IPredator
IPredator is a virtual private networking service offered with the stated goal of providing internet privacy.[1] It was co-founded by Peter Sunde,[2][3] as a response to the introduction of IPRED in Sweden, which will allow copyright holders and law enforcement officials to request personal information about copyright infringement suspects.[4]
Developer(s) | The Pirate Bay |
---|---|
Initial release | September 14, 2009 |
Type | Virtual private network |
License | Commercial proprietary software |
Website | www |
On 12 August 2009, the beta testing invitations were sent out to those who entered their email addresses into the beta signup form. Additionally, the homepage has changed to reflect the beta. The initially only used PPTP (supported natively in XP, Vista, Windows 7, OS X and Linux through the use of PPTP-linux) to tunnel the connection through servers (vpn.ipredator.se which resolves to multiple IP addresses) located in Sweden.
On September 14, 2009, IPredator "The Second Batch" became available for public consumption.
On November 28, 2009, IPredator became publicly available and exited the beta stage. This was done to counteract FRA, which started listening to internet traffic over the Swedish borders on December 1. To reflect this, The Pirate Bay changed their logo on December 1, 2009, to an image from the game Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! depicting FRA as Glass Joe, the first and easiest opponent from the game. The image linked to ipredator.se with the message "FRA vs IPredator - It's on!"
On Windows clients using built-in PPTP, it is recommended to disable IPv6, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks and Client for Microsoft Networks because these features may disclose information.[5] Using OpenVPN instead has no such issues, and provides full native IPv6 connectivity.
OpenVPN support was added during August 2012.[6]
In July 2013, PayPal stopped providing payment services to Ipredator. In addition, all the organization's funds have been frozen for up to 180 days.[7]
IPredator's blog states that "PayPal reinstated our account" as of August 26, 2013.[8]
References
- Horton, Michael, Meet IPredator - Secure Anonymous VPN from Pirate Bay, Tech Fragments, archived from the original on 2009-04-30, retrieved 2009-03-27
- http://www.itnews.com.au/news/pirate-bays-ipredator-not-a-place-to-hide-151988
- https://torrentfreak.com/paypal-cuts-off-pirate-bay-vpn-ipredator-freezes-assets-130724/
- Cheng, Jacqui (2009-03-26), The Pirate Bay to roll out secure €5 per month VPN service, Ars Technica, retrieved 2012-01-28
- Kaushik Patowary (2010-06-18), Security flaw makes PPTP VPN useless for hiding IP on BitTorrent, retrieved 2011-06-06
- https://blog.ipredator.se/2012/08/
- Andre Yoskowitz (24 July 2013). "PayPal shuts off VPN iPredator, freezes assets". AfterDawn. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- "PayPal working again, PaySafeCard support canceled". 26 August 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.