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RIAA’s secret

2 min read

CNN Article: RIAA’s secret “detective” method…

And I thought they actually have programs to infiltrate other people’s computer. What is the real secret? Examining god-damn hashes! Even I know how to download files from people and examine their hashes. It’s not like the hashes are encrypted or anything. In fact, Kazaalite by itself already allows you to view and compare hashes. Unless they have a way of obtaining files OTHER than through p2p programs, I don’t see how they can catch anyone if people are smart enough to place the incriminating stuff OUTSIDE their sharefolders.

Then again, there are many stupid people in the world. Like those who actually believe in spams.

Also, I noticed that MusicDefender has been quite busy lately. After all I’ve heard about them offering fake and corrupted files on Kazaa to discourage people, I FINALLY got hit. One of the mp3s I downloaded has 3 distinct screeching noises with an almost regular interval between them. And it was a difficult find too…Well, I suggest they defend worthier songs, because that particular one sold like…5 copies in the whole world?

On a related note: Kazaa Premium Service

A $29.95 fee buys users a license to Kazaa Plus, which is advertising-free and offers more advanced search and download options. Kazaa owner Sharman Networks will continue distributing a free version of Kazaa, which is partially supported by pop-up and banner ads.

Kazaa Plus allows users to download files from as many as 40 sources at once, doing away with the free version’s eight-source restriction. It also includes enhanced virus protection and customer support via e-mail.

RIGHT, “partially supported by pop-up and banner ads”, where’s the OTHER part? The spywares that’s what. And the 40 sources thing does not impress me at all, Kazaalite started offering that a few versions ago, and I have NEVER gotten more than 10 sources. It’s impossible, unless a few thousand people have that file AND are indexed by the master node. And the “enchanced virus protection”, my Norton qurantines my half-finished file the minute it detects any traces of virus, how enchanced can you get? Cause the keyboard to shoot anthrax at the people sharing the virus? And what’s the use of a customer support for a product like Kazaa? Will they tell you where to download lots of warez?!?!

And the Kazaa website is lying shamelessly.

Content – payment for distribution of Digitally Rights Managed files (marked with Gold Icons).
Regular banner and pop advertising – within Kazaa Media Desktop and Kazaa.com (DoubleClick and Cydoor).
Sales of products and services – eg. Full version of BullGuard, MatchNet, etc

Kazaa Media Desktop is not bundled with spyware, and we respect your privacy. See our Privacy Statement for information on our data practices.

What the hell do you thing Cydoor is? Sure…it “provides” service to you, the same way “Gator”, the infamous spyware, causes your internet explorer to crash and send your surfing habbits and other stuff to their server for “customer survey”. And of course, Kazaa promised “improved privacy protection” for their premium version, probably to trick all those people with 1000 mp3 files into coughing out 29.95…Well, Kazaalite started offering THAT 2 versions ago, they provide a ban ip list with all known ips that RIAA and similar organizations use.