Author: taternews

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Report Links Piracy to Drugs, Weapons, and the Mafia; Calls for U.S. Site-Blocking

https://torrentfreak.com/report-links-piracy-to-drugs-weapons-and-the-mafia-calls-for-u-s-site-blocking/

### The “Piracy as a Service” Problem

Remember when piracy was just some tech-savvy hobbyist sharing a cool movie file in a forum? Those days are officially over. According to a new report from IP House and the Digital Citizens Alliance, the era of the “anarchist downloader” has been replaced by something much more sinister: organized crime.

The report argues that modern streaming networks—specifically IPTV services—have evolved into sophisticated, franchise-style operations. We’re talking about a “Piracy as a Service” model where wholesalers sell turnkey kits to resellers, making the core operations incredibly hard to dismantle.

And it’s not just about stolen movies anymore. The report cites recent law enforcement raids that uncovered:

• Cryptocurrency and large cash reserves
• Illegal weapons and narcotics
• Links to notorious groups like the Italian Mafia

The big takeaway? This isn’t just a copyright issue; it’s a money-laundering issue. Because of this, lobbyists are currently hitting U.S. Congress hard, pushing for new “site-blocking” legislation. They argue that by cutting off these high-margin revenue streams, they can starve the broader criminal ecosystems. Whether blocking a website actually stops a global syndicate or just pushes them toward even darker trades remains to be seen.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

MPA Renews Push for U.S. Site-Blocking Legislation, Citing Live Sports Piracy

https://torrentfreak.com/mpa-renews-push-for-u-s-site-blocking-legislation-citing-live-sports-piracy/

### The Return of the Site-Blockers

Remember the SOPA debacle? That era of internet censorship drama might be making a much more polished—and bipartisan—comeback.

For years, major copyright holders stayed quiet in the U.S., focusing their energy on blocking piracy sites in Europe instead. But the Motion Picture Association (MPA) is officially back on the offensive. They are currently lobbying Congress for new legislation that would allow for “judicially supervised” site-blocking within the United States.

The big selling point? Live sports. The MPA argues that while all piracy is bad, live sports piracy is “uniquely corrosive.” Their logic is simple: once the final whistle blows, the value of a live stream evaporates. To save the revenue, they want the power to shut down pirate domains in real-time.

What to watch for:

• Bipartisan momentum: Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are reportedly working on unified bills.
• The “Global” Argument: The MPA claims over 55 countries already use these tools effectively without killing free speech.
• The Catch: While ISPs and DNS giants like Google have been quiet so far, the real drama will start when we see if these blocks accidentally take down legitimate websites sharing the same servers.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

EU-Funded DNS Provider Must Block Pirate Sites, French Court Rules

https://torrentfreak.com/eu-funded-dns-provider-must-block-pirate-sites-french-court-rules/

### No More Free Rides for F1 Fans in France?

If you thought your favorite VPN or DNS provider was a “get out of jail free” card for streaming illegal sports, the French courts just threw a massive wrench in those plans.

In a sweeping move to protect broadcasting rights for Formula 1 and MotoGP, the Paris Judicial Court has significantly expanded its list of targets. We aren’t just talking about your standard Internet Service Providers anymore. The court is now going after the “middlemen” that help pirates bypass blocks—specifically DNS resolvers and VPN providers.

The most surprising name on the list? DNS4EU. This service, which was originally co-funded by the EU to promote “digital sovereignty,” has been ordered to block dozens of pirate streaming domains. While some giants like Google and Cloudflare fought back in court (and lost), DNS4EU’s parent company, Whalebone, essentially rolled up its sleeves and complied.

The takeaway:

• Total Lockdown: The court is bundling orders against ISPs, search engines, and VPNs all at once to create a “wall” of blocking.

Global Reach: Interestingly, Whalebone confirmed that while the order is French, they are applying these blocks globally*.

• The Goal: To make it much harder for fans to find alternative routes to unauthorized live streams.

It looks like the era of relying on a simple DNS tweak to bypass regional restrictions is getting a lot more complicated.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Filmmakers Drop Piracy Liability Lawsuit Against ISP RCN

https://torrentfreak.com/filmmakers-drop-piracy-liability-lawsuit-against-isp-rcn/

It looks like the “Piracy Police” are hitting a bit of a roadblock.

A group of heavyweight movie studios—the folks behind Rambo V and London Has Fallen—just dropped their massive lawsuit against ISP RCN. Since 2021, these filmmakers have been trying to hold the internet provider responsible for the “repeat offenders” on its network, essentially arguing that if an ISP doesn’t cut off pirates, they’re part of the crime.

So, what changed? While the legal paperwork is suspiciously quiet about a specific settlement, the writing was likely on the wall thanks to a recent Supreme Court decision in the Cox case. The court effectively narrowed the rules, making it much harder to sue ISPs unless you can prove they actually intended for their service to be used for piracy.

The fallout from this dismissal is more than just a closed case:

• No site-blocking (for now): The studios’ dream of forcing RCN to block sites like The Pirate Bay has vanished with this lawsuit.
• A legislative push: With the courts making it harder to sue ISPs, rightsholders are now pivoting toward lobbying Congress for new laws that would mandate site-blocking.

For now, the internet remains a bit more “wild west” than the studios would like.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week – 04/27/2026

https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-torrented-pirated-movies/

If you thought the streaming wars were over, think again. The latest piracy charts are out, and it seems people are still finding ways to bypass those monthly subscription fees.

The big news this week? We have a fresh face at the top of the leaderboard. Project Hail Mary has officially crashed the party, swooping in to claim the #1 spot. It’s currently the most shared title on torrent sites, proving that sci-fi fans are eager to get their hands on it—even if they aren’t waiting for a formal release on a major platform.

The rest of the top five is looking like a heavy hitter lineup:

• The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender holds steady at #2.
• Avatar: Fire and Ash remains a fan favorite at #3.
• The Super Mario Galaxy Movie rounds out the top four.

While the list is mostly composed of established heavyweights, a few climbers like Crime 101 are making moves. Whether it’s blockbuster sequels or much-anticipated adaptations, one thing is clear: if there’s a hype train running, someone, somewhere, is trying to download it for free.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

240p Test Suite for NTSC Nintendo 64

https://retrorgb.com/240p-test-suite-for-ntsc-nintendo-64.html

If you’ve ever spent a rainy afternoon squinting at an old CRT television trying to figure out if your signal is actually sharp or just blurry magic, we have some good news. The legendary 240p Test Suite has officially arrived for the Nintendo 64.

For those who don’t know, this suite is basically the “gold standard” toolkit for retro gamers. It helps you calibrate your hardware to ensure your classic games look exactly as they were intended—crisp, clear, and without that dreaded signal bleed. While only the NTSC version is ready for prime time right now, a PAL version is already on the roadmap.

This isn’t just a digital download, either. Mega Cat Studios is planning to release a physical cartridge once the software moves past its testing phase.

What you need to know:

The Tech: Developed using libdragon and tiny 3D*, this version is incredibly precise—so much so that it’s actually being used to redesign monoscopes for other platforms.

• The Cost: The ROM is free to download, but the creator, Artemio Urbina, relies on Patreon and tips to keep these essential tools alive.

Time to break out the old tube TVs and get calibrating!

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Jotego Confirms Neo Geo AES+ Features

https://retrorgb.com/jotego-confirms-neo-geo-aes-features.html

The Neo Geo is getting a modern makeover, and it looks like the real deal.

If you’ve been following the rumors around the upcoming Neo Geo AES+ from Plaion, it’s time to stop holding your breath and start getting excited. FPGA legend Jotego recently sat down for an interview, and he dropped some serious truth bombs that suggest this isn’t just another cheap emulator in a fancy box.

The secret sauce? This system is being built using an ASIC spun off directly from the MiSTer FPGA core. To put it simply: it’s the same DNA as the legendary hardware, just streamlined into a single chip. We’re talking about a “Genesis 2” level of evolution rather than a total rewrite.

Here is why your retro setup should be nervous (in a good way):

• Visual Perfection: Jotego worked specifically on ensuring the RGB output and colors are as faithful to the original hardware as humanly possible.
• Zero Lag: The controller pins wire directly to the ASIC, meaning button presses translate to screen movement in real-time. No input delay here.
• Sonic Accuracy: The audio circuits have been custom-tailored to mimic that iconic Neo Geo sound.

The best part? Jotego teased that another console is already on the way. We don’t know what it is yet, but the retro hardware renaissance is officially in full swing.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #511

https://retrorgb.com/week511.html

If your weekend plans involved tinkering with vintage hardware or hunting for rare fan translations, you’re in luck—the latest RetroRGB roundup is officially here.

It’s a packed episode this week, starting with some great news for Sega Saturn fans: Ninku has finally received a much-needed fan translation. If you’ve been looking for something new to play on that classic console, this is your sign.

The technical side of the hobby is also buzzing. We’re seeing significant updates for MiSTer enthusiasts (including some big news for Darius 2 fans), a new 720p support boost for NeoPico HD, and a clever way to unlock PSX hard drives using ATA Express.

A few other quick hits worth your attention:

• Hardware Fixes: New power supply replacements are coming for the legendary LaserActive.
• DIY Projects: Learn how to build your very own Xbox prototype or set up a “RetroNAS” for centralized file storage.
• The Essentials: From cheap Kodi/MiSTer remotes to new Genesis Mug lids, there’s plenty of gear talk to keep you busy.

Whether you prefer watching the breakdown on video or listening on the go via Spotify or iTunes, it’s a deep dive you won’t want to miss.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

ZSNES is back as “Super ZSNES”!

https://retrorgb.com/zsnes-is-back-as-super-zsnes.html

Dust off those old cartridges, because a legend just got a massive glow-up. The original developers behind the iconic ZSNES have officially returned with something much more ambitious: Super ZSNES.

This isn’t just a simple patch or a nostalgic retread. The team has completely rewritten the emulator from the ground up to do things we previously thought were impossible for 16-bit hardware. We’re talking about using your modern PC’s GPU to handle the heavy lifting, which should keep things running buttery smooth.

The real showstopper, however, is their new “Super Enhancement Engine.” This feature allows classic games to be rendered in much higher resolutions and even widescreen formats. It’s essentially giving your favorite SNES classics a high-definition facelift.

Here is the quick breakdown:

• Available now: Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android (iOS is on the way).
• The Tech: Offloads processing to the GPU and enables “enhanced” game modes.
• The Cost: Currently free to download, though the devs are seeking Patreon support to keep the momentum going.

Whether you’re a retro purist or just want to see Chrono Trigger in glorious widescreen, this is one update worth downloading.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

RetroNAS Brings Centralized File Storage to Retro PC Setups

https://retrorgb.com/retronas-brings-centralized-file-storage-to-retro-pc-setups.html

If you’ve ever spent an entire afternoon swapping 3.5″ floppies just to get a single driver onto an old IBM clone, we have some good news for your wrists.

Enter RetroNAS: a new suite of tools designed to turn a humble Raspberry Pi or an old spare computer into a centralized Network Attached Storage (NAS) hub. Think of it as a modern cloud service, but specifically tailored for the era of DOS and Windows 98.

The magic lies in its ability to bridge the gap between decades of tech. By using services like EtherDFS (which is lightweight enough not to choke your precious DOS memory) and an older version of Samba, you can map a network folder as a local drive letter on your retro machines.

Why this is a game-changer:

• Centralized Library: Keep all your ISOs, floppy images, and drivers in one place.
• Save Disk Space: Run games directly from the network drive instead of hunting for new CF cards or hard drives.
• Cross-Platform: Serve files simultaneously to DOS, Windows for Workgroups, and even modern devices.

Fair warning: this isn’t exactly “plug-and-play.” You’ll need a bit of networking know-how to get the configuration right, but once it’s running, your retro setup will feel significantly more high-tech.