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Originally Posted by Gizzmoe
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Originally Posted by Mustang
with your unfounded assurances that SF is of no Danger, it may harm others as well.
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Never said that it´s totally harmless.
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4. type into the command prompt, "netstat -a" active connection will include a connection to 'SF Protection' it should be listed as "Listening."
5. type into command prompt, "netstat -b" to see all connections if SF was not listed as Active then it should be listed in here.
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I don´t see it on my system.
Do you have a game installed that uses an online SF activation? As you probably know there are different flavours of SF.
What´s the remote address or listening port?
Have you ever noticed that it from time to time opens an unasked connection to a server on the Internet?
If you have noticed it, is it possible to block the traffic? Does a software firewall inform you that something tries to access the Internet or does it use "stealth methods"?
Have you noticed that something unusual is going on while SF is connected to the server, like lots of disk access or a certain amount of CPU usage?
Have you used something like the Sysinternal tools to find out which registry keys and files will be accessed while it is connected to the server?
Have you noticed anything else that can be seen as a hard fact that SF really adds a "cyber door" to your system and that it is potentially harmful or that it can be exploited by something else? |
Okay,
the continuance of this thread can only serve to stir up conflict and debate. So I'll just go ahead and give my last reply.
I have never noticed the anomalies you described, personally on my computer. I will admit I have seen others that had those issues. Normally if a single program was sucking up a lot of CPU power it is either running some sort of scan on your computer or it is graphic intensive and at times though few in occasion these day as opposed to when it came out. It could be a variant of the lsasser.
Yes, it is possible to hide programs inside the SVCHost, windows XP is very different from the old 95 & 98 versions instead of a sort of management program that oversees all computer function and dictates it. Windows XP makes a computer into a virtual server, an always active virtual server unless your PC is turned off.
Several files must be running and if you use a portscanner you'll see a lot of programs connect to "0.0.0.0" which means they are running off of the computer. "127.0.0.1" is also an in-system server. now there are good points to this system and there are bad, foremost the Bad. With the OS operating as a server it requires several files to continuously run and connect outside of the computer. Instead of the old 98 Programs like runDLL and Kernal32 which HAD to be running in order for 98 to Run XP has about 20 services that need to be on ALL THE TIME. Anyone of those Drivers or Virtual Servers can be a serious security risk. Especially with the "REMOTE ACCESS Service." which is a BackDoor developed by Microsoft so they can have an IT access your machine for Technical Support but at least it is allowed to be Disabled unlike some other Services..
" Services.msc " will list the running services.
I Do not have any other games that have SF
Yes, it is possible for a driver or program to run Secretly. If it Registers itself as a service it can run under the SVCHost which is a program that Loads and Manages all DLLs that the computer calls to run.
RegEdit will allow you to see the registry changes.
My closing statement,
I'm not saying, SF /Will/ Harm someones Computer and I'm not saying it /Will NoT/ I am saying it /DID/ damage my old Win98 OS and it /Does/ run as a Device to avoid certain Anti-Malware Scanners and does Install Hidden Drivers so that it can run Independently from the USER and both access and configure certain media operation without giving you the power to choose what and where.
I don't believe in the SF Virus even though I'm rather certain SF Damaged my old machine but I Do Believe it is Malware and a Rk to be specific. I respect your position in this debate
Gizzmoe in theat you're trying to ease the Paranoia that spreads about using SF, however in this instance I must point out that there is a risk when using SF, there is a risk when installing and using any kind of software.
So people, just acknowledge StarForce has a risk and was intended to prevent the copying of the product it was licensed to protect, that its overall goal, it is to /PREVENT/ you from doing something with the software you purchased and it accomplishes this through questionable means. That is not to say it /WILL/ harm your computer, but that it /CAN/ .
Just don't PANIC! I'm tired of these threads all over the NET About. "The StarForce Virus!" or "StarForce has been proven Safe!" both are wrong, because no one can predict how a piece of software can effect one machine from another.
Good Defense, Gizzmoe.
I think we should save our debates for more productive discussions though.