I'm actually interested in how exactly something like this is leaked? Assuming editors and 3D artists are worried about job security, how easy would a disgruntled poster worker (or, for a flair for the dramatic, a rival studio executive posing as a disgruntled poster worker) be able to handle a copy? Do they just send progress copies to executives and studio heads unencrypted?
I found a pretty fascinating article on zdnet about suppliers.It seems like most warez scene material comes from a few source.
Physical insiders who actually work for the the company who produces the software. Company employees have easy access to company materials. This also includes the packers at packaging warehouses. This is usually how pre-release material gets pirated.
Credit Card fraud is used to purchase copies that are pirated. This brings more unwanted attention, so is frowned on.
FTP snooping. A lot of software companies have full versions of products on their websites.
Hacking. Sometimes companies are actually broken into. This is not very common.
Social Engineering. Sometimes companies are fooled into sending review copies to fake reviewers.
Demo cds. Once the licensing scheme is cracked, key generators are made for the demo cds.
Retail versions. Groups race to buy software and crack it immediately after it is released.
It sounded like most suppliers did it for the recognition and excitement. One supplier actually said he would quit his high paying legal job to work as a janitor at AutoDesk, because he would be able to pirate more software. And occasionally people get compensated for it. One warez group had members in Intel in the 1990s, so every month the top supplier would get free Intel hardware. And sometimes groups will pay suppliers with access to material to stay in boring jobs.
I understand that the x-men movie and Hacker News have a lot of audience overlap. That said, this feels more like a reddit/digg post. I know, I know, it's a subjective judgement, and I'm new. And the scope of HN isn't limited to tech. still....
I finally created an account so that I could flag stuff like this that I personally wouldn't like to see here, but I don't see the option, probably because I don't have any karma. Is there a doc somewhere that states what actions are available to users at any given karma level? Am I so blind that I overlooked something obvious in my searches?
6 comments
[ 3.9 ms ] story [ 29.4 ms ] threadPhysical insiders who actually work for the the company who produces the software. Company employees have easy access to company materials. This also includes the packers at packaging warehouses. This is usually how pre-release material gets pirated.
Credit Card fraud is used to purchase copies that are pirated. This brings more unwanted attention, so is frowned on.
FTP snooping. A lot of software companies have full versions of products on their websites.
Hacking. Sometimes companies are actually broken into. This is not very common.
Social Engineering. Sometimes companies are fooled into sending review copies to fake reviewers.
Demo cds. Once the licensing scheme is cracked, key generators are made for the demo cds.
Retail versions. Groups race to buy software and crack it immediately after it is released.
It sounded like most suppliers did it for the recognition and excitement. One supplier actually said he would quit his high paying legal job to work as a janitor at AutoDesk, because he would be able to pirate more software. And occasionally people get compensated for it. One warez group had members in Intel in the 1990s, so every month the top supplier would get free Intel hardware. And sometimes groups will pay suppliers with access to material to stay in boring jobs.
Piracy guide:http://servv89pn0aj.sn.sourcedns.com/~gbpprorg/2600/piracygu...
free zdnet paper:http://whitepapers.zdnet.com/abstract.aspx?docid=265302
zdnet account info:http://www.bugmenot.com/view/zdnet.com (note: the bugmenot registration request is an april fools joke)
I understand that the x-men movie and Hacker News have a lot of audience overlap. That said, this feels more like a reddit/digg post. I know, I know, it's a subjective judgement, and I'm new. And the scope of HN isn't limited to tech. still....
I finally created an account so that I could flag stuff like this that I personally wouldn't like to see here, but I don't see the option, probably because I don't have any karma. Is there a doc somewhere that states what actions are available to users at any given karma level? Am I so blind that I overlooked something obvious in my searches?
From what I've read:
upvote comments: 10
downvoting and flagging: 51
make polls: <=150
change top bar color: 250
See http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=438936
To search yc vist http://searchyc.com/