Drink Or Die

Drink or Die (DoD) was an influential software cracking and warez distribution group founded in Russia in 1993 that expanded into a global operation. The group gained notoriety for cracking high-profile commercial software and developing sophisticated distribution networks that spanned multiple continents. Unlike groups focused solely on games, DoD specialized in enterprise software and operating systems, including a famously pirated copy of Windows 95 released before Microsoft's official launch. The group maintained an elaborate organizational structure with specialized teams handling cracking, testing, and distribution. DoD's operations came to an abrupt end in December 2001 with "Operation Buccaneer," a coordinated international law enforcement action that resulted in numerous arrests across multiple countries. Several key members received prison sentences, making it one of the most significant legal actions against the warez scene. Despite its dissolution, DoD's technical innovations and organizational approaches influenced both the warez scene and, ironically, corporate software distribution systems that would follow.