Inside Online Video

MPAA Caught Spreading Spyware

by Mike Abundo on July 5th, 2007

I don’t know what’s more galling: the MPAA’s treachery in spreading spyware, or its stupidity in leaving public whois info.

Media Defender, a company which does the dirty work for the MPAA, has been caught setting up ‘dummy’ websites in an attempt to catch those who download copyrighted videos - entrapment comes to mind.

The site, MiiVi.com, complete with a user registration, forum, and “family filter”, offers complete downloads of movies and “fast and easy video downloading all in one great site.” But that’s not all; MiiVi also offers client software to speed up the downloading process. The only catch is, after it’s installed, it searches your computer for other copyrighted files and reports back.

ZeroPaid, acting on a tip from The Pirate Bay, found MiiVi to be registered to Media Defender using a whois search. Shortly after, the registrar information was changed, but the address still reflects Media Defender’s address at 2461 Santa Monica Blvd., D-520 Santa Monica, CA 90404.

Not 10 hours after the site was found to be registered to Media Defender, the site went dead.

Two words, MPAA: private registration. When you treat customers like idiots, you’re the ones who end up looking like idiots. Several states have enacted anti-spyware legislation; expect the EFF to file charges.

Before trying out any new online video service, do your homework. Search the Web for reputable reviews, and do a whois lookup to find out who owns the site. You never know where these MPAA criminals will strike next.

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