FileList, the popular torrent tracker, saved from bankruptcy! Find out how!

FileList, a popular torrent tracker, closes its doors

Last weekend, the popular torrent tracker FileList announced that it would soon be closing its doors for good. A change of priorities in life and the absence of trusted and competent successors were cited as the main reasons. The decision triggered an outpouring of support, with two people stepping forward to keep the site running. This includes "God", one of the original founders of FileList.

FileList, a torrenting giant for sixteen years

With millions of monthly visits, FileList is one of the largest private torrent trackers. The site has been around for sixteen years and has weathered many storms, including a crackdown by Romanian law enforcement, who seized its domain name in 2020.

The end is nigh for FileList

Last weekend, the journey seemed to be coming to an end when the site's main operator, EboLLa, decided he'd rather devote time to other aspects of his life. With no trusted successor in sight, closure seemed the only viable option.

Many people volunteered to take over the site, but entrusting the tracker to a stranger didn't seem fair to the operator. Managing a private torrent site that stores the sensitive personal data of many people is a huge responsibility.

In many cases, this would have been the end of the story. After a few weeks, the site would have ceased to exist, becoming a distant memory as time went by. For FileList, however, the story isn't quite over yet.

The return of the founder

The outpouring of support and shock that followed the announcement of the closure prompted one of FileList's original founders, "God", to return to the fold. He will take over the technical role from the current operator to ensure that the tracker can continue to operate in the years to come.

"Your voice has been heard, even now. I'm delighted to announce that the site won't be closing!" writes EboLLa.

"One of the site's founders, God, is back and will be taking over the technical side to ensure the site's continuity. He is trustworthy, loyal, and things will certainly go well from that point of view."

New Sysop

The new boss will team up with "Oana", another trusted member of the site who has been promoted to Sysop. In this role, she will handle all personnel matters, server payments and other internal issues.

"Together, they will continue the work needed to keep this site alive," notes EboLLa.

This message represents a sigh of relief for the tracker's many regular users, some of whom have been loyal visitors for over a decade. For the current operator, it's also the last words he shares with the community, as he retires for good.

For copyright holders and law enforcement, this sudden change of plans means they can't yet cross the popular torrent tracker off their list. Instead, it's back to square one.