PARADOX (warez)

Infobox computer underground
group_name = PARADOX


caption = Screenshot from a demo by Zweifeld
origin =
country =
status = active
years_active = 1989 – present
category = quality deprotections / demo
founders = Bad Boy
BlackHawk
Olivier
Clash
products =
affiliates =
website = [http://web.archive.org/web/20070106101825/http://www.paradogs.com/ http://www.paradogs.com/] (via Internet Archive)

PARADOX (PDX) is a warez/demo group; an anonymous group of software engineers that devise ways to defeat software and video game licensing protections, a process known as cracking, which is illegal in some jurisdictions. They distribute cracks (software patches), keygens (key generators), and precracked versions of entire programs. Over the years, distribution methods have changed, starting out with physically transported floppy disks and BBS distribution. With the expansion of the internet they moved on to Usenet. Today most of their files reach the public over various peer to peer file networks.

Paradox was originally formed in late 1989 by members of the Danish group Trilogy (Bad Boy, Black Hawk, Tas, Pcsu, Qrd) and the French group M.A.D (Olivier, The Surge, Clash). They began by cracking Amiga software. The group was reorganized under the leadership of 'Maximilien' in 1993 and moved in to the Sega Genesis and SNES console scenes. They started cracking PC software in 1994. Other consoles and handheld devices they have cracked include the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, Nintendo GameCube, Wii, and Xbox. [ [http://www.aboutthescene.com/general/news/69.html Paradox releases first warez for Wii] ] [ [http://ps3.qj.net/Team-Xecuter-confirms-Paradox-exploit-pimps-PS3-Hyperdrive/pg/49/aid/81539 Paradox PS3 loader confirmed] ]

Paradox has been noted to crack challenging dongle protections on many debugging and software development programs. Most recently, the team successfully found a method of bypassing activation in Windows Vista [ [http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/8854.cfm Article covering crack of Windows Vista] ] . This was accomplished by emulating an OEM machine's BIOS-embedded licensing information and installing an OEM license. [cite news| url=http://apcstart.com/5512/pirate_crack_vista_oem_activation| title=It's official: Pirates crack Vista at last| date=4th March 2007| first=James| last=Bannan| publisher=APC Magazine| accessdate=2007-03-04] However, with Windows Vista Service Pack 1, this crack no longer works correctly.

KeyGen Graphical Interface and Design

PARADOX keygens are known for their aesthetically pleasing designs. Often these GUIs include impressive transparencies and override the Windows Minimize, Maximize, Close button bar at the top of all windows applications. They are also known for adding futuristic music reminiscent of chiptunes to most of their key generators.

Some Keygen screenshots can be seen in the website of PARADOX graphic designer 'Alien' [ [http://alien.untergrund.net/ :: Alien Paradox :: ] ] .

Demoparty Awards

* First place in the Wild Compo category at [http://www.euskal.org Euskal] 2001 [ [http://www.euskal.org/euskal9/english/scene/results.html EUSKAL 9 ] ]
* First place in the Amiga 64 category at [http://www.saturne-party.com/ Saturne] 1994 [ [http://www.pouet.net/results.php?which=33&when=94 results Saturne 94 ] ]
* First place at Alcatraz Pentcost 1990 [ [http://www.pouet.net/party.php?which=512&when=1990 Alcatraz Pentcost 1990 ] ]

Raids and Arrests

One of their members going by the alias 'Rokman' was arrested in 1990 for using stolen credit card numbers to make $1 million in long distance calls to other Paradox members for the purpose of file transfers. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NEW/is_1990_Oct_19/ai_9589947 Paradox member arrested in New York State] - archived version of 1990 Washington Post article ] Another of their members, alias 'tyson', was raided in 2001 as part of Operation Buccaneer. [http://parazite.greatnow.com/scenebusts72.htm]

References

* [http://home.c2i.net/nirgendwo/cdne/ch5web.htm Online Version of the book "Copyright Does Not Exist", by Linus Walleij that mentions PARADOX as a significant member of the demo scene.]

External links

* Official Website - Paradogs.com (DOWN) [http://web.archive.org/web/20070321172523/http://www.paradogs.com/ archived version] via Wayback Machine
* Official Community - Sceneboard.Paradogs.com (DOWN)
* [http://www.pouet.net/groups.php?which=156 An archive of Paradox demos] at Pouet
* [http://www.nfohump.com/index.php?switchto=nfos&menu=quicknav&item=search&search=true&group=PARADOX List of over 150 PARADOX releases]
* [http://www.keygenmusic.net/?page=team&teamname=paradox&lang=en Their music]

ee also

* List of warez groups