Editing .nfo (section)

=== Usage of NFO files in publishing of warez ===
The files have been explained as essentially being the [[press release]]s of the warez scene.<ref name="eweek">{{cite web |url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Tracking-the-Crackers-A-Look-at-Software-Piracy/ |title=Tracking the Crackers—A Look at Software Piracy |work=[[eWeek]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122133911/http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Tracking-the-Crackers-A-Look-at-Software-Piracy/ |archive-date=2013-01-22 |url-status=live |date=2008-11-14 |issn=1530-6283 |first=Brian |last=Prince }}</ref> They are commonly associated with [[warez groups]] who include them to declare credit of said release.<ref name="thenewyorker">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/04/27/the-man-who-broke-the-music-business |title=The Man Who Broke the Music Business - The dawn of online piracy |date=2015-04-27 |first=Stephen |last=Witt |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |quote=NFO files were a way for Scene crews to brag about their scores, shout out important associates, and advertise to potential recruits.}}</ref> NFO files were ubiquitous, and sometimes required, during the era of the [[Bulletin Board System|BBS]]. The file was a stamp of authenticity, explicitly explaining what group released the software and described what modifications (or cracks) were applied if any.<ref name="WarezWars">{{cite magazine |first=David |last=McCandless |title=Warez Wars |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/5.04/ff_warez.html |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=April 1997|quote=NFO files do more than brag or supply installation instructions; they testify that the ware is a bona fide release, guaranteed to work. And this is more than just posturing; a group's reputation is paramount.}}</ref>  Once a software was "packaged" with an NFO and then released, it was then officially owned by that group and no other group could ethically re-release that particular package{{jargon inline|date=October 2024}}.  A typical warez NFO file was elaborate and highly decorated, and usually included a large [[ASCII art]] logo along with software release and extended warez group information.  The most important information is which group, which cracker and which member actually tested and packaged. The designers of these NFO files, who worked closely or within the warez groups, frequently incorporated [[extended ASCII]] characters from the character set [[code page 437]] in the file.

As of 2019, NFO files can still be found in many [[ZIP file format|ZIP]] archives. In modern-day warez NFO files, a large ASCII art logo is frequently shown at the top, followed by textual information below.