![\"dontorrent\"](\"https:\/\/www.cryptocabaret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dontorrentlogo-300x113.png\")
Website blocking is the entertainment industry\u2019s preferred anti-piracy strategy in dozens of countries.<\/p>\nWebsite blocking is the entertainment industry\u2019s preferred anti-piracy strategy in dozens of countries.<\/p>\n
Targeting domain names of pirate sites can be an effective way to deter casual pirates. When a site can no longer be easily located, some users may give up, especially since Google now deindexes blocked domains<\/a> as well. <\/p>\n Popular pirate sites have been familiar with these measures for years now. While some simply ignore the issue, hoping that users will find a way around it, others are actively pushing back. Spanish torrent site DonTorrent falls in the latter category. <\/p>\n With millions of monthly visitors, DonTorrent is a force to be reckoned with. The site is particularly popular in Spain and offers links to a curated selection of torrents.<\/p>\n Following complaints from rightsholders, the torrent site is blocked by Spanish Internet providers. While this is a nuisance for the site\u2019s operator and users, it hasn\u2019t exactly decimated DonTorrent\u2019s traffic or tempered its attitude. <\/p>\n Instead of laying low, DonTorrent typically chooses a more offensive route<\/a>. The site\u2019s operators are openly playing with the likeness of Jan van Voorn, the head of the influential anti-piracy alliance ACE, for example.<\/p>\n In addition, the site does all it can to fight back against the blocking efforts. DonTorrent shared<\/a> several unblocking tips with its users, and also added a .onion domain to make the site accessible on the Tor network.<\/p>\n A DonTorrent spokesperson informs us that these efforts paid off as traffic remains stable. There are seasonal variations, but those are not blocking-related. If anything, the torrent site sees traffic boosts when streaming services raise their prices. <\/p>\n We can\u2019t independently verify these traffic trends but it\u2019s clear that the site still has a sizable community. The official Telegram channel<\/a> currently has nearly 80,000 users, who are regularly updated about domain name changes. <\/p>\n The communication channel is much needed as the torrent site doesn\u2019t exactly have a stable home. Spanish ISPs are regularly instructed to block new DonTorrent domains, which has already happened 39 times this year. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Every time a new domain is blocked, DonTorrent quickly registers and launches an alternative, so its users can get around these measures for a while. <\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t have any domain names parked and ready to use, what we do is register it that same day when we see the block,\u201d DonTorrent informs us, explaining that this is a conscious strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the past, we did reserve some domain names and pointed these to our Cloudflare account, but we discovered that [Jan van Voorn] or one of his henchmen were checking the new \u2018dontorrent\u2019 TLD registrations.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether ACE was checking the domains or another rightsholder representative isn\u2019t clear, but someone was keeping a close eye on the backup domains. They were blocked before becoming active, rendering preparations futile. <\/p>\n The last domain name change took place earlier this week, typically at a rate of one domain per week. In some cases, there\u2019s a slightly longer delay, which often coincides with public holidays. <\/p>\n Besides ISP blockades, the torrent site also has trouble with some anti-virus companies that block its new domains, seemingly without reason. <\/p>\n \u201cThe funny thing is that they apologize when we complain about these false positives, but they can\u2019t explain what happened. They remove the blocks, but only if we notify them,\u201d DonTorrent says. <\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that a sudden surge in traffic for newly registered domains may set off some algorithmic alarm bells. Ironically, however, copycat pirate sites that scam people by requesting their credit card details<\/a>, can often operate freely.<\/p>\n These scam websites typically use the brands of popular pirate sites to exploit the fact that these sites are regularly blocked or shut down. The more effective anti-piracy efforts are, the bigger this problem gets. <\/p>\n DonTorrent says it wouldn\u2019t be surprised if anti-piracy forces were behind these dodgy schemes. While there is no evidence for that at all, rightsholders certainly use the phenomenon in their messaging. <\/p>\n In recent months, various anti-piracy campaigns<\/a> and lobbying efforts have highlighted the potential for scams and credit card fraud. These campaigns effectively bring things full circle. <\/p>\n Scammers or not, DonTorrent doesn\u2019t seem intent on stopping anytime soon. The site\u2019s deviant actions have turned it into a big anti-piracy trophy, but one that seems out of reach, at least for the time being. <\/p>\n From: TF<\/a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.<\/p>\nTraffic Unchanged<\/h2>\n
Domain Name Whack-a-Mole<\/h2>\n
![\"donblock\"](\"https:\/\/www.cryptocabaret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/donblock.png\")
<\/center><\/p>\nScammers Galore<\/h2>\n