So I got a letter...

[quote name='pocchama1996' post='3452836' date='Feb 12 2011, 01:44 AM']Im pretty tempted to wipe it.
I've been meaning to delete windows and just use Linux as my primary OS.[/quote]
Just use DBAN or Secure Erase.
Those programs should erase the harddrive beyond recovery.

[quote name='pocchama1996' post='3452836' date='Feb 11 2011, 06:44 PM']Im pretty tempted to wipe it.
I've been meaning to delete windows and just use Linux as my primary OS.
But would formatting actually erase it all?[/quote]
Wouldn't that make them more suspicious? I mean, not only would the computer conveniently have been "clean" of most files, but they could possibly find this article.

Theres apparently a couple hundred or thousand other people who recieved this same letter.
The chances of them tracing it to me are slim.
And I might delete this thread once I'm done.

Wouldnt it be possible to remove the drive, and tell them i always boot from disc and just save everything to an external drive? Said external drive being completely clean of any and all warez?

[quote name='pocchama1996' post='3452856' date='Feb 12 2011, 01:03 AM']Wouldnt it be possible to remove the drive, and tell them i always boot from disc and just save everything to an external drive? Said external drive being completely clean of any and all warez?[/quote]

Assuming an external hard drive exists which has been used dating back before said warez was downloaded on the original hdd. Also, it won't work. They'll want the original hdd. Best thing to do is to completely dismantle the hdd, pour some gasoline on it, and light it up.

[quote name='m3rox' post='3452869' date='Feb 11 2011, 07:09 PM'][quote name='pocchama1996' post='3452856' date='Feb 12 2011, 01:03 AM']Wouldnt it be possible to remove the drive, and tell them i always boot from disc and just save everything to an external drive? Said external drive being completely clean of any and all warez?[/quote]

Assuming an external hard drive exists which has been used dating back before said warez was downloaded on the original hdd. Also, it won't work. They'll want the original hdd. Best thing to do is to completely dismantle the hdd, pour some gasoline on it, and light it up.
[/quote]
Then they'll be REALLY suspicious.

[quote name='m3rox' post='3452869' date='Feb 11 2011, 06:09 PM'][quote name='pocchama1996' post='3452856' date='Feb 12 2011, 01:03 AM']Wouldnt it be possible to remove the drive, and tell them i always boot from disc and just save everything to an external drive? Said external drive being completely clean of any and all warez?[/quote]

Assuming an external hard drive exists which has been used dating back before said warez was downloaded on the original hdd. Also, it won't work. They'll want the original hdd. Best thing to do is to completely dismantle the hdd, pour some gasoline on it, and light it up.
[/quote]

As inconspicuous as that sounds. I'd really rather not.

Man, I was so close to downloading that Avatar pr0n.
good thing I didnt.

anyway, cant you just transfer all your warez to some shit for now, hand over the computer, and put it back when they're done?

[quote name='pocchama1996' post='3452851' date='Feb 11 2011, 11:59 PM']Theres apparently a couple hundred or thousand other people who recieved this same letter.
The chances of them tracing it to me are slim.
And I might delete this thread once I'm done.[/quote]

It's probably just a scare letter that was sent to a lot of innocent people in an attempt to blackmail "compensation payments" out of them. Chances are they'll drop it if you show them you're willing to fight anyway.

If it does get to the point where the court will grant them the right to search your computer, the rest of the pirated material doesn't matter. They don't own the copyright of it, it's none of their concern. They won't be able to use any warez they find to prove that you downloaded what they're saying you downloaded. For all they know they could be backups. Arresting you for piracy isn't what they want, what they want is to scare you into paying. If you show that you're willing to fight it the chances are high that they'll drop the case entirely because it'd cost them too much in legal fees.

[quote name='jan777' post='3452878' date='Feb 11 2011, 06:14 PM']Man, I was so close to downloading that Avatar pr0n.
good thing I didnt.

anyway, cant you just transfer all your warez to some shit for now, hand over the computer, and put it back when they're done?[/quote]

When you delete something. It isn't really gone. Just hidden. It isn't gone until it's been overwritten by something else, multiple times.

[quote name='pocchama1996' post='3452885' date='Feb 12 2011, 01:17 AM'][quote name='jan777' post='3452878' date='Feb 11 2011, 06:14 PM']Man, I was so close to downloading that Avatar pr0n.
good thing I didnt.

anyway, cant you just transfer all your warez to some shit for now, hand over the computer, and put it back when they're done?[/quote]

When you delete something. It isn't really gone. Just hidden. It isn't gone until it's been overwritten by something else, multiple times.
[/quote]

Yep. use sdelete to overwrite the files a shitload of times. Then use an undelete program to see if the files can be recovered.

[quote name='pocchama1996' post='3452885' date='Feb 12 2011, 11:17 AM'][quote name='jan777' post='3452878' date='Feb 11 2011, 06:14 PM']Man, I was so close to downloading that Avatar pr0n.
good thing I didnt.

anyway, cant you just transfer all your warez to some shit for now, hand over the computer, and put it back when they're done?[/quote]

When you delete something. It isn't really gone. Just hidden. It isn't gone until it's been overwritten by something else, multiple times.
[/quote]
So use a file shredder. It will delete the files beyond recovery.

Update:

Good news I think
Link to case info

According to docket 46, Jon Does 2-2619 have been severed from the subpoena
Assuming I'm not number 1, I think this means I dont have to appear in court or have any further part in this case.
Good luck Jon Doe #1.

[quote name='pocchama1996' post='3466986' date='Feb 20 2011, 12:27 AM']Update:

Good news I think
Link to case info

According to docket 46, Jon Does 2-2619 have been severed from the subpoena
Assuming I'm not number 1, I think this means I dont have to appear in court or have any further part in this case.
Good luck Jon Doe #1.[/quote]
Congratulations Pocchama . I was interested in seeing how this would turn out.