KickassTorrents blocked by Chrome, Safari and Firefox as phishing website. (Photo : YouTube/Torrents)
The original KickassTorrents (KAT) website is still down, but a group of admins and moderators is set to restore the domain to its former glory. KAT users are now under a new roof and they are collecting donations to continue expanding.
With an active community and millions of users, KickassTorrents was more than a site to succumb to the latest torrents problem. It was perceived as a virtual home for many where they came together and connected with friends.
The site was shut down after the alleged owner was arrested in Poland on the United States government orders, according to Torrent Freak. It is unlikely that the original domain will come back anytime soon, but KAT crewmembers have been working hard to keep users together.
A few days after KAT shutdown, a new forum in the name of Katcr.co was launched, supported by several high-ranking moderators of the original website. After a few weeks, a horde of members came back to the community, which is now set to expand.
The community has begun a fundraising campaign to collect money to repair and rebuild the authentic KickassTorrents site code. The group is accepting funds via PayPal and a Gofundme campaign with the hope of collecting several thousands of dollars.
Users are now wondering if the move will help restore the download and upload functionality of KAT. Currently, this is a long-term goal.
The same publication spoke with Mr. Gooner, a long time KAT crewmember aka the President, who explained that the original staff members have returned to the community. However, money is needed to develop and maintain the site during the next few months. Now, the focus is on the community aspect, but torrents are expected to come back in future.
"At this stage, it very much depends on pending legal action and rulings in regards to the legality of torrents in the US," Mr. Gooner said. "However the community can be reassured that in one way or another, KAT will return to its former glory."
Full restoration of the old domain with the original database is not an option for now. The site admins and crew were different from those who technically and financially operated the website. As a result, the people in charge of Katcr.co do not have access to the original code and information.
Here is a sneak peek for details on KickassTorrents:
