PirateBox offline file-sharing solution puts pirates out of authorities’ reach
83 replies, posted
Can the box then communicate with the internet its-self?
Regardless, I actually want to build these as a project manager for school teams.
[QUOTE=Im Crimson;35114864]Only concern I have is that it might cause the "war" on piracy to be driven down to street level. In any case, if law enforcement personnel would be assigned anti-piracy duties (and they probably won't, they have burglars, rapists and murderers to catch) it would be a pretty simple task to locate and take down the PirateBoxes. You'd just need to have one cop driving around with a Wifi unit for detecting the PirateBox networks and fine the households caught operating one.[/QUOTE]
This is one of those things that only works if it doesn't catch on.
[QUOTE=Im Crimson;35114864]Only concern I have is that it might cause the "war" on piracy to be driven down to street level. In any case, if law enforcement personnel would be assigned anti-piracy duties (and they probably won't, they have burglars, rapists and murderers to catch) it would be a pretty simple task to locate and take down the PirateBoxes. You'd just need to have one cop driving around with a Wifi unit for detecting the PirateBox networks and fine the households caught operating one. Even with the minuscule risk the fear of getting caught red-handed would discourage usage of these.[/QUOTE]
The simple solution to this is to make it so that all the info is encrypted, and you additionally need a password to access it.
[QUOTE=Mr. Smartass;35114901]Can the box then communicate with the internet its-self?
Regardless, I actually want to build these as a project manager for school teams.[/QUOTE]
It would be possible if you left the jack for an internet connection exposed on the router, or bridged the router to an internet connected one. But it wouldn't really provide any benefits as it would be like normal piracy and file sharing, and kind of defeats the point of the device.
[editline]13th March 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=Mr. Smartass;35114951]The simple solution to this is to make it so that all the info is encrypted, and you additionally need a password to access it.[/QUOTE]
Both of which defeat the point of it. The box is meant to be left publicly accessible to encourage file sharing. Locking it down goes against the purpose. Unless you are literally using it to share with a select few.
[QUOTE=Mr. Smartass;35114951]The simple solution to this is to make it so that all the info is encrypted, and you additionally need a password to access it.[/QUOTE]
But if it's hidden from everyone and everything, how will people gain access in the first place? Making the PirateBox undetectable would imply not having it broadcast itself, since even if it was passworded and encrypted you'd still be able to trace the broadcast signal otherwise. Law enforcement wouldn't see the sharing network but neither would any anonymous pirates. In that case you'd need to have a real-life contact to pass the info on (which would defeat anonymity) or the info would need to be posted somewhere on the Internet (which would defeat security).
The answer might be PirateBoxes chaining ad-hoc but they apparently don't have this capacity (yet)? Then, is this really that much different than just passing a game DVD with a crack around your circle of friends?
[QUOTE=Mr. Smartass;35114951]The simple solution to this is to make it so that all the info is encrypted, and you additionally need a password to access it.[/QUOTE]
Encrypting and passwording the information kind of defeats the point of making it open and public for use, don't you think? :v:
[QUOTE=Im Crimson;35115087]Then, is this really that much different than just passing a game DVD with a crack around your circle of friends?[/QUOTE]
Agreed, I thought this was something bigger. It might have interesting use if one were to sneak into a public place like a library, cyber cafe, or even a university! Then the owner could set up rights for anonymous uploading, establish a moderation queue (so it doesn't get spammed with goatse), and have the clients spread the word.
Bam, a hivemind that's off the grid.
[QUOTE=Gmod4ever;35115160]Encrypting and passwording the information kind of defeats the point of making it open and public for use, don't you think? :v:[/QUOTE]
The mere nature of it defeats the point of anonymity
You'd never know how to use it unless someone told you, and you would need to be told about any in the area.
[QUOTE=cccritical;35110450]one guy drops $50 on assembling one of these, puts autodesk 2012 on it, and walks into a starbucks
every person that gets within range of him can download that $3,500 program for $0[/QUOTE]
Which btw when I saw that was how much the commercial licence cost my jaw dropped
[QUOTE=cccritical;35110450]one guy drops $50 on assembling one of these, puts autodesk 2012 on it, and walks into a starbucks
every person that gets within range of him can download that $3,500 program for $0[/QUOTE]
But those people could just go to TPB.
Why are you people celebrating this?
this is laughably excessive
[QUOTE=Gmod4ever;35108770]Yeah, the only real issue is malware.
But I wouldn't think it would be too difficult to install a simple antivirus onto the thing, scanning uploads as they come in and dealing with them. Don't quote me on that - that's outside my comfort zone. I don't know much at all about network security.
[editline]12th March 2012[/editline]
Then build one. It costs maybe $50 - $40 for the router, $10 for the USB.[/QUOTE]
installing clamav on the box should be enough
[QUOTE=Mr. Smartass;35117164]But those people could just go to TPB.[/QUOTE]
The point of this is so even if TPB and other sites like it are down, file-sharing can still continue in some way.
I'm not sure I'd want to be within WIFI range of other known pirates
Sting operations, sting operations everywhere
Obviously that would only happen if these things really caught on
[QUOTE=InsanePyro;35118510]I'm not sure I'd want to be within WIFI range of other known pirates
Sting operations, sting operations everywhere
Obviously that would only happen if these things really caught on[/QUOTE]
Plus a really ballsy idiot could spread viruses.
Perhaps the Raspberry PI
[IMG]https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT7yirKPiPTvcvfjsIXd0uyrk5S0xWOFLFe_L-hmhVnzbaNtxWcdw[/IMG]
and the ALFA 1W/2W Network Adapter with a high gain antenna
[IMG]https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS6x1aiKJrKIG__uzoIEDkNYPnEVAzHGs92N1ymmdQJfzc0IrYB5g[/IMG]
[QUOTE=Im Crimson;35114864]Only concern I have is that it might cause the "war" on piracy to be driven down to street level. In any case, if law enforcement personnel would be assigned anti-piracy duties (and they probably won't, they have burglars, rapists and murderers to catch) it would be a pretty simple task to locate and take down the PirateBoxes. You'd just need to have one cop driving around with a Wifi unit for detecting the PirateBox networks and fine the households caught operating one. Even with the minuscule risk the fear of getting caught red-handed would discourage usage of these.[/QUOTE]
Highly unlikely tho...
[editline]13th March 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=ayre10;35120304]Perhaps the Raspberry PI
[IMG]https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT7yirKPiPTvcvfjsIXd0uyrk5S0xWOFLFe_L-hmhVnzbaNtxWcdw[/IMG]
and the ALFA 1W/2W Network Adapter with a high gain antenna
[IMG]https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS6x1aiKJrKIG__uzoIEDkNYPnEVAzHGs92N1ymmdQJfzc0IrYB5g[/IMG][/QUOTE]
This is something i want to do... its got better stuff and yeah
[QUOTE=Ericson666;35110139]Oh wonderful, now more idiots can get free stuff while the rest of us suffer for it...
Thanks, science!
Edit:
Come on pirates! Give me more boxes! Justify yourselves![/QUOTE]
Pleade justify your piracy if you rated this dumb. Unless you have no argument. Then just admit that you steal out of selfishness.
[QUOTE=King Tiger;35120581]Pleade justify your piracy if you rated this dumb. Unless you have no argument. Then just admit that you steal out of selfishness.[/QUOTE]
[URL="http://facepunch.com/forums/403"]Mass Debate forum is over here[/URL]
I'm sorry for derailing.
[QUOTE=King Tiger;35120581]Pleade justify your piracy if you rated this dumb. Unless you have no argument. Then just admit that you steal out of selfishness.[/QUOTE]
Not really about justifying piracy and more that this is still a pretty cool idea, no matter the purpose
[QUOTE=sami-pso;35108366]I am not the brightest when it comes to these things. Why does a piece of hardware help me against getting caught pirating? Is it a bit like the Tor network?[/QUOTE]
you're not the brightest because you decided to not read the article
Guys, you're missing the golden question. Can we pirate this shit?
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