Starforce -- Read if u "back-up" media (Games/CDs)

[NAiLs]

So yeah, my friend was talking to me about a nifty little anti-piracy program that I maybe heard of, but at this time I'm calling that I haven't. If you didn't catch the title of the topic, it's called Starforce. Anyway, this program installs with some companies programs. Some of these companies include UBISoft and Nadeo.

I just want to let you people be aware of this software that installs behind your back without warning you. My friend said he read the EULA of a game that had Starforce included on the CD, and there was zero mention of the program being installed.

Well, what does this program do? There is a new version coming out and it will be doing the following:

This copy protection system installs a driver that runs at the highest level of access on the system, which gives it low level access to the PCs hardware and any drivers and processes. This driver runs regardless of whether the game runs; keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity such as attempting to copy a protected disc. If something suspicious is detected, it forces the PC to make an immediate reboot, regardless of any other applications running and whether or not the user has any unsaved work.

Is this program BS? Yup, I think so. Will it cause another Sony? Again, I think so.

Here is a link to a bunch of games that have Starforce on the disc:

http://www.similarities.org/starforce.html

[Apoptosis]

I don't like seeing big name companies like Ubisoft on that list

great find

Here is an interview with them back in 2004 http://www.firingsquad.com/features/sta ... efault.asp

[Dragon_Cooler]

i forsee contraversy in my life!

They need to put star force installed somewhere on the box when you buy because the amount of crap that is loaded on to the computer. If they are not going to allow me to use alchohol 120% for something that i legally have for another game/program, thats plainout wrong. Because another company is freaked that you have something like 120% it shouldnt stop you from using it all out on your machine.

It also almost sounds like bad malware to me too. "Scans your computer for suspicious activity" Kiss my A$$

[Tim Burton]

http://forums.galciv2.com/index.aspx?fo ... 106741&c=1

Yup, they helped get GC2 pirated more, and on their public forums no less!

Don't be shocked. Starforce is ran by a bunch of Russian Thugs. I refuse to buy anything that has it on there. It hasn't stopped the piracy, just changed the face of it. I have 1 game with Starforce and I didn't buy it. I want X3, but I am going to wait to buy it used. I can't justify giving anyone money who pays Starforce anything.

[Topher]

I didn't think I had it until I followed directions that show you how to find it. Come to find out, I did have it. On my system, it was installed by the Trackmania Sunrise Demo. A DEMO!!!!!! So be careful people.

There is a tool you can use to remove it, but this may not work on future versions of Starforce. Here is where you can find the removal tool:

http://www.glop.org/starforce/remove.php

I will NOT knowingly install ANY software on my PC that also installs Starforce.

[Tim Burton]

The reason it is in demo's is because people figured out how to get around the protection very easily when they looked at the demo EXE. So this way they could "stop" the cracking of it.

[pointreyes]

Yeah, riiiiiggggght....
From: http://forums.ubi.com/groupee/forums/a/ ... 019843/p/1

The only real issues I can see is that you need to insert the CD to launch a game, effectively preventing the use of ISO versions, and that you cant make a backup of the disc. These points cannot be resolved, as it would lead to very simple copying of the game, and thus, the protection would be made useless. However, in the case of disc damaging through normal use, it would of course be replaced by support.

Ubisoft's handling fee for replacing a damaged disk, it's $10.
I rarely play games but I was going to get charged $10 for asking for a replacement of CD #1 of URU.