Earlier this week we reported that just two weeks after LimeWire was permanently shut down by a federal ruling, a “secret dev team” had brought the P2P client back, dubbing it the LimeWire Pirate Edition (LPE).
The LPE has the Ask.com toolbar removed, all need for the LimeWire LLC servers removed, all remote settings disabled, and all LimeWire Pro features activated, for free. There is also no adware or spyware.
LPE has been circulating via warez, P2P and torrents sites for a couple of days now.
Apparently, the real LimeWire is not a fan.
“We have very recently become aware of unauthorized applications on the Internet purporting to use the LimeWire name,” reads a notice on the LimeWire site.
“We demand that all persons using the LimeWire software, name, or trademark in order to upload or download copyrighted works in any manner cease and desist from doing so. We further remind you that the unauthorized uploading and downloading of copyrighted works is illegal.”
Result for: servers
Just like its predecessors Halo 2 and Halo 3, Halo: Reach has been leaked this weekend, with modders at Game-Tut finding a way to download the game from Microsoft’s own servers.
Microsoft has been hosting the full game online.
Only a few people were allowed to download the game, and each needed a special code.
Game-Tut cracked the security, and has made the files available via P2P, torrents and warez for the public as [JTAG] Halo Reach RF ISORip XBOX360-XB3.
Gamers have already uploaded videos showing off battles in the game’s Firefight mode.
Microsoft’s response (via Joystiq): “We are aware of claims being made regarding a security exploit related to Halo: Reach and are aggressively investigating the matter. We have no further details to share at this time.”
Result for: servers
Blizzard has announced today that they have removed 320,000 “cheaters” from Battle.net, shutting down the accounts of those playing Warcraft III and Diablo II and using hacks.
A first time ban gets your account suspended for 30 days, and a second time offender will be banned for good.
“We would like all players to remember that abuse of unintended mechanics and/or use of third party programs is a violation of the agreement made when signing on to Battle.net, and can subject your account to disciplinary action up to and including a permanent ban of its access to the service,” says the Blizzard forum post. “These types of activities can severely impact the stability of our servers, and we’ll continue to aggressively monitor Battle.net in order to protect the service and its players from the harmful effects of cheating.”
The account closures are final, and the company says most of those banned were first reported by legitimate users who emailed the company claiming those users were cheating.
The company says if you know of any other cheaters or sites responsible for distributing hacks, email them at hacks@blizzard.com.
