I think that it is just some mess done by new software (remember the supreme law of system administration: if it ain't broken, don't fix it!!!!!!!!). DDOS is unlikely (who cares about e-on?).

About pirated software: if you check warez sites you find anything within days of availabilty (and with anything mean the big, 4-digit price tags boys). Programs like Vue come with activation key generator which (they say) should generate correct codes. I have not tried anything of that kind, not even out of curiosity, because I am too scared of killing my Vue 9 Infinite legitimate (and un-legitimally fragile...) installation/activation.

An amusing side of those sites is that you see listed 3DStudio and Wings3D together, as if they were both commerical applications. I think that the population going to those sites are mainly collectors of software (get it, install it, have a look at it and then forget it, jumping to next shiny new toy). Professionals need support and can write off costs in their accounting, hobby users have a truckload of free or economical stuff to choose from. If you want to check if you like a program, watch video tutorials and get demos. If you collect stamps, why wouldn't you collect programs?

GIMP 2.7.4, Inkscape 0.48, Genetica 3.6 Basic, FilterForge 3 Professional, Blender 2.61, SketchUp 8, PoserPro 2012, Vue 10 Infinite, World Machine 2.3, GeoControl 2