Trading BitTorrent Tracker Invites – Commodity or Curse?
Written by Ben Jones on January 15, 2008In recent months, many private trackers have moved to an invite-based system in an attempt to try and weed out so-called ‘bad peers’. They do this through a chain of trust. Many users, though, are attempting to use invites for their own profit, putting themselves and others into the firing line.
When private torrent sites first started, they were little known, and small. To join, you had to know about the site, and if you were lucky enough to find a slot you could join (most sites were small, with 10,000 members max). Most private sites were (and are) perceived as exclusive communities. Members who do get in often share more, not only because it is required, but also because they want to be a good member of the community.
As time went on, torrents became more popular and the membership of private BitTorrent trackers increased. Part of it was speed – such sites tend to have better ratios of seeds to peers. Other factors are the absence of garbage and the fact that duplicates are kept to a minimum. However, such factors made them also prime targets for the anti-piracy groups. After the joint ICE and FBI raids against the US-based BitTorrent tracker, EliteTorrents, in 2005, even though it became clear that such investigators were members of such sites, invites became popular.
The theory behind invite-sharing is simple: Someone you know, who happens to be a member of a site invites you to join. You are known to them, and it should restrict the ability of people with bad intentions to join. “good members” invite their friends, who become good members, and are likely to be ’safe peers’. In time, these new members would get/earn invites of their own, and they invite people they trust.
The problem is, many of these sites have members that promote their favorite site as ‘the best’, ‘the fastest’, ‘the safest’, or some other praise. Best is subjective, fastest often depends on luck and timing as much as anything else, and I discussed safety almost a year ago. Regardless of the truth of these statements, many sites have a cult following, and demand for invites to private trackers skyrocketed. People started to beg and plead for invites, and to trade them, or even worse, sell them. This is where things get problematic.
The invite system was based on a chain of trust. Yet now, a lot of people trade invites with strangers. They often know nothing about the other except that they’re a member of one site wanting another’s invite, and their email address. The chain of trust is often broken on large trackers, and the entire system is circumvented. Some consider this to be a problem, others believe it doesn’t really matter in most cases, because most people who do get in have to obey the rules anyhow.
There are some negative side effects of the scarcity of invites. Some users have started selling invites on ebay (such as for what.cd or waffles.fm), and trading sites have also popped up, some of which are attempting to profit from invites.
Of course, the final word comes from the admins of the private torrent sites themselves. Every one TorrentFreak spoke to reiterated that if you are found to have sold invites, your account will be deleted, as will the invited account. Still, people will be greedy, and try to profit from their invites. The most important message seems to be, sharing invites is a good thing, but watch out who you’re sharing with.
What do you think?
Previously: MediaDefender Hacker Speaks Out
Next: Director “Won’t think less of you” for Downloading Hit Movie on BitTorrent
77 Responses
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 » Show All
[quote comment="264107"]As much as all this makes sense, it would be stupid to think investigators couldn’t find a way in.. i mean really.. this is the internet.
So really, this means nothing. People need to stop thinking there is a safe haven, your only safety is that you will be hidden in the huge sea of peers around you. Join private sites for the benefits, not the safety.[/quote]
well put.
[quote comment="264237"][quote comment="264171"]What a lame article. You said nothing new.[/quote]
Hey man, if you don’t like the article, GO ELSEWHERE, start your own news-blog and write what you want to write.
Quit complaining.[/quote]
You were abused as a child, were you?
Jeez, I keep reading these articles, and comments, and the same crap is said over and over.
PEOPLE - THERE IS NO SECURITY ON THE INTERNET!!! YOU DON’T WANNA GET HACKED/CAUGHT, DON’T USE THE INTERNET.
I think torrentfreak should right an article EXPLICITLY detailing security in P2P. VPN, relakks, invites, peerguardian, et al. List the flaws of all and the pros, but make it abundantly clear that ultimately there is no security!
Maybe then we can finally move on and talk about something else…
Like maybe when the hell Demonoid is coming back!!! (I know! I just can’t let go!)
If you’re worried about “getting caught” you shouldn’t be doing it. As noted in Ben Jones’ prior article (click on “I discussed safety”), private trackers don’t keep you safe either.
Do you think sharing content is morally wrong? Then don’t do it.
Do you think sharing content is good? Then be ready to explain why. “Getting caught” gives you a great opportunity to do so, it’s called civil disobedience.
All the blocklists and private sites in the world won’t save you from getting caught. But, to begin with, hiding is hardly the right attitude. “Getting caught” violating an unjust law is virtuous if anything.
Don’t end your opinions with ‘What do you think?’.
It’s really, really cliche and dumb.
However, ontopic, it’s really easy to get into a private tracker.
Like, incredibly easy. Lurk in an IRC for a day or so and not be an asshole and that’s really it. If I were a member of a **aa, I’d be set.
Scary.
I don’t feel as safe knowing that.
i went on vacation this summer and got booted off kraytracker if anyone can send me an invite id appreciate it there is some good stuff on there…
security and stuff = w/e i want some new tuneskees.
demonoid is indeed sorely missed in this climate.
private trackers are fine indeed but it’s most unfortunate when the staff comes across like a bunch of pretentious immature brats (i’m looking at you what.cd)
I’m not too experienced with computers maybe someone could give me a simple answer or think of a way to use this idea?
Is it possible to get an account (or more then one) with one of those off site backup storage companies that will back up your computer. Then somehow get your password and acct. posted somewhere on a website telling everyone to drop movies or whatever and pick them up from there. (Like a giant hard drive host)
That wouldn’t be “bit torrent” style traffic so hypothetically the data traveling back and forth would not be subject to the same scrutiny?? Just another big file moving in a sea of big files.
Could that work somehow?
I prefer eMule and their mods like MorphXT and Xtreme ;)
[quote comment="264492"]I’m not too experienced with computers maybe someone could give me a simple answer or think of a way to use this idea?
Is it possible to get an account (or more then one) with one of those off site backup storage companies that will back up your computer. Then somehow get your password and acct. posted somewhere on a website telling everyone to drop movies or whatever and pick them up from there. (Like a giant hard drive host)
That wouldn’t be “bit torrent” style traffic so hypothetically the data traveling back and forth would not be subject to the same scrutiny?? Just another big file moving in a sea of big files.
Could that work somehow?[/quote]
thats rapidshare and such sites
can I have an invite to all private sites please.
that’s what this is about aye? giving away invites?
thanks!
stumbled onto demonoid a few years back and signed up to be a member.
loved that site, loved my ratio and loved the asian horror scene there. invited friends onto it and they found people to share with too.
since its gone though it just sucks. how can you befriend some one for an invite? how do you know what site you want to join?
the invite idea is good in principle but in a vast internet world it leaves countless in the dark. Give me a place to make torrent friends!
To be honest, Mr fucking torrentfreak, you’re not exactly helping private trackers by posting your oh so knowledgable articles on the bittorrent scene the whole time.
Here’s a tip, from a respected staff member of a respected site, and a torrent scene veteran:
FUCK OFF AND KEEP IT OUT OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
[quote comment="264171"]What a lame article. You said nothing new.[/quote]
what a lame comment..
yeah…lets not divulge all our deep dark secrets…I guess the new targets will be highlighted in hyperlink-pink…
:(
anyone got a spare OiNK invite btw???
yeah…lets not divulge all our deep dark secrets…I guess the new targets will be highlighted in hyperlink-pink…
:(
anyone got a spare OiNK invite btw???
[quote comment="264682"]
… Mr fucking torrentfreak
… FUCK OFF …
from a respected staff member of a respected site, and a torrent scene veteran
[/quote]
Yeah! How “much” I can tell from your speech …
respect!
LOL
Thats exactly that kind of “private trackers” (and corresponding members) that don’t deserve any “helping” or encouragement at all.
I MISS DEMONOID !!!!
Just because you’re not a member of a private torrent site doesn’t mean they shouldn’t exist. If there is a demand it will be filled. So if a lot of users seem unable to join the established private trackers, new ones pop up all the time to fill that demand.
That’s just the way it works. Find a community you like and stick with it, whether private or public.
Also, the argument that people posted about it not being fair to be a members only tracker or that it would go against the whole “spirit” of sharing doesn’t hold up. Some things have to be limited for them to work efficiently. A group of strangers sharing files with each other definitely need efficiency. That does not mean however that there is a limit on the number of private trackers that could be available, so in all fairness, this is sharing at its best. If you can’t join a certain private tracker because the limit has been reached go off to find another one. It’s not big deal, scene is scene, no matter on what tracker you are.
[quote comment="264186"]I think invites tend to be counterproductive.
Global as the internet is, personal contacts concerning p2p are rare. Most contacts with persons sharing the interest in p2p are taking place online and they are anonymous contacts from forums, irc or similar. So invites are either mostly given to strangers (hoping they are the good guys) or not given at all (probably more often!).
Therefor invites help to keep user communities closed, but they first of all keep out good and fair normal users as well!
That might be hailed by some l33t wannabies that in return tend to fervently glorify their small little world and pride themselves on beeing insiders where others can’t get in -
but I think this will in fact damage and shatter the p2p world on the long run.
Trackers that promote a closed clique and are eager to keep exclusive material they want to withhold from others are deeply going against the idea of (file-)sharing and free flow and access to information an digital content.
The best policy for tracker sites in my opinion would be to provide scarse but regular (and announced) opportunities to join the crowd and to enforce a rigid ratio policy that purges cheaters quickly.
Breeding snobby groups of self-centered bootlickers might be the aim (and sought pay-off for their work?) for some tracker-admins, but it definetly keeps the more normal and open minded people (declined access) out as well - and that serves no one on the long run.
I really miss demonoid! ;)
And I’m definetly not willing to spend hours and weeks kissing asses, looking for invites and trying to join groups of people, whoes first interest is to keep others out just to feel more l33t and foster their snobbyness …
Then bittorent can die![/quote]
Funny, while I was reading your comment Demonoid was the first name that came to mind regarding that behavior. I’m a little tired of constantly seeing the “I love Demonoid” or “I miss Demonoid” comments. Of course I (and many others) might feel differently if Demonoid had not closed sign-ups permanently. They could have the greatest content and community on the net, but it means little to the people who kept checking for months for the promised open sign-up times only to never see it happen. I’m sincerely happy for those of you who got in earlier when Demonoid regularly opened for new registrations, but forgive me if I don’t share in the enthusiastic lovefest after having a lot of time wasted.
I hope when they re-open they will be a bit more mindful about actually doing what they say in regards to periodic open sign-ups.
PRIVATE TRACKERS RULE. (SORRY BOUT THE CAPS I HAVE BAD EYES). I AM ONLY A MEMBER OF ONE, BUT I MUST SAY IT’S A GOOD COMMUNITY, AND WHILE CONNECTED TO THIER TRACKER, THE ONLY HITS I GET ON PEERGUARDIAN ARE BOGON RANGES OR THE OCCASIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT ALOT OF THE MEMBERS HAVE SEEDBOXES SO THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS ONLY ONE SEED AT THAT TIME, I STILL GET 500 K/SEC SPEEDS WHICH ARE PRETTY DECENT CONSIDERING I GET 850 K/SEC WHEN D/L FROM NEWSGROUPS (10 THREADS). ALSO ON A GOOD PRIVATE SITE, YOU CAN USUALLY REQUEST THINGS AND THEREFORE HAVE A WIDER RANGE OF CONTENT TO CHOOSE FROM (SOME OF WHICH YOU’LL NEVER SEE A SCENE RELEASE FOR). THATS JUST MY OPINION THOUGH :) HAPPY TORRENTING
It really is a bummer to get into invite only trackers, because what if I have no friends there?
[quote comment="264744"][quote comment="264682"]
… Mr fucking torrentfreak
… FUCK OFF …
from a respected staff member of a respected site, and a torrent scene veteran
[/quote]
Yeah! How “much” I can tell from your speech …
respect!
LOL
Thats exactly that kind of “private trackers” (and corresponding members) that don’t deserve any “helping” or encouragement at all.
I MISS DEMONOID !!!![/quote]
We just don’t wanna go to jail because our goings on have been made public by places like this mate.
please… ill suck your balls for an invite please……
For all of you saying “It’s hard to get into a tracker”; lurk in an IRC channel. Chat there, and in a day or two, someone will most likely offer you an invite if you hint at the fact you aren’t a member there.
It really isn’t difficult.
And please, stop with the “I miss Demonoid” comments. A lot of people do, we know. We don’t need to read that again.
leecher mod
ratio up
run and hit some more
thanx for the free
byebye
oh yeah fuck your site too.
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 » Show All
Responses are closed
All remaining responses will continue to be archived. Use the TorrentFreak forums if you want to discuss something.