SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - How Do Pirates Hack a Game ?

SUBSIM Radio Room Forums (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/index.php)

- Sub/Naval & General Games Discussion (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=177)

- - How Do Pirates Hack a Game ? (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=161990)

Quote:

*Puts my mod hat on for a sec*
Now the way I read that - it basically is saying don't discuss the USAGE or SOURCE to download pirated games or "cracks". As Neon has pointed out, we are walking a fine line here.
*Takes off the hat.*

However, the question was "how do pirates hack a game". First, they source material. Most games are either purchased once, or are gotten from a game store employee or DVD packager prior to "release". Regardless, somehow or another, the game gets in the hands of those who want to pirate it. Then, the DRM type is identified - and if its a known and already "cracked" type, then the "cracked" code is recompiled into a new EXE or whatever files - if its a new type then the coders start poring over the "how does it work, so we can figure out how to bypass it". Once they figure out a way, they create the appropriate code to do the job, compile it into the "crack", and release it.

Its obviously more complex, but thats the basics. It why, as a security professional myself (white hat), I agree with the statement that no DRM is uncrackable - IF it lives on the disk. However, the move to online connections presents a great hurdle for pirates - and I am all for that - but I am against the intrusion it creates for the legit consumer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo (Post 1276098)

Its obviously more complex, but thats the basics. It why, as a security professional myself (white hat), I agree with the statement that no DRM is uncrackable - IF it lives on the disk. However, the move to online connections presents a great hurdle for pirates - and I am all for that - but I am against the intrusion it creates for the legit consumer.

Even then it can be broken. Servers can be hacked for the online game data (or the data downloaded while playing the game), and executables can be altered to look for the online data locally, or a emulator of the online service can be used on the host machine. It will increase the time factor though which is what they want (though they may hope it doesn't get broken at all).

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo (Post 1276098)

Its obviously more complex, but thats the basics. It why, as a security professional myself (white hat), I agree with the statement that no DRM is uncrackable - IF it lives on the disk. However, the move to online connections presents a great hurdle for pirates - and I am all for that - but I am against the intrusion it creates for the legit consumer.

This is the main reason that all anti-piracy efforts will ultimately fail, just like in cd calls(when the program attempts to discern wether or not the disc in the cd-rom is an original,blacklisting proggies, and even the online checks), all the cracker has to do is to REMOVE these calls. That is the basis for all the no-cd "patches" and I'm extremely doubtful that SH5 will last more than three days after release without someone figuring out how to evade it. point in fact is, DRM, securom, and all other anti-piracy measures have done nothing but LOOSE the industry money, as it takes them spending 500$ a week(sue me if i don't look up how much a programmer makes)for two weeks for a guy do devise a drm, or another company to sell them one/whatever. It takes one guy, sitting at his computer mayhap 10-20 hours to make a workaround.

Feel free to edit/nuke this last part If it violates the TOS

I pirated sh3, and 4, BEFORE buying them,because, about 10 years ago, I decided that I was DONE with buying crap games that were broke on install, were crap to begin with, or that werent what it says on the tin. I d/l a game, and if I like it enough not to erase it within a couple weeks, I buy it. I would imagine that there are alot of other people like me, someone else said this first, I consider a d/l game to be me own, terms defined by me, demo version. If i dont like it, i del it, and find something else. and im out some bandwith, not 40-50$. fook em, If they cant make a decent game that I like, I'm not spending any money on it. I've even donated to the subsim.com because I like that there is a non-commercial fan-based community here, granted it was only a couple bucks, but i did give. I seem to be running short of content and long on cap'n morgan, so ill leave it at that, and firewall, generally the scene groups recruit game store workers to leak the games, and manufacturers, and the like.

Ok folks - the Mod in me has to come out.

DO NOT admit or discuss the actual pirating of software. THAT WILL GET YOU INTO TROUBLE! It violates not only the TOS here at Subsim.com, but also the SPIRIT of the community that Neal and everyone have tried to create here. As far as this site is concerned (and I agree 100%) - there is NO JUSTIFICATION for pirating (nor will any Mod or the site allow the "discussion of justification").

I don't think this thread has a future, in that the "how" has been answered and there isn't much CONSTRUCTIVE to add. Expect it to be closed shortly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorka42 (Post 1276341)

The new DRM is way more then a disk check, it contains part of the game on secured internet servers (and keeps your save games there too). To play the game you need to have a connection to the internet to contact the server to get the rest of the game from the net as you play.

Quote:

Feel free to edit/nuke this last part If it violates the TOS

I pirated sh3, and 4, BEFORE buying them,because, about 10 years ago, I decided that I was DONE with buying crap games that were broke on install, were crap to begin with, or that werent what it says on the tin. I d/l a game, and if I like it enough not to erase it within a couple weeks, I buy it. I would imagine that there are alot of other people like me, someone else said this first, I consider a d/l game to be me own, terms defined by me, demo version. If i dont like it, i del it, and find something else. and im out some bandwith, not 40-50$. fook em, If they cant make a decent game that I like, I'm not spending any money on it. I've even donated to the subsim.com because I like that there is a non-commercial fan-based community here, granted it was only a couple bucks, but i did give. I seem to be running short of content and long on cap'n morgan, so ill leave it at that, and firewall, generally the scene groups recruit game store workers to leak the games, and manufacturers, and the like.

<sighs> Such an admission is a major violation of the rules here

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subsim Faq & Rules

SUBSIM Review has a longstanding policy against software piracy. We do NOT allow discussion or even mention of warez, abandonware, peer-to-peer game swapping, illegal download sites, or rip-off websites. Nothing will get you banned faster than pointing people to illegal software distribution sites. Don't ask for serial numbers, manuals, or cracks. Any admission that you have in your possession illegal software can and usually will result in revocation of your Radio Room forum account. Support computer game programmers buy legally purchasing their work. They have to eat too, you know.

This can and probably will result in a 10 day brig sentence, possibly more. I can sympathize with your position (we have all been burned by rubbish or broken games), but we cannot permit members to admit to acts of software piracy.

Anyhow I have moved this up the chain for judgment and am locking this thread to prevent any further admissions of guilt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorka42 (Post 1276341)

It's amazing that people cannot grasp the simple rule we have here:
whatever you think about piracy...
"downloading a game and if I like it I always buy it" ...
"I've been burned by crappy games before", etc etc etc....

...no matter what you do in your den, have done, believe: the main thing I ask is, Don't bring it up here. :o

I have to give this guy some brig time, no way around it. :wah: He has to follow the rules like everyone else. It's awesome that he let's us know he has a "solid reason" for pirating SH2 (no more crappy games!) while I was spending $1000 of my own money to try and salvage the game.

Sheesh, people amaze me. If someone pirated SH2, fine, just keep it to yourself.