AfterDawn: News

Sneaky MPAA-sponsored movie download site gives users Trojan horses

MiiVi, a video download site that linked to many movies has been taken offline after being discovered as a front for the MPAA to catch pirates.

The site, besides linking to movies, also linked to a MiiVi accelerator application, which apparently is a Trojan horse.



Zeropaid discovered the site was a front after doing a Whois search on the site that revealed it was owned by MediaDefender, a company the MPAA uses due to its specialty in anti-piracy "solutions."

The application is really a Trojan horse that scans your hard drive looking for pirated content and then reports back to MediaDefender which gives the information to the MPAA.

"It's always nice to know that sometimes good things do happen, and more importantly, that MiiVi won't be trapping any more unsuspecting users," 'soulxtc' wrote from Zeropaid.

Source:
BetaNews

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 6 Jul 2007 14:52

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• 30 comments

• dude845

  Sneaky.. Those idiots really need to just get use to it, not like they are going to catch even half the population that downloads..

  6.7.2007 15:08 #1

• DXR88

  Hahahahaha..HEhahahah.. Too Funny

  6.7.2007 15:12 #2

• jmaestro

  Isn't this illega?

  6.7.2007 15:14 #3

• DXR88

  Not When you have billions of $ and a whole line of juges And Senetors who cant even run there own country on your payroll

  6.7.2007 15:19 #4

• fgamer

  The MPAA acts so damn desperate it's really pathetic...I don't even think the FBI is this damn desperate to catch terrorist here in the US!

  6.7.2007 15:57 #5

• FlakMNKEY

  See this is what is known as entrapment, anyone who would be tried from this would easily get off. Also they should be the one's facing a lawsuit, didn't new york pass some law that you can not knowingly put a virus or trojan on a computer.
  
  Time to sue the MPAA

  6.7.2007 16:08 #6

• b18bek9

  i cant wait to see a lawsuit here down with the MPAA.....

  6.7.2007 16:51 #7

• venomX05

  o.....k,
  
  so let me get this straight, now instead of putting rootkits on people's computers, they are now putting trojan horses. huh, man, what lengths people want go to.
  
  lmao...jesus, they are just itching to get sued, and we remember what happened against sony, not only was it widespread on the internet level, but it was even on the news...well, there goes their stock, right out the window. hope they are happy now :)

  6.7.2007 17:26 #8

• craftyzan

  THIS IS WAR!
  
  They own the government, we are the NERDS!
  
  (And one reason I personally do my nefarious with Linux.)

  6.7.2007 17:55 #9

• Weirdo007

  Two quick points to make....
  
  1. Besides the obvious entrapment issues, does this not also qualify as illegal search and seizure by a non-law enforement agency, rendering any "evidence" they might gather as inadmissable in court?
  
  2. By masking a trojan horse in a program like this, whether it causes damage or not, does that also not violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and legally open the door to sue the MPAA?

  6.7.2007 18:04 #10

• DXR88

  An easy fix quickly make a sub divesion to the MPAA and call it VPAA= Video Producer Accosots of Amarica

  6.7.2007 18:08 #11

• Weirdo007

  Check this link and pay attention to line item #5...
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Fr...d_and_Abuse_Act
  
  
  
  A more detailed viewing of the CFaA Act....
  
  http://www.panix.com/~eck/computer-fraud-act.html

  6.7.2007 18:08 #12

• DXR88

  YOur point with the legel stuff

  6.7.2007 18:16 #13

• WierdName

  Isn't that illegal under invasion of privacy?
  
  EDIT- NVM, someone else brought that up already.

  6.7.2007 20:26 #14

• signal

  Well this is a very interesting argument.
  
  According to the 4th amendment "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
  
  In regards to what the MPAA have done upon reading the 4th amendment, their tactic is entrapment. They are trying to lead the sheep to the slaughter so to speak. They must have permission to enter into personal property with probable cause.
  
  Check this out: “Any person who suffers damage or loss by reason of a
  violation of this section may maintain a civil action against the violator to obtain
  compensatory damages and injunctive relief or other equitable relief.” 18 U.S.C.
  §1030(g)." You can find this at:
  
  http://webcasts.acca.com/handouts/Protec..._Under_CFAA.pdf
  
  I also recommend:
  
  http://www.cybercrime.gov/index.html
  
  Know to how may countries this applies to, I can't say, but as I am an American, this is how a lot of this (if not all) applies to us.
  
  
  Hope this helps some understand. Weirdo007, i like your posts...good insight..
  
  
  later;
  
  The Unknown.....

  7.7.2007 00:36 #15

• Ap85

  That is so weak... They should be punished for doing things like that.

  7.7.2007 02:17 #16

• solarf

  this is illegal right? If its not it should be.

  7.7.2007 08:16 #17

• c1c

  Kmon guys. Why do people have a problem with spending 6$ for a popcorn, 3$ for a drink, and 18$ for two tickets to a crappy movie when you can download it for free, watch it at home, and delete it from the hard drive after you realize you saved a lot of money but wasted 2 hours of your life that you will never get back.
  
  Enough of the crappy sequals, come up with some original stuff hollywood!

  7.7.2007 09:24 #18

• hughjars

  Typical, bunch of gangsters who think they can do anything they like.
  
  I just hope enough people club together to toast their worthless greedy asses in court someday using the only language those bas*ards understand, criminal convictions with massive fines and jailtime.

  7.7.2007 09:59 #19

• 3085

  they just need to get a life

  7.7.2007 11:44 #20

• club42

  Quote:this is illegal right? If its not it should be. Of course it is. They prosecute hackers for doing the same thing. The only difference is that this time the general public is the target rather than big businesses so you won't see the federal government giving a crap.

  7.7.2007 15:19 #21

• rdmercer1

  flakmnkey it is not entrapment because you know what you are doing is wrong and against the law, also make sure you are using peer guairden and it is updated, another ting if you keep your virus protection up to date you should be able to catch it before anything bad happens, i think one site cald moviex or something like that, is one of the sites, i will find out and get back on this, stay away from this site http://www.moviex.eu.tf/

  8.7.2007 02:16 #22

• borhan9

  Quote:Zeropaid discovered the site was a front after doing a Whois search on the site that revealed it was owned by MediaDefender, a company the MPAA uses due to its specialty in anti-piracy "solutions."
  
  The application is really a Trojan horse that scans your hard drive looking for pirated content and then reports back to MediaDefender which gives the information to the MPAA.So after we know this now can we sue the MPAA for invasion of privacy. A civil action would be good to go in numbers and bring these drop kicks to justice.

  9.7.2007 20:57 #23

• mojomoon

  A google sponsored ad I have on my screen right now while reading afterdawn.com hosted article:
  
  Piracy Complaint?
  Earn up to $1 Million for Reporting Pirated Software - All Confidential
  bsa.org/reportpiracy
  
  
  
  
  wow...I've seen a ton of hypocrites on here weiging in on what constitutes piracy and what does not, but this ad definitly takes the cake....
  
  Can't afterdawn.com choose what type of ads google places on their pimped out-pages or was that done for hilarities sake?

  12.7.2007 19:44 #24

• mojomoon

  Company Steals Software?
  Earn up to $1 Million for Reporting Pirated Software - All Confidential
  bsa.org/reportpiracy
  
  
  
  oh lookie! Now they want us to rat out our place of employment that already does not pay us enough to purchase legal copies of mediocre movies and one-hit cds! woo hoo! where do I sign up?
  Heck! I could buy alot of crappy legal movies and cds with 1 million "confidential' dollars.
  
  In fact,..I think I just may have the guy they are looking for....hehehehehe..

  12.7.2007 19:49 #25

• DXR88

  Mhhmm Hey if the trojen reports back to mpaa think we can bust into there systems By disassembling it and send it back to em just the othere way around sends us the information of all there illiagle copies of ms word ahchool 120 and nero And movies

  13.7.2007 19:03 #26

• skeeterd

  I know this is somewhat Old News BUT if in fact there was a Virus or trogan that did what some claim, MediaDefender has taken action in Multi Federal Crimes.
  
  Knowingly causing the transmission of a program, information, code, or command that causes damage or intentionally accessing a computer without authorization, and as a result of such conduct, causes damage that results in:
  
  That means if 5000 people used the site, thats 5000 charges against them. With some of the new Corporate laws you could actually go after Corporate Officers in addition to the actual Corporation.
  
  Im sure no one will go after them as the information then could be used against you for Copyright Violations. Throwing even that aside we all know that only about 10% of people who complain about an issue end up doing anything about it.
  
  It would make for a great Court Case so if anyone does take action against MediaDefender I want front row seats. Ummm yes PB has started action against them but I dont think it will make it to U.S. Courts.

  29.9.2007 02:06 #27

• chinpark9

  A while back, I heard of this Canadian kid who was able to break into the FBI's computers,and cause major havoc before he was caught. There was another who got into some major banks' machine and wandered about, looking for god knows what.
  
  Just wondering. The MPAA has computers, right?

  30.9.2007 13:25 #28

• WierdName

  Originally posted by chinpark9: A while back, I heard of this Canadian kid who was able to break into the FBI's computers,and cause major havoc before he was caught. There was another who got into some major banks' machine and wandered about, looking for god knows what.
  
  Just wondering. The MPAA has computers, right?No actually. You see, they still use those Chinese calculator things which is how they always end up with largely overestimated "losses" from piracy. They are so afraid of technology that they are on a campaign to stop technology altogether, starting with P2P.

  30.9.2007 13:43 #29

• Vector_V

  Quote:Originally posted by chinpark9: A while back, I heard of this Canadian kid who was able to break into the FBI's computers,and cause major havoc before he was caught. There was another who got into some major banks' machine and wandered about, looking for god knows what.
  
  Just wondering. The MPAA has computers, right?No actually. You see, they still use those Chinese calculator things which is how they always end up with largely overestimated "losses" from piracy. They are so afraid of technology that they are on a campaign to stop technology altogether, starting with P2P.LMAO!
  
  V/V

  30.9.2007 22:15 #30