When KickassTorrents and Torrentz went offline weeks ago, torrent fans thought the sites are gone for good and many moved on to free download alternatives like The Pirate Bay and ExtraTorrent. But regular KAT users, most are sites admins and moderators, opted to never say die and are now working on a project to resurrect the original site.
These are the same people who kept the KickassTorrents community and forum functions going even after KAT was forced offline, according to TorrentFreak, and the current mission is to rebuild the old site from scratch. The report added that operators of Katcr.to appear to have no access to the original KickassTorrents code and database but remain confident of picking up where KAT had left off.
The group is now raising funds to finance the project and a check on the GoFundMe campaign showed that the $7000 target has progressed into a few hundred dollars. Katcr.to is hoping that with the money that torrents would donate, the site will soon expand into other things, possibly adding torrent uploads and downloads in the near future.
TorrentFreak described Katcr.to as a long-term project wherein "torrents are expected to return as well in the future." "KAT will return to its former glory," TorrentFreak reported the leader of the group, identified only as Mr. Gooner, as saying.
The same resource person also hinted that while the original KickassTorrents code and database are currently not accessed by his group the KAT data are secured, likely ready to use at the right time and by authorized group only.
But doing so will certainly require funding, which explains the donation campaign launched by the group. As clarified by one member: "This site we now inhabit is costing money: Money that a few individuals put up to ensure the survival of this Community. This is still not the Kat we all remember but on a daily basis it is getting closer."
Resurrecting KickassTorrents might prove a long wait yet for now Mr. Gooner called on torrent fans to stay the course. "Run those seedboxes and torrent clients 24/7 where possible. Just because uploading stopped at KAT we are all still pirates and we will always encourage uploading," the group head told TorrentFreak.
And that would mean supporting The Pirate Bay and ExtraTorrent, both of which emerged as the safe and best download/torrenting alternative after abrupt closing down of the KickassTorrents and Torrentz.eu.