eetee, freenet, or Earth Station 5? I'm not sure.

Malicious Intent: I know, you still need to go to the ISP though.

[palehorse777]

Regardless a cpu MUST know the IP address of the person uploading the file. If it's a proxy then the 'proxy' is guilty of copyright infringement. Just because it was a relay makes no difference. The RIAA can then subpoena the proxy and determine who uploaded the file as well. Just another step. Not to mention adding more people in this string make it exponentially slower. Despite my 'ignorance' you still need the IP address.
Eetee, freenet, or Earth Station 5? I'm not sure.

Malicious Intent: I know, you still need to go to the ISP though.


This is not true. Many proxies do not have logs, lots of proxie software has the log turned off by default to prevent a "time bomb" or a file that grows like the BLOB monster of the 60s.

No log, no trace.

Another way to truely stealth winmx is to wardrive or use a wifi to highjack an un controlled router. They take the heat, you are anon.

Another good way is, believe it or not, flying j truckstops. They have wifi you can pay cash for, present no ID and sit in their parking lot and wack away lol with their blessings...

Proxy servers are the best way, even if the keep a log you can bet it is pruned regualarly. You can also hop proxies but this will slow you down pretty badly.

[shawners]

dont the riaa usualy say before who they choose to sue, "Inny minnie, miny moe.. catch a file sharer by his toe.. If he downloads.. make him pay, 5000 a song.... Ill pick this one."

[Wolfie]

dont the riaa usualy say before who they choose to sue, "Inny minnie, miny moe.. catch a file sharer by his toe.. If he downloads.. make him pay, 5000 a song.... Ill pick this one."

Not a good idea. The last ppl who used that little rhyme got sued for racism. You guys remember this one (http://www.townhall.com/columnists/jeffjacoby/jj20040126.shtml)?

[shawners]

I doubt if the RIAA discriminates, although i have only seen them sue white folks for downloading. Of course people will find anything offensive these days to sue, im sure the lady got her check for the airlines, just not her reality check.

[smokingbevel]

"To assist the generationally controlled largely incorporated entities in activities pertaining to the determination of those prospective guilty candidate targets, deemed worthy of consequential alleivation of funds, time and other resources, in order to uphold the ultimately greater purpose of maintaining historical control and balance,"
a compilation of sources suggest:
1. The publicly perceived reputation of "file sharing", in general, contains a strong emphasis upon illegal activities pertaining to "piracy".
2. Never investigate the deeper support sources of "sites", which collect the latest technological trends of, effectively distribute rumors and information which effect those trends pertaining to, and bind mass identity associations securely with, "file sharing".
3. When options are presented on the previously mentioned "sites" or "services", do provide as much personally identifiable information as possible, including but not limited to: valid email address, common user name, photographs, biographies, interests (including likely titled selections from producers of media most likely to be obtained), organization affiliations, full name, address, phone number, and credit card numbers.

disclaimer: Don't matyrize this reply. Homework incomplete. No reference to any specific "site" or "service" is intended. Imaginative deductions, individual translations, and independent thoughts are the sole responsibility of the reader, the authors claim no liability.

[begoodbebad]

hey there, i read on teletext the other day and it said about the RIAA going to catch about 500 file sharers or something and you read about a small minority of people getting caught and having to pay a massive fine or something and i was just wondering how they actually catch you because i no that if i ever got caught i would be incredibly gutted. i mean the only way they can find out is either by chance of searching your computer which they wudn't be able to do anyway, and the only way to trace your location would be your IP right? but how do they get a hold of it and how do they know if your file sharing etc. i'm not exactly an expert when it comes to networks and stuff. also suppose it was to do with them finding you via your IP, is there a way or a program to disguise your real IP with a fake one?

cheers. mark.
mark-harrington.tk

I believe the RIAA find it helpful when they know your real name. :upside

[AussieMatt]

So on a clinet like MUTE your IP is a virtual address ,your info is encrypted and your information is routed through one of those virtual IPs slow as cold honey most days but the client will improve and it is being built with security first and not speed in its current development , if you look at most of the lawsuits they are against Kazza users who are probably using KMD as at least k-lite resurection makes some attepts to hide your file sharing for those who insist they must use fasttrack use KC Easy and just leach off fasttrack and share on giFT and gnutella .

[AussieMatt]

opps I double posted so I edited one

[seeto]

What about this for an idea. Set up a prepaid account with an ISP with false details of course, log in, download at will. If they get your ISP so what. Only for Dial-up of course but quicker than freenet any day.

[rebirth]

1. Your IP address is unique to your computer, per ISP yes, but!

2. They have ur address on record...cuz you called in from your house...can you say whitepages.com?

3. You don't get caught for downloading, only uploading so far

4. Freenet is hella fast if you use it right...pfft...n00b

5. Welcome to ZP, but...

6. Don't fucking bump old threads!

[p2p_rocks]

heres a detailed link on how the RIAAA and all other organizations catch p2p users

http://mute-net.sourceforge.net/howPrivacy.shtml

[Ken17625]

4. Freenet is hella fast if you use it right...pfft...n00b

Then explain, Mr Wizard.

[smokingbevel]

Welcome to Zeropaid.com, new users.
6. Don't fucking bump old threads!I actually support "thread-bumping" in one or a combination of the following instances:

as an alternative to creating a new thread that merely duplicates topics, subjects, or material of an existing thread

if the old thread is of exceedingly great significance to the bumping user

if the old thread was spawned by and is being thoroughly managed and/or occasionally updated by the bumping user over time

if the old thread was a crucial determining factor in the arrival of a brand new user (reference.this)

if actions that bump cause the user to support the site through purchases of merchandise

[rebirth]

Then explain, Mr Wizard.
Leave on the lastest unstable version for two days, then it'll cruise

[Crazy Horse]

i was just wondering how they actually catch you because i no that if i ever got caught i would be incredibly gutted.cheers. mark.
mark-harrington.tk

With a freakin butterfly net of course !! Duh...

[seeto]

1. Your IP address is unique to your computer, per ISP yes, but!

2. They have ur address on record...cuz you called in from your house...can you say whitepages.com?

3. You don't get caught for downloading, only uploading so far

4. Freenet is hella fast if you use it right...pfft...n00b

5. Welcome to ZP, but...

6. Don't fucking bump old threads!

You can block your number sending when you dial up, so no they haven't got your address.

Just a thought, but if you don't want additional comments at the end of a thread, fucking lock 'em and don't give me a hard time coz they aren't.

By the way, I've no idea what "bumping" is.