• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

U.S. Customs Raid Targets Videogame Piracy

Easy Rhino

Linux Advocate
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2006
Messages
15,436 (2.43/day)
Location
Mid-Atlantic
System Name Desktop
Processor i5 13600KF
Motherboard AsRock B760M Steel Legend Wifi
Cooling Noctua NH-U9S
Memory 4x 16 Gb Gskill S5 DDR5 @6000
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Gaming OC 6750 XT 12GB
Storage WD_BLACK 4TB SN850x
Display(s) Gigabye M32U
Case Corsair Carbide 400C
Audio Device(s) On Board
Power Supply EVGA Supernova 650 P2
Mouse MX Master 3s
Keyboard Logitech G915 Wireless Clicky
Software The Matrix
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents searched more than 30 businesses and homes across 16 states looking for mod-chips and swap-discs which allow users to play pirated titles on popular gaming consoles. Officials say these devices are created with the intent of subverting copy protections and not only cost legitimate businesses billions of dollar but include other crimes such as smuggling, software piracy and money laundering. The names of those who are accused of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 were not released.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site
 
Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
3,937 (0.64/day)
System Name Widow
Processor Ryzen 7600x
Motherboard AsRock B650 HDVM.2
Cooling CPU : Corsair Hydro XC7 }{ GPU: EK FC 1080 via Magicool 360 III PRO > Photon 170 (D5)
Memory 32GB Gskill Flare X5
Video Card(s) GTX 1080 TI
Storage Samsung 9series NVM 2TB and Rust
Display(s) Predator X34P/Tempest X270OC @ 120hz / LG W3000h
Case Fractal Define S [Antec Skeleton hanging in hall of fame]
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar Xense with AKG K612 cans on Monacor SA-100
Power Supply Seasonic X-850
Mouse Razer Naga 2014
Software Windows 11 Pro
Benchmark Scores FFXIV ARR Benchmark 12,883 on i7 2600k 15,098 on AM5 7600x
Good ol American immigration and customs knocking down suburban doors to take anti-piracy action TO THE STREETS!

Meanwhile, America rots from the inside out because the INS is so relaxed on it's immigration policies, that they don't even screen for convicted felons.


Bleh.
 

Easy Rhino

Linux Advocate
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2006
Messages
15,436 (2.43/day)
Location
Mid-Atlantic
System Name Desktop
Processor i5 13600KF
Motherboard AsRock B760M Steel Legend Wifi
Cooling Noctua NH-U9S
Memory 4x 16 Gb Gskill S5 DDR5 @6000
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Gaming OC 6750 XT 12GB
Storage WD_BLACK 4TB SN850x
Display(s) Gigabye M32U
Case Corsair Carbide 400C
Audio Device(s) On Board
Power Supply EVGA Supernova 650 P2
Mouse MX Master 3s
Keyboard Logitech G915 Wireless Clicky
Software The Matrix
Good ol American immigration and customs knocking down suburban doors to take anti-piracy action TO THE STREETS!

Meanwhile, America rots from the inside out because the INS is so relaxed on it's immigration policies, that they don't even screen for convicted felons.


Bleh.

haha yup! you might hurt the illegal aliens feelings though! when will people start thinking of a pirate's rights!?
 
Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
3,937 (0.64/day)
System Name Widow
Processor Ryzen 7600x
Motherboard AsRock B650 HDVM.2
Cooling CPU : Corsair Hydro XC7 }{ GPU: EK FC 1080 via Magicool 360 III PRO > Photon 170 (D5)
Memory 32GB Gskill Flare X5
Video Card(s) GTX 1080 TI
Storage Samsung 9series NVM 2TB and Rust
Display(s) Predator X34P/Tempest X270OC @ 120hz / LG W3000h
Case Fractal Define S [Antec Skeleton hanging in hall of fame]
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar Xense with AKG K612 cans on Monacor SA-100
Power Supply Seasonic X-850
Mouse Razer Naga 2014
Software Windows 11 Pro
Benchmark Scores FFXIV ARR Benchmark 12,883 on i7 2600k 15,098 on AM5 7600x
Lol..they already do.



Extreme litigation has two negatives, rather than the obvious one. The second is that it produces more and more whacked out lawyers, who use special words to describe something as other than what it really is, to alleviate the responsibility of people's actions.

It's not "pirating" it's an "act of rebellion." It's not "crime," it's "rage against the system!"

;rolls eyes;
 

Wile E

Power User
Joined
Oct 1, 2006
Messages
24,318 (3.81/day)
System Name The ClusterF**k
Processor 980X @ 4Ghz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 BIOS F12
Cooling MCR-320, DDC-1 pump w/Bitspower res top (1/2" fittings), Koolance CPU-360
Memory 3x2GB Mushkin Redlines 1600Mhz 6-8-6-24 1T
Video Card(s) Evga GTX 580
Storage Corsair Neutron GTX 240GB, 2xSeagate 320GB RAID0; 2xSeagate 3TB; 2xSamsung 2TB; Samsung 1.5TB
Display(s) HP LP2475w 24" 1920x1200 IPS
Case Technofront Bench Station
Audio Device(s) Auzentech X-Fi Forte into Onkyo SR606 and Polk TSi200's + RM6750
Power Supply ENERMAX Galaxy EVO EGX1250EWT 1250W
Software Win7 Ultimate N x64, OSX 10.8.4
haha yup! you might hurt the illegal aliens feelings though! when will people start thinking of a pirate's rights!?
Well, having a mod chip doesn't 100%=piracy. Some of them add additional functions, and also the ability to play imported games.

But lets face it, 99% of all people with mod chips use them to pirate games. lol
 

HellasVagabond

New Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
3,376 (0.54/day)
Location
Athens , GREECE
System Name SECONDARY RIG / PRIMARY RIG / THIRD RIG
Processor i920@3.6GHz / i920@4GHz / AMD Phenom II 955
Motherboard Gigabyte EX58-UD4P / Gigabyte EX58-UD7 / ASRock 890GX3
Cooling CoolIT Domino ALC / Thermalright Silver Arrow / Thermalright VenomousX
Memory 12GB DDR3 @ 1800MHZ / 6GB DDR3 @ 2250MHZ / 4GB DDR3 @ 1600MHZ
Video Card(s) XFX ATI RADEON 5970 / GAINWARD NVIDIA GTX 580 / 2xGEFORCE GTX295
Storage 1550GB / 6TB SAS - SSD / 160GB SSD
Display(s) NEC 26WUXi2 / NEC 3090WQXi / SONY 55A2000 (1080P 55inch)
Case COOLER MASTER HAF 932 / COOLER MASTER ATCS 840 / ANTEC DARKFLEET DF85
Audio Device(s) Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Music / SoundBlaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro / Realtek Onboard
Power Supply CWT 1200W / Enermax Revolution 85+ 1250W / Ikonik Vulcan 1200W
Software Windows 7 x64 / Windows 7 x64 / Windows 7 x64
I wonder if that has anything to do with this Press Release by MS......
Microsoft Statement on ICE Actions
Microsoft supports government anti-piracy actions to prevent modified chips in game consoles. Microsoft Corp. today issued the following statement in support of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) anti-piracy enforcement actions taken against distributors of modification chips designed to circumvent copyright protection on popular game consoles, including the Xbox® and Xbox 360™ game consoles: “Microsoft applauds ICE for its effort to reduce piracy and protect the intellectual property of Microsoft and its industry partners. This is an important step in the continuing fight against piracy and the threat it presents to the global economy and consumers throughout the world.”
 

Easy Rhino

Linux Advocate
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2006
Messages
15,436 (2.43/day)
Location
Mid-Atlantic
System Name Desktop
Processor i5 13600KF
Motherboard AsRock B760M Steel Legend Wifi
Cooling Noctua NH-U9S
Memory 4x 16 Gb Gskill S5 DDR5 @6000
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Gaming OC 6750 XT 12GB
Storage WD_BLACK 4TB SN850x
Display(s) Gigabye M32U
Case Corsair Carbide 400C
Audio Device(s) On Board
Power Supply EVGA Supernova 650 P2
Mouse MX Master 3s
Keyboard Logitech G915 Wireless Clicky
Software The Matrix

HellasVagabond

New Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
3,376 (0.54/day)
Location
Athens , GREECE
System Name SECONDARY RIG / PRIMARY RIG / THIRD RIG
Processor i920@3.6GHz / i920@4GHz / AMD Phenom II 955
Motherboard Gigabyte EX58-UD4P / Gigabyte EX58-UD7 / ASRock 890GX3
Cooling CoolIT Domino ALC / Thermalright Silver Arrow / Thermalright VenomousX
Memory 12GB DDR3 @ 1800MHZ / 6GB DDR3 @ 2250MHZ / 4GB DDR3 @ 1600MHZ
Video Card(s) XFX ATI RADEON 5970 / GAINWARD NVIDIA GTX 580 / 2xGEFORCE GTX295
Storage 1550GB / 6TB SAS - SSD / 160GB SSD
Display(s) NEC 26WUXi2 / NEC 3090WQXi / SONY 55A2000 (1080P 55inch)
Case COOLER MASTER HAF 932 / COOLER MASTER ATCS 840 / ANTEC DARKFLEET DF85
Audio Device(s) Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Music / SoundBlaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro / Realtek Onboard
Power Supply CWT 1200W / Enermax Revolution 85+ 1250W / Ikonik Vulcan 1200W
Software Windows 7 x64 / Windows 7 x64 / Windows 7 x64
Oh i checked the same news a few hours ago but not on Pcworld....
 

Wile E

Power User
Joined
Oct 1, 2006
Messages
24,318 (3.81/day)
System Name The ClusterF**k
Processor 980X @ 4Ghz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 BIOS F12
Cooling MCR-320, DDC-1 pump w/Bitspower res top (1/2" fittings), Koolance CPU-360
Memory 3x2GB Mushkin Redlines 1600Mhz 6-8-6-24 1T
Video Card(s) Evga GTX 580
Storage Corsair Neutron GTX 240GB, 2xSeagate 320GB RAID0; 2xSeagate 3TB; 2xSamsung 2TB; Samsung 1.5TB
Display(s) HP LP2475w 24" 1920x1200 IPS
Case Technofront Bench Station
Audio Device(s) Auzentech X-Fi Forte into Onkyo SR606 and Polk TSi200's + RM6750
Power Supply ENERMAX Galaxy EVO EGX1250EWT 1250W
Software Win7 Ultimate N x64, OSX 10.8.4
Did someone say rage against the machine!?! :rockout:
We rally round the family, with a pocket full of shells!!!! :rockout: :laugh:

Ok, sorry. I'm done now. lol
 

Easy Rhino

Linux Advocate
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2006
Messages
15,436 (2.43/day)
Location
Mid-Atlantic
System Name Desktop
Processor i5 13600KF
Motherboard AsRock B760M Steel Legend Wifi
Cooling Noctua NH-U9S
Memory 4x 16 Gb Gskill S5 DDR5 @6000
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Gaming OC 6750 XT 12GB
Storage WD_BLACK 4TB SN850x
Display(s) Gigabye M32U
Case Corsair Carbide 400C
Audio Device(s) On Board
Power Supply EVGA Supernova 650 P2
Mouse MX Master 3s
Keyboard Logitech G915 Wireless Clicky
Software The Matrix
We rally round the family, with a pocket full of shells!!!! :rockout: :laugh:

Ok, sorry. I'm done now. lol

i was just listening to their first album yesterday for the first time in years. FUCK YOU I WONT DO WHAT YA TELL ME!!!!
 
Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
3,937 (0.64/day)
System Name Widow
Processor Ryzen 7600x
Motherboard AsRock B650 HDVM.2
Cooling CPU : Corsair Hydro XC7 }{ GPU: EK FC 1080 via Magicool 360 III PRO > Photon 170 (D5)
Memory 32GB Gskill Flare X5
Video Card(s) GTX 1080 TI
Storage Samsung 9series NVM 2TB and Rust
Display(s) Predator X34P/Tempest X270OC @ 120hz / LG W3000h
Case Fractal Define S [Antec Skeleton hanging in hall of fame]
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar Xense with AKG K612 cans on Monacor SA-100
Power Supply Seasonic X-850
Mouse Razer Naga 2014
Software Windows 11 Pro
Benchmark Scores FFXIV ARR Benchmark 12,883 on i7 2600k 15,098 on AM5 7600x
I actually accidently typed "machine" first before "system." :)

But you might as well say Rage Against the Machine. That Zack dude was a walking liberal wigger timebomb.

The sad thing about that band is that Tom Morello, despite his political woes, is actually a damn good guitarist; graduate of Harvard, and was quite the 'shredder' back in the 80s. Zack's direction for the band really hindered Morello's playing ability to the point where he had to use his skill in a more 'creative' sense, ultimatley producing emulation style solos.

Similarily Neil Peart faced the same fate with Rush, after they hit their decline era in the 80s, and his playing was limited to the direction of the music.

In both cases, politics shaped these 'directions.'


Back to the topic: I love seeing video footage of these customs SWAT teams; all decked out in armor vests and tactical gear. It comes second in amusement only to the Animal Cops, beating the streets looking for animal rights offenders!
 

jaydeejohn

New Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2006
Messages
126 (0.02/day)
I heard Michael Vick has a modded robo dawg thats kick @$$. Hes wanted by everyone everywhere for one reason or another
 
Joined
May 14, 2006
Messages
996 (0.15/day)
Location
Kentucky
System Name Sony Vaio - VGNFW390-CTO
Processor Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9550 (2.66GHz)
Cooling Stock
Memory 4GB DDR2-SDRAM (DDR2-800, 2GBx2)
Video Card(s) ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3650 with 512MB vRAM (pitiful card)
Storage 320GB SATA Hard Disk Drive [7200 rpm]
Display(s) LCD 16.4" (XBRITE-FullHD™)
Audio Device(s) SupremeFX
Software Windows 7

oldcrank

New Member
Joined
May 16, 2007
Messages
18 (0.00/day)
Location
Texas
Homeland Security

This is why we have a Department of Homeland Security? While they are knocking down the doors of modders terrorists can jusk walk into the country. This is your tax money in action.
 
Joined
May 14, 2006
Messages
996 (0.15/day)
Location
Kentucky
System Name Sony Vaio - VGNFW390-CTO
Processor Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9550 (2.66GHz)
Cooling Stock
Memory 4GB DDR2-SDRAM (DDR2-800, 2GBx2)
Video Card(s) ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3650 with 512MB vRAM (pitiful card)
Storage 320GB SATA Hard Disk Drive [7200 rpm]
Display(s) LCD 16.4" (XBRITE-FullHD™)
Audio Device(s) SupremeFX
Software Windows 7
I believe the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs are different, though I'm sure both are involved in the affairs of the other.
 

ex_reven

New Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2006
Messages
5,217 (0.81/day)
This is why we have a Department of Homeland Security? While they are knocking down the doors of modders terrorists can jusk walk into the country. This is your tax money in action.

No, what you do is buy your plane tickets online. That way they cant check your ID.
Then, you ship in your weapons seperately through a dummy corporation.
Its best to ship the weapons without ammo, as although they cant open the boxes, they can use sniffers that will pick up accellerants in your container which gives them authority to open it.

So you see, noones walking in. Flying is much more convenient :D
 
Joined
Mar 28, 2007
Messages
2,490 (0.40/day)
Location
Your house.
System Name Jupiter-2
Processor Intel i3-6100
Motherboard H170I-PLUS D3
Cooling Stock
Memory 8GB Mushkin DDR3L-1600
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 1050ti
Storage 512GB Corsair SSD
Display(s) BENQ 24in
Case Lian Li PC-Q01B Mini ITX
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Corsair 450W
Mouse Logitech Trackball
Keyboard Custom bamboo job
Software Win 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores Finished Super PI on legendary mode in only 13 hours.
No, what you do is buy your plane tickets online. That way they cant check your ID.
I'm pretty sure that's only for domestic flights inside the United States. Though, that alone is fucked-up enough.

Furthermore, I'm disgusted (though not surprised) that Homeland Security is being used to raid peoples' houses looking for pirated gaming software -- call me crazy, but don't they have something a little more important to do with their time?
 

ex_reven

New Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2006
Messages
5,217 (0.81/day)
Furthermore, I'm disgusted (though not surprised) that Homeland Security is being used to raid peoples' houses looking for pirated gaming software -- call me crazy, but don't they have something a little more important to do with their time?

Yeah. The internet is full of porn, its not gonna bloody download itself is it :p!?
:roll:
 

DaMulta

My stars went supernova
Joined
Aug 3, 2006
Messages
16,168 (2.51/day)
Location
Oklahoma T-Town
System Name Work in progress
Processor AMD 955---4Ghz
Motherboard MSi GD70
Cooling OcZ Phase/water
Memory Crucial2GB kit (1GBx2), Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-16000
Video Card(s) CrossfireX 2 X HD 4890 1GB OCed to 1000Mhz
Storage SSD 64GB
Display(s) Envision 24'' 1920x1200
Case Using the desk ATM
Audio Device(s) Sucky onboard for now :(
Power Supply 1000W TruePower Quattro
So wait let me get this straight. You are not allowed to mod your own console or consoles that you own?

Next you'll be hearing U.S. Customs Raid Targets PC users that install virtual drives because that can be used to do harm......
 

oldcrank

New Member
Joined
May 16, 2007
Messages
18 (0.00/day)
Location
Texas
Homeland Security

ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
I guess that they don't have enough to do with illegal immigration and terrorism, so they are busting modders.
 
Top