While peer-to-peer sharing is neglected, direct downloading and streaming viewing of pirated content are gaining in popularity, thanks to social networks and instant messaging.
Downloading torrents is no longer popular. While it was very popular a decade ago, this peer-to-peer file sharing technique (P2P for intimates or peer-to-peer in French) is no longer popular. lovers of pirated content. It must be said that under pressure from rights holders, Hadopi – which recently merged with the CSA to become theArcom – waged a long battle to block sites offering download links while tracking heavy users with warnings and, sometimes, penalties.
From now on, the Audiovisual and Digital Communication Regulatory Authority is focusing on other targets and techniques, in particular on IPTV and illegal streaming, as evidenced by the recent blocking of pirate sites imposed on internet service providers. Internet (ISP) by the regulator. A measure demanded – and acclaimed – by TV channels specializing in sport, which were deprived of the substantial income generated by this popular show and which augurs a ruthless fight against “alternative” broadcasters. But, as often, pirates are several steps ahead of the authorities, and there are still many ways to circumvent blockages and illegally enjoy all kinds of content, both for download and streaming. And, the most amazing thing is that many share them – often naively – on social networks and instant messaging…
Direct Download: easy downloading
One of the most popular techniques for fans of pirated content is Direct Download. This direct upload technique makes it easy to retrieve full files – sometimes weighing several gigabytes – from drop services (like Uploaded, Rapidgator, 1fichier.com, Turbobit, etc.) at varying speeds. Provided, of course, that you have the corresponding links. And this is precisely what SEO sites offer. The best known in France has long been Zone Download, which had even become one of the most popular sites in France. But there are many others, such as WawaCity, Libertyland, Zone-Annuaire, Free-Telecharger, Zone-Mania or DownMagaz.
They all work more or less on the same principle. Stricto senso, these platforms do not host any copyrighted files. But they provide all the means to obtain films, music albums, video games, software, books or magazines by offering links to retrieve them from direct download services – or to watch streaming videos. . Most show a lot of application, displaying the original covers and posters, with a complete description (synopsis, distribution, etc.) or even giving links to official sites like AlloCiné in the case of films and series ! And even if you have to juggle often dubious advertising pages and captchas, the operation turns out to be quite simple, including for the uninitiated – which is not the case with certain download methods, reserved for experts – and a few minutes are generally enough to retrieve a film from the box office in standard quality, a fashionable game or the daily newspaper, without paying anything, of course… In short, a kind of supermarket without a checkout.
Only, here it is: the most difficult thing is not to use them, but to find them. Because to escape legal proceedings, delisting measures from search engines like Google and blockages by ISPs, illegal download sites are now forced to move regularly. And while they had practically set up shop a few years ago, these platforms now play hide and seek on the Web, frequently changing URLs. And many have to deal with the appearance of more or less well-made clones that take advantage of their “notoriety” to attract lovers of pirated content: a clone war that contributes to the general confusion, adding to the changes of address perpetual and to the risks incurred in terms of security, and encouraging many users to turn to paid but legal and safe solutions. And to avoid seeing their followers flee, these sites do not hesitate to direct towards additional pages where they reference their new URLs while indicating the – naughty – copiers who usurp their name and indicating the methods to escape blockages and speed cameras. Some even go to indicate their Facebook page!
Free streaming: free access services
If downloading still has its followers, many today prefer to turn to streaming to watch live videos, without storing them. It must be said that the deployment of very high speed – fiber optic, 4G and 5G – promotes this practice of instantaneous consumption, as does the development of legal SVOD services, such as Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video, which are now well established in mores. . And here again, despite the efforts of search engines, rights holders, ISPs and regulatory authorities, illegal platforms abound. Without even talking about foreign sites, there are dozens of free access platforms offering free streaming of series and films, in French as well as in VOST (original version with subtitles), such as 01streaming, HDSS, Streamdeouf, French-Stream, Wiflix, Coflix, Filmcomplet, CPasMal, FilmsRip, VoirSeries, Cinezzz, DuStreaming, Serie.zone, Papdustream or VostFree to name but a handful.
Often made in an artisanal way, all these sites make it easy to watch movies and series directly in a Web browser, without requiring the installation of software or registration. For the amateurs of the practice, their use is childish. Except that these perfectly illegal platforms suffer from the same problems as direct download “services”: they too must regularly change addresses to circumvent blockages and delistings, while fighting against the proliferation of wild clones and other imitations. Again, it’s “fratricidal” warfare, and an obstacle course for users.
Blogs, social networks, messaging… Ways to find pirate sites
Along with the proliferation of these sites, an underground communication has developed over the years to help lovers of pirate downloads and free streaming to follow or find their favorite platforms and discover new ones. In addition to personal sites, blogs and forums that list these illegal services, new methods have been appearing for some time to promote them on social networks and messaging. On TikTok, we see more and more videos – usually made by enthusiastic and oblivious teenagers – who do not hesitate to show how to watch “free” streaming movies and series for free. On Discord, there are very specialized chat rooms that give the addresses of the sites. And on Telegram, the preferred messaging system for traffickers of all kinds, all you have to do is launch a search with a few well-chosen keywords to find sources. Even without going as far as this particular tool, a query in Google with terms like BDrip, HDrip, 1080p or VOSTF already gives many leads, despite the measures taken by the search engine…
Whether thanks to TikTok, Discord or Google, it is quite easy to come across sites that offer pirated content for download or streaming, some even acting as catalogs with search tools and rankings by genre, year, by platform of origin (Netflix or Amazon Prime Video series, Marvel or Disney films, etc.). Many provide multiple sources, to switch to another site when one no longer works, or even lists of links in Google Sheets spreadsheets. Some specialized Discord rooms, although recent, already have tens of thousands of members, which shows the extent and popularity of the phenomenon. And sometimes it only takes a few seconds to download a series episode and watch it on a smartphone. Certainly, it is often necessary to fight against the countless advertising windows that invade the screen, pass captchas and avoid dubious – and misleading – downloads which can install malware, but the manipulations remain quite simple, within the reach of novices and of the youngest. And all this, in the eyes of all, in complete illegality.
VPN and DNS: techniques for bypassing blockages
Beyond the search for valid addresses, the problem that often arises comes from the various blocks put in place by the ISPs, when they have been seized by the authorities. And the risk of being spotted by the authorities. Never mind: most illegal sites indicate the procedure to follow to circumvent the limitations and monitoring, in particular by changing DNS and installing a VPN. Simple and perfectly legal techniques, they allow amateurs to enjoy pirated content in peace. The VPN publishers have not been mistaken, by discreetly emphasizing these – very real – advantages in their communication.
The question then arises about the effectiveness of the means put in place and the measures taken by organizations like Arcom to fight against this “sport”, especially when we see how it is promoted on social networks very general public. Thus, even if it is symbolically strong, the recent blocking of about thirty streaming sites which broadcast sports in streaming does not in any way prevent access to it in France, by changing the DNS server or via a VPN. Between the ease of use, the price increases that are looming at some SVOD providers and the countless detours to access pirate sites, it is not certain that the practice will stop anytime soon…