I got caught FileSharing

[nickv360]

mods please delete this topic

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: nickv360
Okay, let me preface this by saying that what I am doing is wrong. I know that it's wrong, but just like any irresponsible college kid, I want to know if there is an easy way out. this isn't really justified and I know that, so if I'm violating any of these forums' policies by asking these questions, I'll delete the thread and be gone. I just feel like I have no other options right now and I'd much rather handle this my way and not do it again, than go through the system.

Basically, I go away for school. Yesterday NBC emailed my school saying they caught me downloading a movie. Now, my school protects me from prosecution by NBC, but then my its the university's responsibility to punish me. Problem is, I can't really afford another appearance in front of the judicial admin.(She knows me quite well). So basically I have to trick my school's tech people into thinking someone stole my IP and made it look like I was the one downloading the movie when in reality I'm an innocent victim of the internet. So basically here's what I did:

-Deleted all incriminating files(after transferring them to a portable hard drive)
-Erased all temporary internet files, cookies, saved forms
-Erased "My Recent Documents" option in the menu
-Erased temporary programs folder
-Did a search for Azureus, and deleted all files found
-Emptied recycle bin
-Cleared System Restore so they can't see that I uninstalled a bunch of these things
-Went into C: and deleted all the remaining shell folders that had incriminating files

And now I can proceed one of two ways:

1)Pretend that I'm an internet newb. Tell them that I wanted to install the Java Development Kit on my computer but was having trouble setting up the paths.(This is something that Java requires you to do if you don't want to compile through the command prompt). I asked for help online and some nice guy told me he could fix the problem himself by remote connecting to my computer using my IP. Me, being innocent, posted my IP on the message board for the entire web to see. Soon after, my computer got infected with viruses, so I deleted the entire topic, Norton'd all the viruses, and thought nothing of it.

So it is important that the whole timeline of events be properly explained:
1)I post my IP online for all to see
2)Two days later I get this email:
You are receiving this notification as the responsible administrator or owner of the host ******************.(My IP) On 2007_02_28 we observed a dramatic increase in network traffic from and/or to this host.

High volume traffic in itself does of course not necessarily indicate any problems with the hosts involved. However, an unexpected, dramatic increase in network activity often indicates that the system involved might have been compromised.

3)I realize that my computer was hacked into, and I delete the original message
4)I recieve an email from NBC telling me that they noticed my IP was associated with the download of one of their movies.

When looking at it like that, it can be argued that I was possibly just a victim of rookie mistakes online.


2)Install a ton of viruses on my computer to make it look so ****** up that they will have to believe that I got IP jacked.


Regardless of which route I take, the tech people will come out and have their way with my computer for a while to verify or disprove any story I give them, so my plan has to stand up to a good amount of scrutiny. Can anyone propose a better idea, or else ways to solidify my plan?

Be a man and take your punishment.

 

[xSauronx]

jesus, not only are you trying to get out of what youve done....but you want to lie about getting rid of it, and why it got there.

he doesnt need to just be a man an take his punishment, if the judicial admin knows him this well, he needs to *be* an adult instead of a child.

 

[yuppiejr]

Yea, I'm not seeing a compelling reason to help here... You obviously knew enough about technology to download and play the movie you knowingly downloaded illegally, sounds like you need to dig yourself out of the hole you created. While you may feel comfortable wiping the data on your PC you have no way of knowing what has been logged between you and the internet by your school's IS folks who are probably a lot smarter than you are at investigating this sort of thing.

BTW - it'll be interesting to find out how the owner of the IP address you're connecting from (presumably the same school that's investigating you) will respond when the mods link them to this post which will likely weaken your "internet noob" case considerably.

Good luck in community college!

 

[JackMDS]

So now we are asked to be accessories to further illegal actions.???:shocked:

 

[spidey07]

LOL, OP doesn't realize all this stuff is logged (traffic flows, activity, etc) and the IP is logged to his specific port and specific location. You can't change the past.

 

[nickv360]

alright, so basically, I wouldn't mind taking the punishment but there are a lot of outside circumstances. I probably shouldn't have come here asking for help, but there's so much on the line that I wasn't really sure what to do. regardless, thanks anyways.

 

[jlazzaro]

lol good stuff.

 

[yuppiejr]

Originally posted by: nickv360
alright, so basically, I wouldn't mind taking the punishment but there are a lot of outside circumstances. I probably shouldn't have come here asking for help, but there's so much on the line that I wasn't really sure what to do. regardless, thanks anyways.

If you aren't smart enough to avoid getting caught perhaps you should stop doing things that might get you kicked out of school? This looks like natural selection hard at work... perhaps there is some hope for mankind.

To prepare for your long term career prospects I suggest you get used to repeating this phrase; "would you like to super-size that order for just 99 cents?"

 

[NuroMancer]

You will get caught either way.

Take your punishment like it's due, maybe your Judicial Admin will take pity if you tell the truth.

 

[nickv360]

You know, I think it's pretty ridiculous for you to make assumptions about my ability to succeed in life based on my lack of knowledge when it comes to computers. I'd be more willing to bet that you'll be making me a vanilla shake with extra whip cream in 10 years than the other way around. Not because I think you're stupid but because its people who make unfounded assumptions and judgements wihtout all the facts that end up at the bottom of any ladder. Now I'm not trying to insult anyone or troll or start problems. I asked for help hoping someone might be willing to sympathize. Clearly I should not have given anyone the benefit of the doubt. I am trying to bow out as gracefully as I can, but it's hard to sit her and have people call me stupid for knowing that I can't do this myself.


So yeah I messed up. I should pay the price for my action. Problem is, the punishment doesn't fit the crime here. If no one can accept that, so be it. I've got no other cards left so it doesn't really matter

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: nickv360
You know, I think it's pretty ridiculous for you to make assumptions about my ability to succeed in life based on my lack of knowledge when it comes to computers. I'd be more willing to bet that you'll be making me a vanilla shake with extra whip cream in 10 years than the other way around. Not because I think you're stupid but because its people who make unfounded assumptions and judgements wihtout all the facts that end up at the bottom of any ladder. Now I'm not trying to insult anyone or troll or start problems. I asked for help hoping someone might be willing to sympathize. Clearly I should not have given anyone the benefit of the doubt. I am trying to bow out as gracefully as I can, but it's hard to sit her and have people call me stupid for knowing that I can't do this myself.


So yeah I messed up. I should pay the price for my action. Problem is, the punishment doesn't fit the crime here. If no one can accept that, so be it. I've got no other cards left so it doesn't really matter

I don't think you quite understand life yet. Your reasoning is why you are going to fail at it. There are consequences for every action and decision you make. You continued to make poor choices.

This is an ingraned character flaw that people repeat constantly over their lifes unless it is corrected somehow.

 

[jlazzaro]

Originally posted by: nickv360
Problem is, the punishment doesn't fit the crime here.

agreed...you should be doing 3 years with a 150k fine, not be kicked out of school.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: jlazzaro

Originally posted by: nickv360
Problem is, the punishment doesn't fit the crime here.

agreed...you should be doing 3 years with a 150k fine, not be kicked out of school.

DON'T COPY THAT FLOPPY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpv6_6pCpY8

 

[yuppiejr]

Yes, obviously you are a model citizen in the making based on the fact that you have repeatedly been caught violating school policies and had to appear in front of the judicial admin often enough that they "know you well." The current crime may appear minor by your standards but I would hope the JA's ruling will take into consideration the fact that previous punishments have obviously not deterred you from repeat offenses. Your failure to grasp the concept of action - consequence only illustrates for me that you deserve a much harsher punishment than you've gotten in the past in order to get through that thick skull.

The only thing you are a victim of is free choice, accept the consequences of your actions and take your punishment with some dignity. If I stole a DVD from Best Buy and then came here asking for help avoiding prosecution for shoplifting I'd expect an equally icy reception from the folks here. ..benefit of the doubt, pfft...

 

[cmetz]

nickv360,

>alright, so basically, I wouldn't mind taking the punishment but there are a lot of outside circumstances. I probably shouldn't have come here asking for help, but there's so much on the line that I wasn't really sure what to do. regardless, thanks anyways.

>You know, I think it's pretty ridiculous for you to make assumptions about my ability to succeed in life based on my lack of knowledge when it comes to computers. I'd be more willing to bet that you'll be making me a vanilla shake with extra whip cream in 10 years than the other way around. Not because I think you're stupid but because its people who make unfounded assumptions and judgements wihtout all the facts that end up at the bottom of any ladder. Now I'm not trying to insult anyone or troll or start problems. I asked for help hoping someone might be willing to sympathize. Clearly I should not have given anyone the benefit of the doubt. I am trying to bow out as gracefully as I can, but it's hard to sit her and have people call me stupid for knowing that I can't do this myself.

>So yeah I messed up. I should pay the price for my action. Problem is, the punishment doesn't fit the crime here. If no one can accept that, so be it. I've got no other cards left so it doesn't really matter

The Internet is not anonymous.

People here have the ability to track you down.

People here have the ability to email your university's IT staff with a link to this thread. (and the university judicial system folks, with about five more minutes of research)

A friendly reminder to all, please don't use this forum to discuss illegal or unethical activities. What you do is really your choice, but this isn't the place you'll find help with those particular choices.

 

[NuroMancer]

Originally posted by: nickv360
You know, I think it's pretty ridiculous for you to make assumptions about my ability to succeed in life based on my lack of knowledge when it comes to computers. I'd be more willing to bet that you'll be making me a vanilla shake with extra whip cream in 10 years than the other way around. Not because I think you're stupid but because its people who make unfounded assumptions and judgements wihtout all the facts that end up at the bottom of any ladder. Now I'm not trying to insult anyone or troll or start problems. I asked for help hoping someone might be willing to sympathize. Clearly I should not have given anyone the benefit of the doubt. I am trying to bow out as gracefully as I can, but it's hard to sit her and have people call me stupid for knowing that I can't do this myself.


So yeah I messed up. I should pay the price for my action. Problem is, the punishment doesn't fit the crime here. If no one can accept that, so be it. I've got no other cards left so it doesn't really matter

Assumption? maybe. But, your lack of accountability is apparent in this thread, and your previous actions. Turn your self around, and I don't see how the punishment doesn't fit the crime, you could be looking at JAIL time for theft, not to mention fines.

You asked us for help to cover up a crime... As JackMDS put it, and he's right; we would be accessories to further illegal action. So don't spit crap about us not giving you the benefit of the doubt.

Given what you have said about your record at school, I would consider starting to apply at a different college. Be prepared to write off whatever you've put into your current college as your going to leave with a Non-academic mis-conduct.

 

[networkman]

Originally posted by: NuroMancer
You will get caught either way.

Take your punishment like it's due, maybe your Judicial Admin will take pity if you tell the truth.

Couldn't agree more!

Too many folks these days try to find someone or something else to blame for their own actions. But standing up, admitting your mistakes and being prepared to accept the consequences of your actions is such a rarity these days that you may find your JA might just be willing to give you one more chance.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: cmetz


A friendly reminder to all, please don't use this forum to discuss illegal or unethical activities. What you do is really your choice, but this isn't the place you'll find help with those particular choices.

this forum seriously needs a semi-comprehensive sticky on a number of common topics in the networking forum.....and that one should be at the top of the list.

personally, i think anyone *asking* about or *helping* with illegal questions and situations should get a permaban.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: nickv360
alright, so basically, I wouldn't mind taking the punishment but there are a lot of outside circumstances. I probably shouldn't have come here asking for help, but there's so much on the line that I wasn't really sure what to do. regardless, thanks anyways.

Did you know the school's policy on downloading copyrighted material prior to getting caught? I'd be willing to bet that you did and that leaves me to wonder why you were doing something illegal in the first place, if you had so much on the line. Evidently, you do not take you school seriously, nor your place at that school.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Good luck with this. No matter what comes out of it, stop and think before you do stuff like this. Is saving $5-10 (hollywood video sells used DVDs for around this, I get'em all the time) really worth the trouble it's caused?

 

[chucky2]

Not that I'm advocating lying, but why don't you just tell them you had no idea it was such a serious offense, that everyone does it so you didn't think it was such a big deal, and that now you it's so serious, you'll obviously never do it again?

Offer to volunteer the duration of the movie in community service of the universities choosing...perhaps some time at a local cancer ward, VA hospital, etc. will let you see what character is all about?

 

[s44]

Wait, he planned not only to lie but to *post how he was going to lie* in a public forum?

Mwah.

 

[MedicBob]

I think you are screwed, but maybe bacause it was only 1 movie you might get away with it. Of course, if you have been downloading alot for awhile, you are quite possibly in deep trouble. Esp. if you school does decide to help prosecute.

 

[wgoldfarb]

I'd much rather handle this my way and not do it again, than go through the system.

So basically here's what I did:

-Deleted all incriminating files(after transferring them to a portable hard drive)

(boldface added by me)

So, first the OP says " I know I was wrong and I will not do it again", but then he saves the illegal file to a hard drive so he can keep it???? :roll: There goes the credibility of any statement he makes about having learned his lesson.