Copyprotection malware
polycounter lvl 18
It doesn't effect me as much as others, as I am playing most of my games under Linux (where this crap is still very uncommon), but here is a nice article about the insanity that comes with modern 'copy-protection' software (or should I better say 'hurt the legal customer' software?):
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/30/anticopying_malware_.html
Flame away
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/30/anticopying_malware_.html
Flame away
Replies
Just found it on my system. Strange, I don't think I reinstalled X2 after the last OS wipe... Sounds like I really should start downloading again, buying legal is becoming way too dangerous these days.
Can't we sue 'em under some computer intrusion act? Granting users root access is a severe threat, if that were to happen on a company computer the consequences could be devastating.
Someone should hack and disable StarForce's IT infrastructure, maybe that'll get them a clue when it comes to hacking prevention.
It's a shame, because I really like the game, but I'm sure they could have protected it in a different, less evil manner.
Makes me want to swear off PC games and stick to consoles.
to prevent what it was menat for. The only one who get the harm
is the one who buys the game. And rumors that the protection
mess your system up is true, made my DVD burner useless and
i needed to reintall my OS. Nope never buy a game that has a
Star Force protection !
Ugh, I believe Trackmania uses this type of protection, and I have it installed
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That uses DefenceLine which may be a Starforce knockoff. I've got it installed and I can't find any Starforce drivers on my machine. heh
I don't know the subject enough to argue here, I just think we are nice people at nadeo and that this anti SF war is full of rumors and wrong stories.
I just agree with people asking for a more visible SF installation (something like : this game is going to install SF protection Yes/No?).
I don't think it's malware. I've had more problems with Norton than with SF (actually didn't have any problems with SF yet ;] ).
The threats they are putting against critics instead of addressing the issues raised is another strike against them.
GCW says there are cracks available so where exactly is the advantage of StarForce?
Yeah all TM have have SF, and TMN has too, because without it, hackers would be able to modify the .exe, cheat, and crack the the protected commercial versions (sunrise and original).
GCW says there are cracks available so where exactly is the advantage of StarForce?
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Well i turns your os into crap if something goes wrong and
crackers need an extra day of work, big deal. And for rumors
@OgrO i daubt that SF can destroy your cd drive but it can
send your os into oblivion, ohh and before i forget, special
greetz to "The Suffering - Ties that bind" at least ive only
lost 5 euros on that game /me hugs ebay
as I said, the starforce encryption protects our .exe against cheats.
Edit : (sorry for double post, I'm getting old )
Actually, thinking about it, there are a lot of games with starforce, I'm wondering why they haven't been attacked yet, if there is a security hole.
Anyway, I trust everybody at nadeo, and I doubt we would have used starforce if we had known.
So, 2 solutions : it's false, or we didn't know. I hope it's false, because I don't want to see TMN more famous because it's been transformed in a worm can by evil people.
Personally, I see this anti starforce campaign (followed by a lot of hackers groups) more as another way to get rid of that protection, because of it's efficiency.
Starforce has no security problems at all, and can't damage hardware. But it is indeed possible it's messing things in the windows system with drives.
If you encountered that kind of problem, I suggest you make a bug report to starforce developpers to help them fix all that, we all need to go ahead.