KickAss Torrents Facing a Total Blackout in Italy

KickAss Torrents Facing a Total Blackout in Italy

After Pirate bay now another widely preferred BitTorrent website  on the Internet - KickAss Torrents , is facing a total blackout in Italy. Following an investigation by the country’s cybercrime police, an ISP blocking order has now been granted against a site which authorities say is run by criminals generating millions of dollars. FIMI boss Enzo Mazza confirmed to TorrentFreak that both the old and new domains and IP-addresses will be blocked, and added the following message - “The investigation into the criminal organization behind the site is still making progress and the public prosecutor is in touch with the authorities in the countries involved in the case. The case is followed by the Fiscal police who are usually investigating Italian mafia bosses. This means they are well equipped to take the members of the KAT gang to justice.”

In an exclusive report Torrentfreak said - KickAss Torrents has been founded just three years ago in 2009, KickAssTorrents has shown that it’s serious about becoming a leading torrent site player. Of course, that has its drawbacks too. The site’s increasing profile has caused it to appear in numerous MPAA, RIAA and government reports, in the US and elsewhere. News today reveals that the authorities in Italy have been watching the site for some time.

According to a report coming out of the police department with responsibilities for tackling cybercrime, KickAssTorrents will soon be subjected to a nationwide ISP blockade. Translated as “Financial Guard”, the Guardia di Finanza (GdF) is a department under Italy’s Minister of Economy and Finance. Part of the Italian Armed Forces, GdF has in recent years been involved in many file-sharing investigations, most recently against KickAssTorrents.

Operation ‘Last Paradise’ has just concluded with the public prosecutor of the Sardinian capital Cagliari granting an “order of inhibition” which requires the country’s ISPs to cease providing access to the site. Similar orders were previously granted against The Pirate Bay and the now-defunct BTjunkie. “This is another memorable dark day for digital piracy in Italy. After starting with The Pirate Bay in 2008 and the final closing of the doors at BTjunkie in February 2012, the Guardia di Finanza has targeted another super-pirate platform, virtually located in the Philippines and servers scattered around the world,” GdF said in a statement.

“This colossal site of 10 million active torrents receives over 3 million visits daily from all over the world and Italy was the third most popular country of origin for users behind only India and the USA.” GdF adds that by their estimates, KickAssTorrents generates $8.5 million per year from advertising and other revenue.

“This international platform has long been targeted by U.S. authorities as one of the worst sites for the illegal distribution of music,” said Enzo Mazza, chief of FIMI, Italy’s answer to the RIAA. “The intervention of the Italian authorities was very important, especially for the protection of legal music in Italy, which now represents 30% of the market. Platforms such as The Pirate Bay, BTjunkie and KickAssTorrents are run by criminal organizations that make millions from advertising.” Responding to the news, Italian lawyer Giovanni Battista Gallus told TorrentFreak that unlike The Pirate Bay blockade, there is no “proper” court order for the current blockade. This also happened with the BTjunkie block earlier, which was handled by the same prosecutor. “In this case the order has been issued only by the public prosecutor, without any judicial intervention,” he said. “I have serious doubts whether this is appropriate under Italian criminal procedure law, and I’m very curious to see the outcome of an appeal against this order.”

The extent of the forthcoming blockade isn’t clear from the information currently being released. However, the GdF statement specifically mentions kickasstorrents.com, a domain the site left behind when it switched to Kat.ph in April 2011.

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Wikipedia Will Go Dark (Blackout) While Protesting Against SOPA/PIPA

Not only Anonymous, The White House but also The Wikipedia Community has decided to blackout (Go Dark) the English version of Wikipedia for 24 hours, in protest against proposed legislation in the United States the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and PROTECTIP (PIPA) in the U.S. Senate. Wiki said that if the bill get passed, "this legislation will harm the free and open Internet and bring about new tools for censorship of international websites inside the United States." 

In A Public Statement Wikipedia Said:- 

"Over the course of the past 72 hours, over 1800 Wikipedians have joined together to discuss proposed actions that the community might wish to take against SOPA and PIPA. This is by far the largest level of participation in a community discussion ever seen on Wikipedia, which illustrates the level of concern that Wikipedians feel about this proposed legislation. The overwhelming majority of participants support community action to encourage greater public action in response to these two bills. Of the proposals considered by Wikipedians, those that would result in a "blackout" of the English Wikipedia, in concert with similar blackouts on other websites opposed to SOPA and PIPA, received the strongest support.

“Today Wikipedians from around the world have spoken about their opposition to this destructive legislation," said Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia. "This is an extraordinary action for our community to take - and while we regret having to prevent the world from having access to Wikipedia for even a second, we simply cannot ignore the fact that SOPA and PIPA endanger free speech both in the United States and abroad, and set a frightening precedent of Internet censorship for the world."

We urge Wikipedia readers to make your voices heard. If you live in the United States, find your elected representative in Washington (https://www.eff.org/sopacall). If you live outside the United States, contact your State Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or similar branch of government. Tell them you oppose SOPA and PIPA, and want the internet to remain open and free."

The announcement follows a tweet by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales in which he said "Wikipedia protesting bad law on Wednesday!" The proposed legislation in question is the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), also known as House Bill 3261 or H.R. 3261, and the PROTECT IP Act (Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011), aka Senate Bill 968 or S. 968. This legislation is intended to prevent online piracy, but those opposing the proposals believe that the legislation will be used to censor the internet and endanger free speech. In an open letter, Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director Sue Gardner said that, if passed, the proposed laws "would seriously damage the free and open Internet, including Wikipedia". 

-Source (The-H)

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Wikipedia Will Go Dark (Blackout) in Russia to Protest Censorship (Act for Information)

Wikipedia Will Go Dark (Blackout) in Russia to Protest Censorship (Act for Information)

All of us must know that near about six months ago Wikipedia goes offline or in other word Wikipedia gone dark (black out) globally for 24 hours, while showing a massive Web protest in the U.S. over the proposed anti-piracy laws SOPA and PIPA. Yet again it's stepping up again in a major Internet revolt against online censorship in Russia. According to sources the Russian government is currently exploring amendments to the “Act for information”. The proposed changes to the law could lead to sweeping censorship of the Internet, including the complete closure of Wikipedia in Russia. 

In addition to the proposed amendments to the "Act for Information," the government is also mulling over another bill that harkens back to the country's Soviet past with harsh censorship crackdowns. Under the draft bill, all Web sites that contain pornography or drug references, or that promote suicide or other "extremist ideas," will purportedly face blacklisting. These new laws come in the wake of an online uprising that happened before the inauguration of Russian President Vladimir Putin in May. During these protests, thousands of people took to writing on blogs and social networks demanding a new ballot after claims of rigged votes and electoral corruption during Putin's election.

Wikipedia posted a statement in Russian and asking for everyone’s help by sharing this link and spreading the word about what’s going on. The amendments are being read today and if they’re accepted then a date will be chosen that could in essence, wipe Wikipedia off of the Internet in Russia.

Message of Wikipedia to the World:- 

"Lobbyists and activists supporting the amendments, argue that they are directed exclusively against the content such as child pornography "and things like that," but to follow the provisions and wording to be discussed, will result in the creation of a Russian analogue of the "Great Chinese Firewall." The practice of law, which exists in Russia, says a high probability of worst-case scenario, in which access to Wikipedia was soon to be closed across the country."

-Source (Insider & Cnet)

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Anonymous Vows To Shutdown CNN.com (#OpDebateBlackout)

Anonymous Vows To Shutdown CNN.com (#OpDebateBlackout)

The protest against Internet censorship by Anonymous continues. Now they have called another operation named #OpDebateBlackout. According to a YouTube video Anon vows to shutdown famous media CNN during yesterday night debate. Anon said:- "Shut down CNN.com during the Florida debate. In response to the establishment media blackout of Ron Paul, and specifically to the lack of equal time given to him in the debates, we the people will be blacking out the responses of all candidates except Ron Paul in the upcoming CNN debate in Jacksonville Florida on Thursday, January 26 at 8PM eastern standard time. This is a call to all who are willing and able to join this effort to show the establishment media that we will not tolerate the continued media blackout of Ron Paul, and that we will, in return, shut down the cnn website and their live stream of the debate."

Video Release:- 

Earlier for #SOPAblackout issue anon has performed massive cyber attack. And also for #OpMegaupload they have bring down Federal Authorities, US Govt, Brazil Govt, Ireland's Dept of Finance & Justice, CBS TV Network, UFC.com and many more. We would also like to give you reminder that this is not the first time earlier Anon also threatened another media (FOX News) in the #OpFoxHunt.

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Sony Hacked Again, 1 Million User Data Compromised

A group of hackers that recently gained notoriety for hacking PBS.org’s home page with an image of NyanCat, announced Thursday that it has stolen data from Sony. It’s yet another in a seemingly endless string of embarrassing security incidents for the company, but what’s shocking is just how exposed the data was to begin with.
In a press release posted to their Web site, LulzSec claims to have broken into SonyPictures.com and “compromised over 1,000,000 users’ personal information, including passwords, email addresses, home addresses, dates of birth, and all Sony opt-in data associated with their accounts.”
The theft included 75,000 “music codes” and 3.5 million “music coupons,” according to the group. LulzSec has posted segments of data they claim to have taken from Sony’s server to serve as proof of their accomplishment.
There are two astonishing twists to this story - one is that LulzSec was apparently able to access the information fairly easily, using what they describe as “a very simple SQL injection, one of the most primitive and common vulnerabilities.” Secondly, “every bit of data we took wasn’t encrypted. Sony stored over 1,000,000 passwords of its customers in plaintext, which means it’s just a matter of taking it. This is disgraceful and insecure: they were asking for it.”
If true, it’s devastating news for Sony, which is just getting back on its feet after shutting down access to its PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment servers after hackers made off with personal information on more than 100 million user accounts.
The PlayStation Network, which controls PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable users’ ability to connect to one another to play online games, was down for more than three weeks through the last half of April and first half of May as Sony struggled to secure the system.
And only in the past 24 hours has Sony brought back its PlayStation Store, which serves as a way for PS3 and PSP users to download games and content for their systems.
Sony hasn’t even yet initiated its “Welcome Back” package for consumers affected by the PSN blackout - a collection of about $100 worth of games and content, as well as access to the company’s premium “PlayStation Plus” service.
SonyPictures.com isn’t directly related to the PlayStation 3 or PlayStation Network - it’s Sony’s consumer-facing Internet site for information on their movies, television and home entertainment offerings on Blu-Ray Disc and other formats. But Sony’s many Web sites and servers have been on the receiving end of security probes and hack attacks for some time, exacerbated by the company’s legal proceedings against George “Geohot” Hotz, a programmer who sought to “jailbreak” or enable the PlayStation 3 console to support Linux operating system software - a feature Sony once supported itself, but later removed in a firmware update. Since the widely-publicized outage of the PlayStation Network, hackers have stepped up their attempts to break into Sony’s systems.

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Operation Blackout By Anonymous (#OpBlackout)

Hacktivist Anonymous has called #OpBlackout. Anon has threatened to fight the US government over alleged censorship of the internet. The group claims that the US government "is censoring the internet", employing ISP blocks, DNS blocks, search engine and web site censorship, and a variety of other methods to stifle freedom. Anonymous has called on the citizens of the US to stand up against their government in what it described as "not a call to arms, but a call to recognition and action". It also called on the people of other countries to "fight back", adding that their governments will most likely follow suit.

In a Press Release Anonymous Said:-

"Citizens of the United States, We are Anonymous.


This is an urgent emergency alert to all people of the United States. The day we've all been waiting for has unfortunately arrived. The United States is censoring the internet. Our blatant response is that we will not sit while our rights are taken away by the government we trusted them to preserve. This is not a call to arms, but a call to recognition and action!
The United States government has mastered this corrupt way of giving us a false sense of freedom. We think we are free and can do what we want, but in reality we are very limited and restricted as to what we can do, how we can think, and even how our education is obtained. We have been so distracted by this mirage of freedom, that we have just become what we were trying to escape from.
For too long, we have been idle as our brothers and sisters were arrested. During this time, the government has been scheming, plotting ways to increase censorship through means of I S P block aides, D N S blockings, search engine censorship, website censorship, and a variety of other methods that directly oppose the values and ideas of both Anonymous as well as the founding fathers of this country, who believed in free speech and press!
The United States has often been used as an example of the ideal free country. When the one nation that is known for its freedom and rights start to abuse its own people, this is when you must fight back, because others are soon to follow. Do not think that just because you are not a United States citizen, that this does not apply to you. You cannot wait for your country to decide to do the same. You must stop it before it grows, before it becomes acceptable. You must destroy its foundation before it becomes too powerful.
Has the U.S. government not learned from the past? Has it not seen the 2011 revolutions? Has it not seen that we oppose this wherever we find it and that we will continue to oppose it? Obviously the United States Government thinks they are exempt. This is not only an Anonymous collective call to action. What will a Distributed Denial of Service attack do? What's a website de face ment against the corrupted powers of the government? No. This is a call for a worldwide internet and physical protest against the powers that be. Spread this message everywhere. We will not stand for this! Tell your parents, your neighbors, your fellow workers, your school teachers, and anyone else you come in contact with. This affects anyone that desires the freedom to browse anonymously, speak freely without fear of retribution, or protest without fear of arrest.
Go to every I R C network, every social network, every online community, and tell them of the atrocity that is about to be committed. If protest is not enough, the United States government shall see that we are truly legion and we shall come together as one force opposing this attempt to censor the internet once again, and in the process discourage any other government from continuing or trying.


We are Anonymous.
We are Legion.
We do not forgive censorship.
We do not forget the denial of our free rights as human beings.
To the United States government, you should've expected us.

..."

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NSA Is Suspecting That Anonymous Could Shutdown The Entire U.S. Power Grid

NSA Is Suspecting That Anonymous Could Shutdown The Entire U.S. Power Grid

Earlier we have covered that Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology told that U.S. power grid needs cyber security protection. Now the US Govt is suspecting that 'Hactivist' Anonymous may target this vulnerable point and shut down the entire U.S. power grid within the next two years. General Keith Alexander The head of the National Security Agency has warned- that the hacker collective group Anonymous may be able to bring about a limited national power outage through a cyber attack. In the meeting at White House has relayed his concerns. Though he has not publicly expressed his concerns about the potential for Anonymous to disrupt power supplies, he has warned publicly about an emerging ability by cyber attackers to disable or even damage computer networks. Still Anonymous has never indicated to perform cyber attack against US power grid, but in the last week they have called Operation Global Blackout, a plan to shut down the Internet on March 31. And the security experts are suspecting that while executing that attack Anon may target the US power grid.

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US Congress Postponed SOPA & PIPA Bills

US Congress Postponed SOPA & PIPA Bills

#Blackout Protest against SOPA really works and the result is now in front of us. The US Congress has halted debate on two contested anti-online piracy bills. In a statement Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said "In light of recent events, I have decided to postpone Tuesday's vote on the PROTECT IP Act,"

Chairman Smith: “I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy. It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products. The problem of online piracy is too big to ignore. American intellectual property industries provide 19 million high-paying jobs and account for more than 60 percent of U.S. exports. The theft of America’s intellectual property costs the U.S. economy more than $100 billion annually and results in the loss of thousands of American jobs.  Congress cannot stand by and do nothing while American innovators and job creators are under attack."

Actually they are forced to take this decision as because the mass did not at all welcome these acts. Not only Anonymous but also Wikipedia, The White House and many other sites opposed to see 'Censored web'. So US Congress is forced to delayed those two controversial bills. This is indeed a big win for those who stand against SOPA/PIPA. 

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Sony pegs loss of PlayStation Network and Qrirocity service to an ‘external intrusion’

Sony officially confirms that the loss of service on PlayStation Network and Qrirocity is the result of an "external intrusion," though hacker group Anonymous denies any involvement.

Sony has a bit of a problem on its hands. For a few days now, users have experienced a total blackout on the company’s PlayStation Network and Qrirocity online services. The loss of access is largely believed to the work of the hacker group Anonymous, which has pledged to keep the pressure on the Japan-based company in the wake of a very public legal dust-up with PlayStation 3 jailbreak hacker George “GeoHot” Hotz.

Sony’s online gaming and music streaming networks both went down in the middle of last week. The cause hasn’t been specified until today, with a new post on PlayStation Blog which pegs the loss of service to a Sony-initiated shutdown prompted by an “external intrusion.”

Sony senior director of communications and social media Patrick Seybold writes:

“An external intrusion on our system has affected our PlayStation Network and Qriocity services. In order to conduct a thorough investigation and to verify the smooth and secure operation of our network services going forward, we turned off PlayStation Network & Qriocity services on the evening of Wednesday, April 20th. Providing quality entertainment services to our customers and partners is our utmost priority. We are doing all we can to resolve this situation quickly, and we once again thank you for your patience. We will continue to update you promptly as we have additional information to share.”

Don’t hold your breath, account holders. This is a significant event, and a pretty widespread one. Sony will certainly fix it as quickly as possible, and no doubt has a full team in the office this weekend to work on just that, but here are two subscription-driven services that had to be taken completely offline. You can almost hear the disgruntled masses gathered and throwing around words like “class action lawsuit.”

Interestingly, Anonymous is taking no credit for the service outage, and actually stepped forward to distance itself from the situation before Sony admitted to an “external intrusion” being the cause. The hacker group’s web-based news & updates outlet AnonNews features a post entitled “For Once We Didn’t Do It,” which pretty much says it all, doesn’t it? Anonymous admits that individual members may be responsible for the action, but the loss of service is not a group-wide initiative.

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Anonplus the Social Networking site of Anonymous

Renowned hacker group Anonymous revealed yesterday that its Google+ profile has been removed and that their Gmail account has been blocked as well. Google claims that the profile and account go against "Community Standards" and has shut down most, if not all, profiles related to Anonymous.
As a result of being blocked, Anonymous says that they have organized against Google+ and will be developing their own social network, dubbed "AnonPlus."
Welcome to AnonPlus. This will be your future. This will be our future. Today, we welcome you to begin anew…to watch this glorious incipience happen – one upon which you will never turn your back on. Welcome to the Revolution – a new social network where there is no fear…of censorship…of blackout…nor of holding back. Life is what you make of it – and we are making it. As you step through into the coming weeks, months, and years with us…they will know that we've arrived. There will be no more oppression. There will be no more tyranny. We are the people and we are Anonymous. We have arrived.
The site currently has the Anonymous logo, the text that is above, a link to the dev forums, and a version number (0.1). From what we can tell, Anonymous is taking this pretty seriously.
 

What do you think? Was Google right in blocking Anonymous' profiles? What do you think about AnonPlus?

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