Network Security

FBI-owned Megaupload web pages serving up porn, adult services

Several web pages associated with the former file-sharing site Megauploadseized by the DoJ over four years ago in an online piracy investigation – are now serving up pornographic content and junk ads.

Although the FBI continues to own Megaupload's online assets, Megaupload.org links to a soft porn portal offering links to adult sex, chat, dating and personal services. Megastuff.co, Megaclicks.org, and Megaworld.mobi were also serving ads. Previously, the web pages displayed a banner informing visitors that the domains had been seized, TorrentFreak has reported.

According to the TorrentFreak article, the FBI last year failed to renew ownership of “Cirfu.net,” an expired domain name assigned to a nameserver where Megaupload.com visitors were being redirected. The domain's new owner then used Megaupload.com to deliver malware. U.S. authorities "fixed this by removing the nameservers altogether, but it turns out that they didn't do this for all seized domains,” the report explains. Once again Cirfu.net expired, allowing the latest owner to apparently abuse more Megaupload domains.

Bradley Barth

As director of community content at CyberRisk Alliance, Bradley Barth develops content for SC Media online conferences and events, as well as video/multimedia projects. For nearly six years, he wrote and reported for SC Media as deputy editor and, before that, senior reporter. He was previously a program executive with the tech-focused PR firm Voxus. Past journalistic experience includes stints as business editor at Executive Technology, a staff writer at New York Sportscene and a freelance journalist covering travel and entertainment. In his spare time, Bradley also writes screenplays.

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