Protect? LIES!!! [SafeDisc and all such]
It all started way back in 1985 with Macrovision's video cassette protection which did not interfere with the picture itself but which confused the recording machine so that VCR-to-VCR copies were not possible.
Then when computers came out software developers started devising ways to protect their software from being copied. That didn't work too well, with various cracker groups destroying copy-protection on the software. But, still, there were those who would buy and install original software, and most companies could still make a lot of money.
However, just a couple of years ago, the developers of copy-protect software hit upon a brilliant idea,
" Why not make the software block CD access of CD-Burners? " [SafeDisc reportedly does this. The software protected by SD won't install while Nero or other burning tools are present on the system]
From there it was a small step to,
" Why not install device drivers on the customer's computer to ensure they can't do anything very well as long as this software is installed? In fact, let's make it so that we don't even tell them about it."
Say hello to Starforce, the next generation in I-will-screw-your-computer utilities.
Not only will it install itself without informing you (either in the EULA or separately) but it won't uninstall either. Games "infected" by this also have their demos "infected".
Significantly, no-cd cracks for the games using StarForce are all over the Internet and Starforce seems to have achieved little piracy-wise. The people who are really being punished are those who buy the game. Interestingly, after being e-mailed about this, Starforce replied with a removal-tool.
That tool is mirrored here .
To get a list of games infected by Starforce goto:
http://www.glop.org/starforce/
Scanning through Gameburnworld's pages too yields a couple of programs that could be used to disinfect your system.
NOTE: These tools may not be able to undo any damage already done.
Sadly, it seems that this copy-protection seems to be interfering with some people's ability to play the game that had the protection. Some of these people have returned the game, others have reformatted (thereby removing burning software, etc... that SF or whatever doesn't like) and many many more have simply opted for a warez version that doesn't do this. How paradoxical, the protection causes a spread of warez versions!
Then when computers came out software developers started devising ways to protect their software from being copied. That didn't work too well, with various cracker groups destroying copy-protection on the software. But, still, there were those who would buy and install original software, and most companies could still make a lot of money.
However, just a couple of years ago, the developers of copy-protect software hit upon a brilliant idea,
" Why not make the software block CD access of CD-Burners? " [SafeDisc reportedly does this. The software protected by SD won't install while Nero or other burning tools are present on the system]
From there it was a small step to,
" Why not install device drivers on the customer's computer to ensure they can't do anything very well as long as this software is installed? In fact, let's make it so that we don't even tell them about it."
Say hello to Starforce, the next generation in I-will-screw-your-computer utilities.
Not only will it install itself without informing you (either in the EULA or separately) but it won't uninstall either. Games "infected" by this also have their demos "infected".
Significantly, no-cd cracks for the games using StarForce are all over the Internet and Starforce seems to have achieved little piracy-wise. The people who are really being punished are those who buy the game. Interestingly, after being e-mailed about this, Starforce replied with a removal-tool.
That tool is mirrored here .
To get a list of games infected by Starforce goto:
http://www.glop.org/starforce/
Scanning through Gameburnworld's pages too yields a couple of programs that could be used to disinfect your system.
NOTE: These tools may not be able to undo any damage already done.
Sadly, it seems that this copy-protection seems to be interfering with some people's ability to play the game that had the protection. Some of these people have returned the game, others have reformatted (thereby removing burning software, etc... that SF or whatever doesn't like) and many many more have simply opted for a warez version that doesn't do this. How paradoxical, the protection causes a spread of warez versions!
posted by Roshan George at 7:19 AM
2 Comments:
I'm disappointed, George. You didn't mention Sony's DRM rootkit fiasco nor the anti-copyright tools.
As of now, every game protection is breakable. Daemon Tools 4, Alcohol and CloneCD all help a lot in breaking copy protection. There are tools to hide the emulation software drivers to fool the games into running them. Starforce Nightmare and others are designed to break Starforce copy protection.
Try here: http://www.gameburnworld.com/cdprotectionutilities.shtml
Actually Marc, that link was already in the post.
Post a Comment
<< Home