SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - Rootkits? CD burning & emulation software infested

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Quote:

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

I just think it's interesting that some people launch a crusade against anti-piracy software and use "rootkits" and "malware" as an excuse yet the same people defend Alc/DT stuff that behaves much the same.

I do appreciate unbiased legit coverage of SF:

Quote:

Q.) A lot of people are saying that StarForce is causing a whole lot of problems with their PCs. Is this true?

A.) Cyber Shack stresses that there is no definitive proof at this stage whether Starforce causes system instability, damage to the physical components inside your computer, or any other issues.

The only confirmed issues relate to running StarForce simultaneously with certain CD/DVD copying utilities, like Alcohol 120% and Virtual Drive utilities such as Daemon Tools. Whether StarForce causes problems on your PC is something that you must determine for yourself.

http://cybershack.com/comments.asp?id=449

Makes me glad I didn't jump on the anti-SF bandwagon.

Hey Neal,

THe difference here is, you can turn off this so called rootkit on Alc or Deamon Tools. THe reason it exists is to act as a virtual CD drive so that you can play CD's from your HD and the program doesn't know any better. However, if you don't want the virtual drive, you do not have to use it. There is no other way to make a virtual drive than to fake it - and since this software is not attempting to hide from the user, it is not considered a rootkit. SF for example goes to great lengths to hide itself from the user, and it intercepts calls to IDE channels and manipulates the function of your actual hardware in what I consider a very negative manner. This is the difference.

-S

Thanks for the explanation. I still question why SF is guilty when the imaging apps are desired for similar behavior. If the "program", ie game, does not want the game played without the CD, I do not agree with the reasons for bypassing it (ex: having to stick a CD in a drive is a bit of a hassle"). Give me a break.

Interesting debate on AVault with Derek Smart, developer and flamefest expert: http://forums.avault.com/ubb/ultimat...6;t=001087;p=1

:hmm: Aren't we glad we don't have many flamewars here?

Its simple - SF attempts to hide from the user. Imaging apps have no intention of hiding from the user and are under user control, but hide from other software.

-S

PS. And they don't break your SW or HW in the process.

PPS. Derek Smart is and idiot - always has been. It is funny to read his rants once in a while though. I still have BC3000 and never found the fun in it. It never did ones things well. It probably would have been cool if he implemented his plan to hunt down intruders in FPS mode on your cap ship, but that was too ambituos for him I guess.

PPPS. Can anyone answer what college DS got his PHD from? It was probably the bought online type since he still hasn't answered what college he went to.

PPPPS. I can't quite tell if DS is for or against SF!!! What the hell is he saying - in the same thread he talks baout it not ever having a problem, and then down below, he writes about all the headaches he has had with it!!! As always - DS is an interesting read. He should really stay off the crack though.