Killing off File Lockers

[DarkJedi]

1400

Did i win anything?

[RubyGoodnight]

1400

Did i win anything?

No, especially since it was only 1350. ;)

[FoxtrotAlpha]

But those smaller billing companies are basically nobodies for VISA and they'll easily suspend their merchant accounts if annoyed enough by a steady stream of DMCAs and other complaints. Those smaller billers know that damn well and react nervously for each even a minor bitchslap from VISA. I bet many of them do not even fully understand yet what kind of "clients" those filehosts are and what amount of trouble they bring with them. They will however realize that soon enough and many of the new billing options that those filehosts found after paypal terminations will cease to operate too.

As a matter of fact, none of the file lockers managed to maintain an account with a billing company for a long period of time so far, or their own merchant accounts, after their paypal account was terminated. Amount of abuse is so huge it seems that nobody except for paypal can sustain it in the long run. Oron, filesmonster, uploaded.to, all lost whatever processing account they were able to find pretty fast. Whether the same will be true for all other filehosts now that most of them lost paypal remains to be seen, but I think it is only a matter of time until Visa and MC will terminate them all.

I hope you're right then, that would be great if they are actually easier to get investigated than paypal accounts. I suspect some of the payment processors they are beginning to use are likely owned by the filehosts themselves. It wouldn't surprise me, I saw a couple of them try it once before.

[dgraves]

They hide behind DMCA, saying its not their content etc. i get that, but where does it say their users have to be anonymous?
Force them to keep record of all their users (full name, address etc), regardless of if they pay them or not.
and if one of them upload pirated content and get caught, their personal details will be handed over.

If they truly dont want to take responsibility of what is uploaded to them, then the responsibility have to fall on the uploaders.

They don't do this because a lot of the uploaded content was done by the owner(s). That gives them knowledge that the content was stolen which removes the DMCA protection. Not that it really matters because most aren't hosted in the US so they don't have to comply with DMCA anyway.

[Paul Markham]

As for filehosts becoming 'compliant', well, most of them will die off without the ability to pay uploaders. The only reason they have any traffic at all is because they pay uploaders, they essentially pay until they become *the* place for content. Once nobody uploads to them anymore, they will not have any income or any traffic, compliant or not.

I think a lot of them will begin using obscure, shady payment processors now, but I assume they will be more difficult to have suspended/removed.

And after the File Hosts who pay uploaders, we can move onto those who charge for faster downloads.

Maybe the US Government will make an amendment to DMCA to draw a line between those who only host and those who share.

[Gozarian]

Bump to where this should be

[FoxtrotAlpha]

And after the File Hosts who pay uploaders, we can move onto those who charge for faster downloads.

Maybe the US Government will make an amendment to DMCA to draw a line between those who only host and those who share.

Or how about services which charge for downloads of illegal content they actually don't have? (and then rebill the user heavily with 'extras')
sharingzone.net/?q=some+illegal+content+we+dont+have

Seems quite a few 'uploaders' are using this now instead of uploading. They make piracy blogs and send users to links such as the above.

How these services & the previously mentioned 'shady' cc processors exist, beats me.

[mikke]

top top top!

[SplatterMaster]

Who would actually trust these new billers with their CC information? That?s like trusting a file locker with your CC info.

John Doe joins file locker premium > file locker gives John Does CC and IP information to pirate > pirate joins site and rips content with stolen CC information > pirate post content on file locker > John Doe sees charge and does charge back.

I could imagine the above is happening right now. Ever wonder why you have so many charge backs?

[Three.Thousand]

file lockers are essentially like paysites. they got content and affiliate programs.
The more file lockers pop up (think paysites and rewind 10+ years), the higher the payouts get, the the shaving feature gets turned on, and the cross sales and card banging will start.

[The Porn Nerd]

Just get me more sales dammit!!

[Paul Markham]

Who would actually trust these new billers with their CC information? That?s like trusting a file locker with your CC info.

John Doe joins file locker premium > file locker gives John Does CC and IP information to pirate > pirate joins site and rips content with stolen CC information > pirate post content on file locker > John Doe sees charge and does charge back.

I could imagine the above is happening right now. Ever wonder why you have so many charge backs?

This needs to be looked into closer. Another reason for Visa to get on guard.

[19teenporn]

Bumping to the first place for a great effort.

[19teenporn]

People losing interest...

[AdultKing]

People losing interest...

I don't think it's that people are losing interest, there's just so many times you can rehash the same thing.

We don't have a huge number of reports this week because we were working on some larger sites and we were busy meeting with other groups, setting up the corporation and getting the collaboration system ready to invite people in to.

Not much happens on the weekends when all the processors work business hours Monday to Friday.

[FoxtrotAlpha]

What's the status on rapidgator, if any? Seems to be the largest one which hasn't yet been touched, unless i'm mistaken and you already succeeded with that.

[AdultKing]

What's the status on rapidgator, if any? Seems to be the largest one which hasn't yet been touched, unless i'm mistaken and you already succeeded with that.

Sorry as has been repeated many times, we rarely comment on possible future targets or our methodology or systems.

Once there is news on any site, we'll be sure to report it here and on the blog.

[FoxtrotAlpha]

Sorry as has been repeated many times, we rarely comment on possible future targets or our methodology or systems.

Once there is news on any site, we'll be sure to report it here and on the blog.

Of course, I just wondered if I'd missed it and it was already taken down. Seems not, for now :p

[AdultKing]

Not much will generally happen over the weekend. The processors work business hours and so do we now, this is so people don't get burned out and can stay on the ball.

[SplatterMaster]

What's the status on rapidgator, if any? Seems to be the largest one which hasn't yet been touched, unless i'm mistaken and you already succeeded with that.

Rapidgator posted that they had dropped PayPal due to PP?s new policies. Of course they were only using PayPal to pay affiliates. I also read that they just changed PayPal accounts like the others and continue to pay affiliates with PP. So who really knows.

[longdongsilver]

Just checking in everyone.

It's been a busy day full of meetings, we see FileFactory has stopped using Paypal, this is an announcement that we didn't think we could make until Saturday but it seems events have pre-empted us.

We have a number of people in the collaboration system now, feeling their way around.
Anyone else who wants to be included should let me know.

I'll be back online in about 15 hours.

Filefactory are still using paypal, as are depositfiles??

I check both sites right now and both went through fine to paypal and were ready for sign up.

Filefactory have simply introduced a back up solution now.

Paypal still seem reluctant to take down the larger ones, if they had decided against depositfiles (which it seems they have not) they should have banned all of their accounts. They've had paypal back for over 1 week so looks like they get to keep it and they are one of the very worst.

[MrDeiz]

I don't think it's that people are losing interest, there's just so many times you can rehash the same thing.

We don't have a huge number of reports this week because we were working on some larger sites and we were busy meeting with other groups, setting up the corporation and getting the collaboration system ready to invite people in to.

Not much happens on the weekends when all the processors work business hours Monday to Friday.

just got back from my vacations and it's nice to hear

[epitome]

Bump for a good cause.

[AdultKing]

Filefactory are still using paypal, as are depositfiles??

I check both sites right now and both went through fine to paypal and were ready for sign up.

Filefactory have simply introduced a back up solution now.

Paypal still seem reluctant to take down the larger ones, if they had decided against depositfiles (which it seems they have not) they should have banned all of their accounts. They've had paypal back for over 1 week so looks like they get to keep it and they are one of the very worst.

If you have such concerns then email [email protected]

[Gozarian]

videoearn.com paying tube uploaders similar to file lockers. I spent all night removing our performers screen captured private shows. LOADED with pirated stuff and multiple references to Lolita garbage such as: Lolita dildo fucks her asshole, Lolita anal dildo, Perfect young lolita and on and on.

[longdongsilver]

If you have such concerns then email [email protected]

I have emailed them already inviting them to explain why the larger ones with the same business model are allowed to continue even though these larger file lockers are hosting a lot more illegal content than the smaller ones that they are closing down.

As i expected, no reply as yet and it has been 3 days since i asked the question.

Paypals greed i think can be illustrated clearly from this decision to keep on the larger ones depositfiles, bitshare, filefactory. I have no idea why mediafire ended their relationship with PP however i'm guessing it was more their decision than paypals. Since paypal would hardly wish to kill that golden goose.

Paypal in trying to look good terminating the little fish whilst keeping on the large players could be their undoing, since they really have no excuse for not closing all sites on the same basis they closed the small ones down. They can see it is wrong for them to process access to minors for porn, animal sex, warez and all other illegal files in small quantities on these tiny lockers, however seem to think it is 100% fine to process access for minors to this in larger quantities? They need to be forced to explain this reasoning.

We need to stop praising paypal here and realise they are not at all looking to get out of filesharing, rather it seems they intend to use this pre - approval crap to make their large filelockers 100% safe,Whilst looking good by closing a lot of small sites down.

I think enough of begging paypal to stop this circus, time to go full on and denounce paypal for the sort of company that it is. Paypal will process for Child porn and warez for kids and anyone else but really only if you can process enough of it to make it worthwhile for them to do so. That seems to be the simple fact here.

I think a website that pops up in google right under paypals main site explaining this with the factual evidence showing the small sites they banished for hosting this material and then a list of the large sites they still process for with an updated list of links demonstrating the illegal files they host should get their attention more.

Going to them directly and just begging for them to close sites down is playing into their hands, more leverage seems to be required.

Perhaps questions like this posed to paypal from some kind of large news site or any site with a large amount of mainstream traffic could be helpful.

Paypal will knowing allow your children to purchase access to beast sex, any other kind of porn, illegal warez files via their paypal account - seems to be a good start to the headline.

I hope this thread is picked up on google and parents start reading the truth about paypal.

[Nautilus]

I think a website that pops up in google right under paypals main site explaining this with the factual evidence showing the small sites they banished for hosting this material and then a list of the large sites they still process for with an updated list of links demonstrating the illegal files they host should get their attention more.

Going to them directly and just begging for them to close sites down is playing into their hands, more leverage seems to be required.

Go ahead and start such site. Worpress is free, domains are dirt cheap. The war on piracy is the collective effort where real contributions are welcome, rather then endless forum rants "you're not doing it right" style. Go ahead and do what you think is right, and we'll applaud your efforts.

[2012]

does this mean affiliates get paid for all their signups now ?

[Slappin Fish]

does this mean affiliates get paid for all their signups now ?

Yes they get paid and there is an even bigger issue arising...

Seems when a filehost complies with paypal rules all that happens is a flagged affiliate is unable to receive his affiliate payment through paypal but uploaders can just set up a webmoney account and carry on uploading content that will paid with paypal..

[Barefootsies]

I have emailed them already inviting them to explain why the larger ones with the same business model are allowed to continue even though these larger file lockers are hosting a lot more illegal content than the smaller ones that they are closing down.

It's a simple answer, and already been provided by myself and others.

Larger, long established, file lockers can show they also have LEGITIMATE clients as well as the offenders. Because they have been around longer, they have a longer track record, and for each offender, they can show you 10 clean guys not doing it. In the end, it's a numbers game.

The smaller piss ants that were set up SOLELY for content theft can't do this. If you are approached and told your whole business model is built on this concept, and can't refute it. Then you're out of business. Many of those being knocked out easily had affiliate programs rewarding content uploaders. Which would back up the claims of knowingly supporting the offense.

When a merchant bank, paypal, whatever looks into a business based on a third party making claims, they are going to look at the "whole picture" typically. Not just the single offense or violation. Exception being serious issues like CP or alike.

If a business, like a file locker, can prove they have a lot of truly legitamate business, and the stuff you are pointing out is actually just isolated offenses, furthermore that they are deleting those users or taking some sort of punitive action..... you are going to fighting that uphill battle.

The smaller one's, as I said, were set up for the sole purpose of content theft. From the sounds of it, this can be easily proven. I doubt they could show a lot of legitimate long time users. In RS case, I bet they can.

All this being said, I do not think that means they are untouchable to the powers of AK. I simply believe that it's going to take a lot more time and effort to build up the case against them. I am sure even now they are revising how they handle DMCA requests and alike to show they are a good, compliant, net citizen.

[SplatterMaster]

This needs to be looked into closer. Another reason for Visa to get on guard.

Someone should call the 419 guys. The business model of sending out worthless money orders is so outdated

[Nautilus]

4shared lost their paypal account - they're the second biggest filehost in the world (#1 is Mediafire and they lost paypal too this week).

[SplatterMaster]

How to know your file locker might not be legit:

Paying members can?t upload files, only affiliates can

To become an affiliate you must prove sales from another file locker

[His Infernal Majesty]

The smaller one's, as I said, were set up for the sole purpose of content theft. From the sounds of it, this can be easily proven. I doubt they could show a lot of legitimate long time users. In RS case, I bet they can.

This is pretty accurate, there is a very clear line between the ones that are trying to run a legit business and those that are just fronts proliferating theft.

For example, I've had some content appear on Rapidshare occasionally, but I send one DMCA and within a day they take it down. They don't pay users, they block the files from being reuploaded and it generally is a very minimal issue. Then there are people like 1hostclick that ignores all takedown requests and would only remove things after Paypal got on them and it would take over a week. Even losing Paypal they are still a pain and it's even harder now to get things removed. I am sending along to their host, now which is, of course...wait for it...LEASEWEB! The biggest facilitators of these illegal practices. They also process with Paypal.

[Nautilus]

LEASEWEB! The biggest facilitators of these illegal practices. They also process with Paypal.

Really? That might be indeed the new angle to attack them.

[Nautilus]

So I checked LW website and indeed they're accepting paypal for payments. Wow-wow... OK Leaseweb DMCA is coming, let's test waters.

[His Infernal Majesty]

So I checked LW website and indeed they're accepting paypal for payments. Wow-wow... OK Leaseweb DMCA is coming, let's test waters.

Leaseweb and Webzilla are the two biggest hosting companies for these types of sites. Webzilla is a bit more responsive and can't really complain about them. Leaseweb plays all sorts of games, though. They keep telling you to email a different part of their company ([email protected] vs [email protected]) so now I just CC them both along with [email protected] and then they have even come back to me more than once asking me what the IP was for the domain they are hosting. A hosting company that can't figure out the domain of a website they are hosting? That's always nice to make me wait a few more days before they do anything.

They were the hosts of MegaUpload before they were shutdown. They cut their teeth in that "industry".

[Nautilus]

They keep telling you to email a different part of their company ([email protected] vs [email protected]) so now I just CC them both along with [email protected] and then they have even come back to me more than once asking me what the IP was for the domain they are hosting. A hosting company that can't figure out the domain of a website they are hosting? That's always nice to make me wait a few more days before they do anything.

Yep they're funny at times when they're trying to win some more time for their thieving "clients". My personal record of stupid excuses to delay the take down with them was set when I sent them a regular DMCA with links that looked more or less like that:

http://www.piracysite.com/stolen_vid...n_clip_001.wmv
http://www.piracysite.com/stolen_vid...n_clip_002.wmv
http://www.piracysite.com/stolen_vid...n_clip_003.wmv

And they asked me... What domain name it is Because ya know, we cannot process with the take down unless we know what domain name it is so we can find a server where it is hosted Sounds like an anecdote, really. A hosting company that cannot figure out the domain name when they're given the url. But that's what they said, really. Not even an IP, which is an anecdote too. But domain name.

[FoxtrotAlpha]

So I checked LW website and indeed they're accepting paypal for payments. Wow-wow... OK Leaseweb DMCA is coming, let's test waters.

Oh you didn't know about LW.

Well, leaseweb is the primary provider used by almost all pirates for:
- Filehosts
- Uploading to filehosts (yes uploaders buy servers with LW on offer and use them to automate the process of downloading pirated content and uploading it to filehosts)
- Warez/Piracy websites

The last point is less common on LW as most use Ecatel for that (also dutch, very scummy provider, full of spammers, hackers, phishers, criminals basically).

Referring to WJunction.com again, you can see their host section, almost every host listed there is on leaseweb or ecatel. They all buy the same configuration from LW and use it to sell VPSes on (or windows accounts) which are then used to upload pirated content.

[His Infernal Majesty]

The last point is less common on LW as most use Ecatel for that (also dutch, very scummy provider, full of spammers, hackers, phishers, criminals basically).

Ecatel is where the biggest pirate board for solo models just moved. I haven't gotten around to dealing with them, yet. Due to the info you just wrote, it should be a blast! lol

[FoxtrotAlpha]

Ecatel is where the biggest pirate board for solo models just moved. I haven't gotten around to dealing with them, yet. Due to the info you just wrote, it should be a blast! lol

lol good luck with it, been wanting those down for years. They seem to get away with it everytime.

They ignore DMCAs completely but they remove clients the same day if you send a dutch takedown notice. However, even if you remove a client or two, ecatel still exists and takes on two equally criminal clients -_-

Last time I checked, a huge amount of their IPs are spamlisted too.

There was an article a few years back associating them with the RBN (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Business_Network) but it never really gathered enough evidence to prove it so I remained sceptical.

[DWB]

Oh you didn't know about LW.

Well, leaseweb is the primary provider used by almost all pirates for:
- Filehosts
- Uploading to filehosts (yes uploaders buy servers with LW on offer and use them to automate the process of downloading pirated content and uploading it to filehosts)
- Warez/Piracy websites

The last point is less common on LW as most use Ecatel for that (also dutch, very scummy provider, full of spammers, hackers, phishers, criminals basically).

Referring to WJunction.com again, you can see their host section, almost every host listed there is on leaseweb or ecatel. They all buy the same configuration from LW and use it to sell VPSes on (or windows accounts) which are then used to upload pirated content.

Ecatel is where the biggest pirate board for solo models just moved. I haven't gotten around to dealing with them, yet. Due to the info you just wrote, it should be a blast! lol

They ignore DMCAs completely but they remove clients the same day if you send a dutch takedown notice. However, even if you remove a client or two, ecatel still exists and takes on two equally criminal clients -_-

Last time I checked, a huge amount of their IPs are spamlisted too.

Who is the upstream provider for leaseweb or ecatel?

[FoxtrotAlpha]

Who is the upstream provider for leaseweb or ecatel?

Not sure about leaseweb but ecatel uses telia as their main provider afaik. You'd have to double check though, I'm not entirely sure.

[Pseudonymous]

videoearn.com paying tube uploaders similar to file lockers. I spent all night removing our performers screen captured private shows. LOADED with pirated stuff and multiple references to Lolita garbage such as: Lolita dildo fucks her asshole, Lolita anal dildo, Perfect young lolita and on and on.

its videarn*

and that site is a hub for underage content

their top viewed are typically all underage

also all their link exchange partners are built around even worse content

[SplatterMaster]

So I checked LW website and indeed they're accepting paypal for payments. Wow-wow... OK Leaseweb DMCA is coming, let's test waters.

LW standard reply. Don't send them a DMCA. Read whats required per Dutch Notice and Takedown Code of Conduct.

Thanks for contacting LeaseWeb. LeaseWeb has a policy banning illegal
distribution of copyrighted material.
In order to process copyright infringement claims, please ensure you
claim adheres to the Dutch Notice and Takedown Code of Conduct. This
means you have to first contact the infringing website, only if they do
not reply or their reply is unsatisfactory you can escalate to the
hosting provider. Please include a copy of your communication(s) with
the website when you file your claim again.
Failure to adhere to the Dutch Notice and Takedown Code of Conduct will
mean that we will request you to first contact the infringing website.
This will result in a considerable delay in processing your complaint.
As you have not indicated or proved you have tried to contact the
website please follow the procedure as described above, please allow 5
working days for a response from the website. If you have not received a
response after 5 days you can contact us again. Please provide proof you
contacted or tried to contact the website so we can process your claim
expeditiously.

If you have already done all the above, then please respond to this
message, so your ticket will open again, and you claim can be progressed.

[Nautilus]

LW standard reply. Don't send them a DMCA.

Thanks but I was not going to DMCA leaseweb - I'll send it to paypal instead.

I've been through this game many times with LW and know it's a dead end. They're scammers. Although they're not that bad as Ecatel, they're still scammers - for each take down they'll suck alot of your time hoping you'll just get tired and leave them alone stealing from you and making money of off your work by means of selling their hosting services to the hordes of scamming "clients", the likes of oron and extabit. And of course no matter how many DMCAs they get, they'll never terminate the repeat offender. Such a ridiculous thought would simply never ever even cross their minds, I'm pretty damn sure of that

But I never noticed before that they use paypal to sell their hosting services. But since they do, as you just pointed out, that opens up new possibilities - paypal is their registered DMCA agent and they must respond to our take down notice, and get those links either removed or terminate leaseweb. Furthermore, after recieving 10K of such notices from different copyright holders, they must terminate leaseweb anyway because they're confirmed repeat offender. That's what paypal is doing now for filehosts, why leaseweb should be any different?

So we have the whole new game plan now, to harass leaseweb through paypal. And I like it

[19teenporn]

Thanks but I was not going to DMCA leaseweb - I'll send it to paypal instead.

I've been through this game many times with LW and know it's a dead end. They're scammers. Although they're not that bad as Ecatel, they're still scammers - for each take down they'll suck alot of your time hoping you'll just get tired and leave them alone stealing from you and making money of off your work by means of selling their hosting services to the hordes of scamming "clients", the likes of oron and extabit. And of course no matter how many DMCAs they get, they'll never terminate the repeat offender. Such a ridiculous thought would simply never ever even cross their minds, I'm pretty damn sure of that

But I never noticed before that they use paypal to sell their hosting services. But since they do, as you just pointed out, that opens up new possibilities - paypal is their registered DMCA agent and they must respond to our take down notice, and get those links either removed or terminate leaseweb. Furthermore, after recieving 10K of such notices from different copyright holders, they must terminate leaseweb anyway because they're confirmed repeat offender. That's what paypal is doing now for filehosts, why leaseweb should be any different?

So we have the whole new game plan now, to harass leaseweb through paypal. And I like it

Damn man. That sounds so fucking awesome!

Best of lucks making those scammers lose their Paypal processing.

You guys are making such a great job!

[moeloubani]

leaseweb also hosts child pornography and refuses to get rid of it

[DWB]

LW standard reply. Don't send them a DMCA. Read whats required per Dutch Notice and Takedown Code of Conduct.

Thanks for contacting LeaseWeb. LeaseWeb has a policy banning illegal
distribution of copyrighted material.
In order to process copyright infringement claims, please ensure you
claim adheres to the Dutch Notice and Takedown Code of Conduct. This
means you have to first contact the infringing website, only if they do
not reply or their reply is unsatisfactory you can escalate to the
hosting provider. Please include a copy of your communication(s) with
the website when you file your claim again.
Failure to adhere to the Dutch Notice and Takedown Code of Conduct will
mean that we will request you to first contact the infringing website.
This will result in a considerable delay in processing your complaint.
As you have not indicated or proved you have tried to contact the
website please follow the procedure as described above, please allow 5
working days for a response from the website. If you have not received a
response after 5 days you can contact us again. Please provide proof you
contacted or tried to contact the website so we can process your claim
expeditiously.

If you have already done all the above, then please respond to this
message, so your ticket will open again, and you claim can be progressed.

1) Who is their upstream provider?

2) What is the Dutch take down procedure?

[DWB]

leaseweb also hosts child pornography and refuses to get rid of it

Their domain registrar, upstream providers, and billing companies should be made aware of this.