STOP THE RIAA FROM INVADING YOUR PRIVACY!!

The RIAA is, and has been, hiring "gray-hat" hackers to get into the computers of downloaders.

Here are some of the anti-P2P programs and their industry codenames. (taken from September 2003 issue of Wired Magazine):
ANTINODE: Creates fake "supernodes", signposts used by some file-sharing technologies (Kazaa, for example) to guide users' computers to files.The psuedo-supernodes distribute misleading file information.

FESTER: Puts the word out on file-sharing networks that RIAA servers have music files for download. The servers redirect users to black hole sites, tying them up indefinitely. Newer P2P clients drop useless connections more quickly, so this approach may already be obsolete.

FREEZE: Uses an existing bug in P2P clients to remotely "hang" computers hunting for MP3's. The result could be more than mere frustration- unsaved data can be lost during a long hang. It's in development now.

SHAME: If implemented, would distribute a benign P2P virus in an illegal media file that adds the words "I Steal music on the internet" to a user's email signature. Expect to see that appear as a slogan on T-shirts a few minutes later.

SILENCE: Scans computers on P2P networks for illegal material, hacks into the pirate machine, and deletes the data. One problem:Early versions delete legal MP3's, too.

SUCK:Scours the Net for large libraries of MP3's, and then starts asking for files. And asking. And asking. Eventually, the requests clog library owners'connections like hair in a pipe - and if the RIAA is using that bandwidth, then nobody else is. As a bonus, this approach generates huge volumes of data traffic, driving up pirates' usage and incurring the wrath of ISPs.

TATTLE: Recruits other industries. If you have lots of liberated music, chances are you also have a few pieces of software that fell off the back of a truck. Recording industry bots already track online piracy - insiders have suggested the RIAA share that information with the software and movie industries.

OK FOLKS.... This is my problem:
ALL of these "anti-P2P" programs are an invasion of our privacy. They allow the RIAA to look into our computers, track what we are downloading, delete our files, and add "signatures" to our email. What gives them the right to delete our files? Files that might not even be an MP3 from a store bought cd, or from a P2P program? For all they know, someone may have used a digital camera or a webcam and made a video of precious family memories and saved it on their pc. I know I would be pissed if that kind of sentimental stuff got deleted. When I read this, I immediatly checked on the Net for hacking Laws. This is what I found:
http://www.rent-a-hacker.com/hacklaw.htm
http://www.cybercrime.gov/

If you think this wrong, as I do, please sign this petition, and it will be sent to the proper people. Hopefully, if we get enough signatures, something will be done about this blatant disregard of personal privacy.