List of warez groups

Parent article: Warez

This is a list of some notable warez groups. Such groups typically tag their releases with FILE_ID.DIZ and NFO files.

Historical groups

These groups have existed for several years, or have already disbanded.

• Bentley Sidwell Productions

Bentley Sidwell Productions is said to have made the first IBM PC cracktros, because they credited themselves with CGA animations in their cracks.

History [1]

• CiA > The Corporation (CORP) > SHOCK

Born July 1996 out of the defunct group CiA, SHOCK was founded by Outbreak. In October 1996, SHOCK successfully merged with :the group The Corporation (CORP). In 1998, SHOCK surpassed 1000 releases and also saw the birth of SHOCK's ISO division (SHOCKiSO). In 1999, SHOCK passed the 1500 release barrier. May 30, 2000, SHOCK passed the 2000 release milestone.

History

• Drink Or Die (DoD)

Managed to release Windows 95 before it came out as retail. Subject to raid in Operation Buccaneer.

• EViL

The iSO division (EViLiSO) released American Pie on the internet 3 months before its theatrical release. [2]

• Fantastic Four Cracking Group (F4CG)

Fantastic Four was a warez release group that also cracked copy protected games on the Commodore 64. Founded circa 1983, they typically included a cracktro with their releases. Still active as of 2005, albeit in a much less prominent role.

• FiRM

The Firm was a notable PC cracking group from the late 80's and early 1990s. They released mainly cracked games but also created several utilities such as PkUnlite which unpacked executables which were compressed using Phil Katz PkLite. [3]

• International Network of Crackers (INC)

INC was one of the premier cracking/releasing warez for the IBM PC during the very late 1980s and early 90s. The majority of their releases during 1993 were educational games for children. By early 1994, INC had completely disappeared from the warez scene.

• National Elite Underground Alliance (NEUA)

National Elite Underground Alliance was an IBM PC warez release organization largely based out of New York which operated during the very early 1990s.

• Pirates With Attitude (PWA)

They were a major international warez release group from 1992 until 2000. The group was formed by two former INC members known by the pseudonyms Orion and Bar Manager. PWA made global headlines by releasing Microsoft Windows 98 4 weeks before it hit store shelves. PWA members were raided close after the passing of the No Electronic Theft or "NET" Act.

• Public Enemy (PE)

Public Enemy was a highly competitive cracking group during the early 1990s. In 1990, PE formed a coop with Red Sector, Inc., similar to that of the Tristar and Red Sector, Inc. (TRSI) coop.

[4]

• Radium (RDM)

Intentionally disbanded in 2001 to avoid the BSA who had them listed as their #1 target; attempts have been made to restart it. Known primarily for high dollar audio editing software such as Cubase VST and Pro Tools. While existing, Radium were said to have offered better support for their releases than the companies who actually manufactured the programs.

Several verses of the rap song Hackers and the Crackers" by Zearle are devoted to the group Radium. In 2004, someone discovered that some of the sounds included in Windows are made with pirated tools supplied by this group. [5] [6]

One of their greater accomplishments was to actually speed up the "Fraunhofer MP3 codec" as well as cracking the copy protection.

• Razor 1911 (RZR)

Subject to raid in Operation Buccaneer and Operation Fastlink. They disbanded after this.

• The Dream Team (TDT)

A late 1980s, early 1990s, games release group. Later became known as The Dream Syndicate (TDS).

• The Humble Guys (THG)

IBM PC group which released the very first "NFO files".

• Triad

One of the leading Commodore 64 groups.

• Tristar and Red Sector, Inc. (TRSI)

TRSI began in 1990 as a cooperative Commodore 64 demo coding and cracking group. The alliance between Tristar and Red Sector, Inc. was formed after different group members met up at KewL Party in Denmark. TRSI naturally migrated from the C64 release platform to the Amiga and IBM-PC, and even branched off into the console gaming scene before finally disbanding their warez division. In late 2003 TRSI became inactive and remains so today.

• TDU-JAM!

Was the official CD-RIP division of the PC games group Genesis. Disbanded in 1995 after their final release War Craft 2.

• United Software Association (USA)

The United Software Association was a prominent IBM PC warez (gamez and appz) group during the 1990s. USA formed a co-op with the PC warez division of Fairlight which was best known as "USA/FLT". In late January of 1992, several members of USA were busted by the United States Secret Service and the Farmington Hills, Michigan Police for credit card fraud.

• Whiskey Kon Tekila (WkT!)

Whiskey Kon Tekila - The Original Spanish Reversers. WkT was a spanish cracking group, which was last seen active back in 2001

• X-Force (X-F)

An appz from the early/mid-90s, disbanded in 2001. Some members were busted in Operation Fastlink.

Cracking Tutorial Group

• Cracking4Newbies

Offical group irc channel is #cracking4newbies on EFnet, official group web site is http://c4nfaq.cjb.net/

• New2Cracking

Offical group irc channel is #new2cracking on EFnet, offical group web site is http://new2cracking.cjb.net/

Applications and 0day groups

• Again

Leader goes by the nickname "mistie", members include Webster, pReJKEr, DarkLord, Benek/Larson, darkwolf. Afiliated top sites include The Wolves' House(.NL HQ).

• AG

Graphics tutorial and videos group, members include "bazuka".

• AGES

A trainer group for the IBM PC (Windows) formed in 2004. Early intros from Ages which accompanied their release made use of an inverted Sega logo.

• Phrozen Crew (PC)

Phrozen Crew one of the first strictly software cracking groups to evolve; they were consistantly declared the best. Phrozen Crew received much public scrutiny. Founded in 1993 by Aphex Twin it would become infamous under the leadership of member the Keyboard Caper (tKC). Although not as active as they were in the mid to late 1990s Phrozen Crew is still active as of 2005.

• Challenge of Reverse Engineering (CORE)

CORE is a software cracking group for the IBM PC which has released more than 10,000 cracks. They tend to release primarily keygens and include a cracktro or installer with music on most releases.

• ViRiLiTY

This cracking group recently celebrated their 5,000th release on May 15, 2005.

• SSG

Netherland based group, members include CVS, Frodo, Macross, Hard Wisdom. Afiliated top sites include Midgard(.CX HQ), Wizard(.Li HQ) and OZone(.CC HQ).

• TWK

TWK was born in 2004 in the PC Games RIP Scene. Now they specializes at application releasing. They are currently at war with TNT.

Application (ISO) groups

• Legend (LND)

Focus on CAD and CAM related applications. Leaders go by the nickname "Webster" from Team Infected and "Darkwolf" from AOD(Angels on Drugs).

• Warez3D (W3D)

Releases various gfx related video tutorials and applications. Offical group irc channel is #warez3d on EFnet, leader goes by the nick "Rhodan".

• Magnitude

Leader goes by the nickname "mistie" and "webster", CX HeadQuarter is abbreviated TO, also was an affiliated by TDA.

• Fusion

Internet Distributor of Pirated Software Pleads Guilty to Criminal Copyright Infringement

• H2O (H2O)

H2O is an audiowarez group.

• Rebels (RBS)

History of Rebels

• RogueWarriorz (RWZ)

Twelve "Operation Bandwidth" Software Pirates Enter into Group Guilty Plea

• The Devine Alcoholics (TDA)

Subject to raid in Operation Site Down in 2005.

• United Cracking Force (uCF)

The uNITED cRACKING fORCE also known as uCF2000, is a warez group specializing in software cracking. Established in February 1994, by its founder mARQUIS dE sOIRE, it was run by him until he left the group in October 1998. The group celebrated their 10th year in operation in 2004. As of 2005 uCF is still active and has released more than 5000 cracks.

• We Love Warez (WLW)

Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Copyright Infringement. WLW was subject to raid during Operation Buccaneer, Operation Fastlink, and Operation Safehaven.

• XiSO

This warez group is most famous for the 2003 of the first completed Microsoft Windows DVD set. Although they are famous for releasing All-in-One CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs along with cracks (such as to bypass serial keys and Windows Product Activation), they do not produce any of the cracks. They often attack large corporations, releasing every version and edition of products for names such as Microsoft, Adobe, Macromedia, Symantec, and a few others. XiSO has filled the void in APPS scene, left by the busts of PWA and DoD.

Beta Software Groups

• NeTerZ (Formerly Betas-Online)
• WiNBETA [7]

Originally branching of from the DALNet #Betas channel, they originally showed up releasing small tidbits such as "SideShow" and various MSN Messenger Betas. They are now the main Microsoft Beta release group besides BetasIRC. WiNBETA lately has been specializing in releasing Windows Vista Alphas and Betas.

• BetasIRC [8]

Another Beta group specializing in releasing Windows Vista Alphas and Betas.

• iNFLUENCE

Involved in the Microsoft BetaPlace Hack of 2002, releasing various OEM Windows .NET 2003 Betas and responsible for leaking Windows Longhorn Build 3718.

• BetaOS

Originally stationed on EFNet and specialized in Windows XP Betas.

• xBetas [9]

Involved in the Windows Longhorn Build 3683 leak (though it's unsure if WiNBETA or xBetas originally leaked it). Also were the target of the Windows Longhorn Build 4062 Prank leaded by betaguy9000, ReflectiaX and Zoronax.

PC Games Groups

• CLASS (CLS)

Class is a prolific game warez group which has been the repeated target of federal raids such as Operation Fastlink. They sometimes have elaborate art in the release (Music, 3D Animation, Logo designs, et cetera). They are a global group and have many members worldwide.

Class was notorious for releasing a game, followed by a "fix" release to fix problems with running the cracked game. Technically defunct but occasionally making releases (they supposadly stopped after their 1,234'th release.

• DEViANCE (DEV)

Subject to raid in Operation Fastlink. The group made a reappearance in July 2005.

• Echelon

Echelon is a warez group which specializes in the release and distribution of console games, such as Sega Dreamcast ISOs. Between September 4, 2000 and April 30, 2002 they released 188 games and 34 other various fixes, tutorials, trainers, and loaders.

• EMPORiO

Emporio is a game-specialised group. They released Half-Life 2 one day before it hit the stores. They also released many cracked patches for Counter-Strike: Source.

• Fairlight (FLT)

Subject to raid in Operation Fastlink, Demoscene division was not affected by the raid.

• HOODLUM

Mainly focused on cracking Safedisc and Securom. Released Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Targeted as part of Operation Site Down raids in 2005. [10]

• MyTH

• ORiGiN (OGN) > MYTH

A game cracking group who were in heavy competition with Class.

• Paradigm (PDM)
• PARADOX (PDX)

• RELOADED

Major game release group, cracked several StarForce protected games. Leader is rumoured to be a courier.

• VENGEANCE

Subject to raid in Operation Site Down in 2005.

Console Games Groups

• Kalisto

Kalisto is a warez group which specializes in the release and distribution of console games, predominantly PlayStation and PlayStation 2.

MP3

• aPOCALYPSE pRODUCTION cREW (aPC)

aPC was a major MP3 warez organization founded by two individuals known under the pseudonyms acid^rain and Viper in May of 1997. aPC operated well into the mid 2000s and was subject to raid during Operation Buccaneer. The group disbanded sometime after the raid.

Movie Groups

• Centropy

Centropy founded in January 1999 is a warez group specializing in the piracy of films. Touting many "0-day" and "negative day" releases, Centropy has notoriously released (and pre-released) numerous films, such as The Matrix Reloaded, before it was released to movie theaters in 2003. As of 2005 they are currently still active and specialised in high quality SVCDs. Centropy was a target of Operation Site Down conducted by the FBI and Department of Justice in 2005.

• MPAA

Parody group.

• Pirates of the Theatre (PoT)

Mostly releasing screeners and telesyncs. Was first to release rip of the first Harry Potter movie.

• VALiOMEDiA

Focuses on releasing older material.

• VideoCD

Closed its doors with 2005's Fantastic Four on July 17. The London Bombing had just occurred, to which they gave their condolences while condemning the US government and their war for economic interests rather than protecting citizens. [11]

• VoMiT

• Wastedtime

Specialises in early Screeners.

TV Groups

• ANiVCD [12] [13] [14]

AniVCD was a major TV-rip group responsible for capturing and distributing (cartoon animated) television episodes such as Family Guy, Futurama and The Simpsons to the internet. The group was very well received by countries outside of the United States or those which would not otherwise receive FOX television programming.

• LoL

XXX Groups

• PORNOLATiON

Courier groups

• AMNESiA (AMN)

• pHASE (pHASE)

One of oldest and best courier Groups.

• Angels on Drugs (AOD)

FTP courier group, founded in the late 90s. One of the top groups in the post-BBS era (it never experienced the BBS scene). Competed with DMS, RiSC, and various incarnations of DEV and AMN. The leaders go by the nicknames of Darkwolf, mistie, and Webster.

• iND

Independent couriers, not real group, just term to categorize users who aren't members of larger courier groups. Occasionally there are releases with an -iND tag.

• Motiv8 (M8)

Motiv8 was born in early 1991 in the Commodore 64 Scene as a Demo/Release group. In 1994, lead by Mason and Xerox, it split off to create the Motiv8 PC Section. In February 1998 Mason disbands the group. June 29, 1998 Motiv8 was reborn under the leadership consisting of Dogan and Highlandr. As of 2005, Motiv8 is currently still active. History Member List

• Rise in Superior Couriering (RiSC)

RiSC was one of the largest courier groups during BBS era.

• Special Warez Acquisition Team (SWAT)

Arguably the first organization formed for the sole purpose of spreading files (first dedicated courier group).

• United Piracy Service (UPS)

The largest and most prolific AOL based warez group. Responsible for the creation of some of the first warez "mass mailing" apps (On AOL warez was e-mailed en masse).

History of AOL warez scene (Mentions UPS) :RCN Issue #23 Contains an interview with Sweet (UPS Council Member).