Myth of Offshore Server Safety (read but site need to be offshore)

[robby3333]

c/p


Lately, there has been alot of talk in the community about FTA sites and safety. One of the many myths is that an offshore server provides protection that a US-based server does not. I was browsing a less-than-reputable forum and noticed a glaring warning from a well-intentioned but horribly mis-informed member:

Quote:
i was told by a friend that you people might could answer this.he says he was told that the servers for xxxxx site are in the US and people are not safe going there .he said he was told it was tied in with a couple of other sites that are located in the US also. one or both are supposed to be a brother or sister site yyyyy site or the zzzzz site you have a running thread on that might be a dish spy site.i don't know how to check this but he says they are not safe to visit if they have the servers in the US.is this true

So, let me attempt to explain this in a very straight-forward way. It doesn't matter where the server is located. If a website is administered or owned in the US and that administrator has his house or place of business seized, the authorities can easily access the server, even if it is located in on the other side of the world.

To withhold access to a server containing incriminating evidence is called "obstruction of justice" in the criminal system and "contempt of court" in the civil system.

In other words, if you live in Des Moines and your server is in Fiji and you get your business raided along with all your computers, hard drives, and other hardware, you're going to be required to provide the investigators access to that server. If you fail to cooperate, there will be consequences.

They don't need to travel to the South Pacific and show up in Fiji with a warrant. The attorneys and prosecutors don't have to ask the server operators in a far-away land to cooperate. All they have to do is put pressure on you to cooperate.

So the next time you hear that a site is "safe" because the server is overseas, be sure to ask where the site is administered from. Also, find out if the owners of the site are dealers. That is the key to "safety", not the physical location of the computer where the database is stored.

Information sites have NEVER been busted. It is not illegal to explain how to do illegal things.


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and you will find many examples of books on how to smuggle cocaine, build bombs, or fake your own death for the purpose of committing insurance fraud. None of the authors of those books are in prison because they are all protected by the First Amendment. Similarly, websites that provide information on technology that satellite providers would rather you not have is not illegal either.

That changes when the owner of the site is also selling the same hardware discussed on the site. That would be similar to owning a head shop that sells bongs, pipes, needles-- and, despite every disclaimer that these things are for legal uses only-- also running a site that tells you how to shoot heroin or use that bong to get high.

An argument that FTA receivers are only sold for legal purposes cannot be made if the seller of those "legal" receivers is also telling people how to make them illegal. If you belong to a site that is owned by a dealer, you may indeed have reason to worry about legal repercussions.

But as long as you belong to a site that has no dealer ties and exists only as an avenue of information, you are excercising your freedom of speech by participating.


Since we're on the topic of dealers

There are some very important things you should know. Always buy from a dealer authorized specifically from the importer/manufacturer, this includes dealers who advertise on ebay. Authorized dealers have logos that link back to the Authorized Dealer page on the official website of the STB brand.


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and other official sites for this information. The reasons these dealers are authorized are because they only sell original products (not clones) and also because they only advertise products for legitimate free-to-air use. Dealers who will hang up on you if you ask about D*sh or BEV are the ones you want to deal with.

Do not buy from dealers who advertise free-to-air receivers shown with Dish Network or B*ll Expr*ssVu dishes. Do not buy from dealers who advertise D*sh Network or B*ll Expr*ssVu "support" along with the products they sell. Do not buy from dealers who also own and run FTA sites where users discuss how to access pay-TV programming. Reputable, authorized dealers do not do these things.

end c/p

[greenweed]

well in a way you are right BUT your wrong too!! if server is over seas its there for a reason. giving them your server is like giving yourself up!! its better to let them TRY to do something(there going to anyways right?) to you then to give up server info---------your just tightening the noose around your neck by giving it to them!!!

[evd]

sorry but false info since a server is let say in Malaysia USA law enforcement cant raid server that easy .

when is host in USA they can just go to server host company with a court order and raid server nd all info.


if this is not true then a lot of site in the past got raid because of bad luck lol

those who been follow dss sites for long time know this is like rule number one of this hobby.