diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore index 9c1e8f3..179947f 100644 --- a/.gitignore +++ b/.gitignore @@ -1,2 +1,3 @@ node_modules www +.DS_Store \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/src/posts/americasbestpics.md b/src/posts/americasbestpics.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f74124e --- /dev/null +++ b/src/posts/americasbestpics.md @@ -0,0 +1,44 @@ +--- +title: "the ifunny clone that isnt" +date: 2023-06-06 +description: "god i love fucked up corporate structures" +feature_image: /img/posts/americasbestpics/cover.jpg +feature_alt: "a glitchy edited screenshot of americasbestpics.com" +tags: + - analysis + - osint + - research + - memes +--- + +> [this blog post was originally a tumblr post](https://www.tumblr.com/nyancrimew/719391254132195328/entirely-unrelated-to-the-actual-posts-above-but), inline links are sources + +so today the following post appeared on my tumblr dash, reminding me of a bit of research i did a while ago. + +
https://www.tumblr.com/tchaikovskaya/714797621937618944
+ +as you can see there is a tiny tiny banner at the bottom of the second posts image. when i first encountered this footer a while ago i got curious, what the fuck is americasbestpics.com? so i checked it out + +![a screenshot of the americasbestpics home page, it's a meme website with a feed and various tags you can explore](/img/posts/americasbestpics/screenshot.jpg) + +it pretty much just looks like an ifunny clone, huh? specifically advertising to americans? looks interesting, i dug deeper, trying to figure out where their backend is, and how the fuck they have as many posts as they do if i've never heard of them + +![screenshot of a developer tools view of the americasbestpics front page, there are various scripts being loaded from an ifunny domain](/img/posts/americasbestpics/devtools.jpg) + +wait, huh? what's that? what? ifunny? + +![the play store listing for americas best pics showing it is listed by Funtech Publishing LTD](/img/posts/americasbestpics/playstore.jpg) + +oh, so [ABPV is run by Funtech Publishing](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.americasbestpics7), a company that runs a number of hyperspecific ifunny "clones". wait? [funtech is the word funcorp (owner of ifunny) uses to describe their industry](https://www.smaato.com/resources/case-studies/success-story-funcorp/)? huh? + +*digs a bit deeper* + +hm [funtech publishing is headquartered](https://opencorporates.com/companies/cy/HE397075) in the same city in cyprus as [funcorp](https://opencorporates.com/companies/cy/HE352942)! hmmmmmmm + +![screenshot of company registrations showing Irina Antipina is both a company officer for funtech as well as ifunny](/img/posts/americasbestpics/irina.jpg) + +oh huh, wow how curious! [the main company officer registered for funtech publishing](https://opencorporates.com/officers/762300333) also just so happens to be the former ceo/director at ifunny (at the time of them being main officer at funtech), that surely doesn't mean anything + +ok so, wait, ifunny runs an ifunny clone, [a shady meme/tiktok clone app where you ?? get paid ?? to use the app?](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zmedia.media.yepp) (which curiously enough is listed under a different company name and corporate structure, while also being on the [funtech website](https://www.funtech.co/)?), [a whatsapp status saver letting u save other peoples statuses](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funtech.kdkd), [some other rly cringily advertised meme focused tiktok clone](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funtech.funxd) and potentially some other apps. + +this is not an uncommon practice for smaller advertising business focused mobile app dev studios, but i was really surprised to find ifunny doing this, and especially that they would compete with themselves. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/cover.jpg b/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/cover.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8861fac Binary files /dev/null and b/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/cover.jpg differ diff --git a/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/devtools.jpg b/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/devtools.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..46ca9b2 Binary files /dev/null and b/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/devtools.jpg differ diff --git a/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/irina.jpg b/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/irina.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7dd3021 Binary files /dev/null and b/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/irina.jpg differ diff --git a/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/playstore.jpg b/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/playstore.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..18f9588 Binary files /dev/null and b/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/playstore.jpg differ diff --git a/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/screenshot.jpg b/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/screenshot.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..813918b Binary files /dev/null and b/src/static/img/posts/americasbestpics/screenshot.jpg differ