Police Seize Assets of TestKiller.com
7/10/2002 -- On June 6 San Antonio police seized assets of TestKiller Ltd., the company that runs the practice exam Web site TestKiller.com.
According to a police report filed with the Bexar County, Texas District Court on June 20, the raid was prompted by Microsoft, who alleged that the site was selling Microsoft certification exam questions.
In his affidavit, seizing police officer Daniel Flaharty, a detective in the Special Crimes Unit of the San Antonio Police Department, wrote that he was contacted by a representative from the anti-piracy office of Microsoft. The unnamed representative alleged to Flaharty that TestKiller Ltd. was selling Microsoft "trade secrets" in the form of questions and answers to Microsoft exams.
According to the report, Flaharty began an investigation based on Microsoft's complaint, which led to the June 6 seizure of $408,566.84 in cash as well as several phones, printers, computer equipment, software and other items from at least one location.
No charges have been filed in this investigation. Calls made to the Bexar County district attorney's office to determine whether the investigation was ongoing were not returned as of press time.
Garry L. Neale, one of Testkiller Ltd.'s owners, politely declined CertCities.com's request for an interview, referring all questions to his attorney, who is out of the country this week.
A spokesperson for Microsoft confirmed that the company was aware of the investigation but said he could not comment on it due to the legal nature of the story.
The Testkiller.com Web site has been offline since early June.
Neale is the former owner of Troy Technologies (TroyTec.com), which in December settled a civil copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit brought by certification vendor CompTIA (see "CompTIA v. TroyTec Settled; Company Pulls CompTIA-Related Products from Site, Denies Wrongdoing").
CertCities.com will continue to follow this story and bring you further updates as they develop.  -B.N.
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There are 254  user Comments for “Police Seize Assets of TestKiller.com”
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Page 11 of 26
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| 7/14/02: Anonymous says: |
This argument is never going to end. Position 1: You cheat, you suck. Position 2: Passing tests with MS material alone isn't possible, and you can't pass with braindumps alone, so I do a combo. Position 1: You cheat, you suck. Position 2: Can you just hear me out? Position 1: You cheat, you suck. Etc. etc. etc. This discussion isn't going to go anywhere because position 1 won't look at any facts, and the people on that side won't admit that they didn't just pass with MOCs and MS study guides, they used other materials that can be classified as cheating because they weren't MS approved and were probably geared a lot more toward test material than overall knowledge. Reading this is honestly like reading an argument between 10 year olds about religion. |
| 7/15/02: Anonymous says: |
Mannn! I can't beleive I came back here to read all of this crap! Crap on one side, and crap on the other. Points to make: memorizing questions is unlikely to get you very far so why bother; Use all of the practice exams and questions for what they are meant for, to force you to work out problems that are as real world as anything else (its all a matter of what circumstances you end up working in that determine how close these are to real world); use the best possible guides you can (I favor Sybex and MS); definately get the Resource Kits; spend tons of time on the MS site reading TechNet; build your own lab or get a job assisting an experienced engineer; don't cheat (personally I think you should be shot if you do. Would you want a doctor who cheated??); stop bullsh*tting about all of this stuff. If you learn the subject matter you will be able to answer the questions; yes a legitametly earned MCSE cert is a great learning experience, and yes you will know far more than most with experience who haven't put themselves through it. I have been working as an IT professional for years, and the went for my certs. Real rough, I say. Came out of it better off. Ultimately failed a few, but eventually passed and NEVER cheated so stop crying. If you can't pass these on your knowledge you either aren't really trying hard enough or you shouldn't be doing this. |
| 7/14/02: John Smith says: |
No course from any vendor or college can teach you everything you need to know. That's why its emphasized when taking each course or exam that you have to have significan work experience to supplement it. 90% of the candidates out there ignore this completely. If knowing answers to trivia questions without substance is how you want to get through life then "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" or "Jeopardy" is where you should shoot for because you won't last long in the real-world. |
| 7/14/02: Anonymous says: |
i completely agree with you John Smith |
| 7/14/02: horny toad from new york says: |
man, only if the exams were as easy as getting cyber-sex! |
| 7/14/02: Anonymous says: |
Comparing a doctor, who is forced to pass tests and go through rigorous college to an IT person who can get a job with or without a cert is probably the most ignorant thing I've heard all week. Perhaps it's my view that anyone that ignorant should be shot. And saying if you learn the subject matter you can pass, duh. The problem is, you can't learn the subject matter from most "approved" materials. Seriously, all you high and mighty people out there should try passing with just the MOC, hands on, and a MS book. I'd love to hear how that goes for you. Otherwise, deal with the fact that you look over plenty of non-approved material just like the braindumpers, and then get off your high horse and come back to reality. |
| 7/14/02: Anonymous says: |
I wouldn't let any of you design a dog house. Most of you can't even spell! |
| 7/14/02: kerberospique from HK says: |
Apparaently, Biz like Transcender should be survived under Big Bulks' bulldozing, such as M$, Oracl$... etc. |
| 7/15/02: Anonymous says: |
HEY STOP SHUTING DOWN WEB SITE WHO ARE HELPING US PREPARE FOR EXAMS.. |
| 7/15/02: MCSE,MCT,CCNA,MCDBA,etc,etc says: |
for those MCTs that like braindumps, I've really liked them since there are other sources to find out what is on the test.Also I have seen people that pass tests and really don't know what's going on. This makes all the people with certifications look a little bit worse. I want to be sure that people with certs know their stuff so we all lokk better. But you are free to choose what you want, except for this Microsoft, and other vendors I suppose, can take your MCT and CTEC status for encouraging Braindumps. So think twice about it. |
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