Baron
ET Founder
Recently, I know it may have seemed like I was sitting back doing nothing. But please know that I have been a wreck since this whole situation started and that I have been doing everything possible behind the scenes to track and catch this guy. So with that said, you should know that I've found the person responsible for all of this. He is very clever, but unfortunately for him, he made a VERY careless and critical mistake yesterday, and after 13 straight hours of computer forensic work last night, I've finally put the puzzle together. I literally had goosebumps all over me when everything came together.
I'm almost done compiling all the necessary documentation to let the authorities take it from here. And by "necessary documentation" I mean critical things like records of his real IP address, his work history, his home address, his cell phone number and a ton of other personal information. Hell, I could post his picture up here right now if I wanted.
I've also saved the source code of an infected page to a PDF file which shows the latest method he was using to redirect users to those horrific images. Honestly, there's a part of me that wants to just hop on a plane and beat his ass, but I know that's probably not the best solution. This guy needs to be prosecuted and thrown in jail for a long time.
To think that there are young children out there being molested is just awful. But seeing that activity in images is another level. And even beyond that is coming to grips with the fact that there are people like this sicko who are willfully engaged in the distribution of that garbage to people like yourselves on a daily basis.
I am obsessed with this web site and I always have been. For over a decade it has been a constant, everyday battle just to keep the trolls, spammers, and now sick perverts away from this place. For each legitimate thread you see on ET, there are about 14 other threads submitted which are total garbage of various types that we've filtered out behind the scenes, and these are threads that you never even see or know about. So I'm under no illusion that this battle will end anytime soon. Just like being the sheriff of a real county, I can tell you that this place will never be completely perfect or crime-free. But I am more than willing to do whatever it takes to keep this place as clean as possible.
Obviously, I'm sorry that this happened to begin with, and I appreciate your patience so much. I've been running ET for 15 years now and this has been the most challenging situation I've ever had to deal with, by far. I will keep you updated on anything else that's significant that happens from this point forward. And if I ever get clearance from law enforcement to post all of this guy's personal info, I will do it without hesitation.
I'm almost done compiling all the necessary documentation to let the authorities take it from here. And by "necessary documentation" I mean critical things like records of his real IP address, his work history, his home address, his cell phone number and a ton of other personal information. Hell, I could post his picture up here right now if I wanted.
I've also saved the source code of an infected page to a PDF file which shows the latest method he was using to redirect users to those horrific images. Honestly, there's a part of me that wants to just hop on a plane and beat his ass, but I know that's probably not the best solution. This guy needs to be prosecuted and thrown in jail for a long time. To think that there are young children out there being molested is just awful. But seeing that activity in images is another level. And even beyond that is coming to grips with the fact that there are people like this sicko who are willfully engaged in the distribution of that garbage to people like yourselves on a daily basis.
I am obsessed with this web site and I always have been. For over a decade it has been a constant, everyday battle just to keep the trolls, spammers, and now sick perverts away from this place. For each legitimate thread you see on ET, there are about 14 other threads submitted which are total garbage of various types that we've filtered out behind the scenes, and these are threads that you never even see or know about. So I'm under no illusion that this battle will end anytime soon. Just like being the sheriff of a real county, I can tell you that this place will never be completely perfect or crime-free. But I am more than willing to do whatever it takes to keep this place as clean as possible.
Obviously, I'm sorry that this happened to begin with, and I appreciate your patience so much. I've been running ET for 15 years now and this has been the most challenging situation I've ever had to deal with, by far. I will keep you updated on anything else that's significant that happens from this point forward. And if I ever get clearance from law enforcement to post all of this guy's personal info, I will do it without hesitation.
