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Revision as of 03:00, 27 October 2005

This is a list of warez groups. Such groups typically tag their releases with FILE_ID.DIZ and NFO files. Many groups are similar, and often not much is known about them, so writing separate articles for each one should be avoided. This article links to some groups which have achieved something remarkable, but the rest are not worth their own article. However since they are still worth mentioning, they should be listed here with short introduction of when they were formed, and what they do.

Parent article: Warez

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. The group history

• 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. The group 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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; One of their greater accomplishments was to actually speed up the "Fraunhofer MP3 codec" as well as cracking the copy protection. 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 were made with pirated tools supplied by this group.

• 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

Group that provides introduction to tools and techniques needed in cracking for beginners to get started. Might not be as newbie-friendly as the name implies.

They offer their tutorials in several different languages.

• New2Cracking

Spin-off project from Cracking4Newbies, by few persons who try to give more friendly approach to cracking.

• ReTeam

Reteam started as a collection of papers, but evolved in to a reverse engineering group.

Besides reverse engineering, they also do research in other related fields such as cryptology and mathematics.

They offer specially crafted challenges for the public to solve, as a training method.

Altough some members of Reteam might have warez background, it really isn't a release warez group like most of other groups listed here.

Applications (RIP) groups

• Again

Again is a group focusing on ripped applications and keygenerators. They occasionally release rip-games and keygens aswell.

• AG

Graphics tutorial and videos group.

• 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.

• 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. Core is a major supporter of the P2P scene.

• 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 alive as of 2005.

• SSG

Netherland based group. Focused on distributing warez through FXP boards and BitTorrent.

• TNT

Born as dox/0day group they expanded to rips and some occasional iso. They release a monthly dox report to obtain more resources for their business.

• TWK

TWK was founded in late 2004 as courier group. They used their connections with sites to release some rare software, found on the shelves. Lately they have joined 0days scene as groups releasing ripped PC games and applications. Currently some members still curry around the world.

• ViRiLiTY

This cracking group recently celebrated their 5,000th release on May 15, 2005. Focuses on cracking small shareware and utilities.

Application (ISO) groups

• Fusion

Internet Distributor of Pirated Software Pleads Guilty to Criminal Copyright Infringement

• H2O (H2O)

H2O is an audiowarez group.

• Legend (LND)

Focuses on CAD and CAM related applications. Was a target of Operation Site Down.

• Rise

FXP Scene Group focuses on warezing applicatiosns developed by members of The Business Software Alliance.

• 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.

• Warez3D (W3D)

Releases various gfx related video tutorials and applications.

• We Love Warez (WLW)

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

• XiSO

This warez group is most famous for the 2003 of the first completed Microsoft Windows DVD set. Although they are famous for releasing self-made 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

• BetaOS

Originally stationed on EFNet and specialized in Windows XP Betas.

• BetasIRC

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.

• NeTerZ (Formerly Betas-Online)

• OSBA (OSBetaArchive)

Specializes in "archiving" Operating Systems. They have recovered some goodies, including: Windows 95 Codename: Chicago Build 73g, Various Windows ME Codename: Georgia Betas and AppleCodename: Rhapsody

• WiNBETA

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.

• xBetas

Involved in the Windows Longhorn Build 3683 leak (though it's unsure if WiNBETA or xBetas originally leaked it). Also was the source of the Windows Longhorn Build 4062 Prank.

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.

• 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)

One of the oldest groups in warez scene still active. Group turned 18 years in April 2005. Fairlight was subject to raid in Operation Fastlink, which almost killed their ISO division. Demoscene division was not affected by the raid. Group NFO after the bust.

• HOODLUM

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

• MiRROR

A relatively new group that first cracked Starforce 3.5 with a special burning mode. In 3 months, they have already realesed 27 games.

• ORiGiN (OGN) > MYTH

A game cracking group who were in heavy competition with Class. DEViANCE supplys the crew with big ISOs, which MYTH uses to make a Cracked RIP.

• Paradigm (PDM)

• PARADOX (PDX)

• Prestige (PSG)

Prestige was a dominant games group in 1995 and 1996. They were unique for their popular open IRC channel and frequent Paki slur jokes.

• RELOADED

Major game release group, cracked several StarForce protected games.

• SiLENTGATE (SG)

SiLENTGATE is the Major PC Game ISO Group in germany. SG is Team Reloaded's German division.

• VENGEANCE

Subject to raid in Operation Site Down in 2005.

Console Games Groups

• 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.

• 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.

• Rabid Neurosis (RNS)

RNS was a major mp3 group founded by the user Al_Capone in 1996. One of the largest (member wise) and most prolific mp3 groups. RNS has made a name for itself by specializing in Rap releases, sometimes releasing popular new albums many months before they would hit store shelves.

• Beats Per Minute (BPM)

BPM was the first mp3 group to specialize in vinyl rips for the DJ

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 specialize in high quality SVCDs. Centropy was a target of Operation Site Down conducted by the FBI and Department of Justice in 2005.

• FLAiR

Focus on releasing older media assets not distributed on DVD (ie VHS and Laserdisc films and Out Of Print rarities)

• MPAA

Parody group.

• Pirates of the Theatre (PoT)

Mostly releasing screeners and Telesyncs. Was first to release the first Harry Potter movie to the Internet. Shut down with War.Of.The.Worlds.FAREWELL.REPACK.CAM-POT July 1st, 2005. The War of the Worlds repack .nfo

• 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. The Fantastic Four release .nfo

• VoMiT

• Wastedtime

Specialized in early Screeners. Was a target of Operation Site Down, but is widely believed to have been at least partially run by the FBI out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Since that operation, the group and its members have completely disappeared, supporting this conclusion.

TV Groups

• ANiVCD

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

LoL is active tv-group, focusing on releasing HDTV rips of popular tv-series.

• SFM

SFM is a group, which focuses on releasing DVDRips from complete seasons of series sets.

Musicvideo Groups

XXX Groups

• PORNOLATiON

VCD focused group.

• PR0NSTARS'

Very active adult group. Focuses on releasing new material in XViD format with production year from 2004 to today.

• SWE6RUS

VCD focused group.

• SMuT

Focuses on releasing new titles max 1 year from street date.

• xDOMINiONx (xDMNx)

Originated as the XXX branch of DOMINiON which was at the top of the scene in releasing regular movies in 1999 when xDMNx was founded. First group to start ripping porn movies in divx elevating the scene standard in XXX releases after that. DOMINiON hasn't released any big titles for a while and is considered dormant while xDMNx still is very active. Group caused a lot of cheers and commotion in the scene after releasing a picture of 3 members attached with numerous new releases tempting the FBI in the process.

Courier groups

• AMNESiA (AMN)

• 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.

• 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. The group history and member list.

• pHASE (pHASE)

One of oldest and best courier Groups.

• Rise in Superior Couriering (RiSC)

RiSC was one of the largest courier groups during BBS era. Targeted as part of Operation Site Down raids in 2005.

• 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) and RCN Issue #23 Contains an interview with Sweet (UPS Council Member).

References

• US Department of Justice

• Warez groups