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I know Microsoft security essentials is starting to flag pirates with false trojan's and removing cracks from there PC. I don't wanna go into the why are you stealing or your an idiot and yeah you probably infecting yourself. Let me just say this I been doing this for way long time and never been infected but until recent guess Microsoft has detected steam_api.dll a trojan. The point is I am making is why are virus programs trying to police pirates..Really if this gets any worse. I see others removing virus protectors all together and then it could get really bad. If they don't want zombie bot machines or infected machines speading a virus to others then don't flag cracks as virus. Well dunno but gonna remove Microsoft security essentials and see how the future holds up. I know what I surf so ain't worried about it.

Um a lot of cracks, keygens etc use techniques (memory injection etc) that trojans / other malware use.

An anti-virus doesn't know how to tell if one type of injection is safe while the other isn't and so everything gets flagged.

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MSE has always flagged cracks and keygens. It doesn't remove them automatically, but they can be quarantined.

Alert level

HackTool:Win32/Keygen

(?)

Encyclopedia entry

Updated: Mar 15, 2013 | Published: Jul 16, 2009

Aliases

Troj/Keygen (Sophos) Crack (VirusBuster)

not-a-virus:Keygen (Kaspersky)

CRCK_KEYGEN (Trend Micro)

Alert Level (?)

Moderate

http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/threat/encyclopedia/entry.aspx?name=HackTool%3AWin32%2FKeygen

This isn't new to MSE, it's been around for years with any AV.

It's the risk you run if you're using cracks/pirated software.

Keep in mind that there is no "risk" involved. Especially if you're not sending flagged malware signatures back to help with definition updates, i.e. joining MAPS, which is available under "Settings", "MAPS".

and it will remove the files..I have to turn off real time protection, allow item, and then the issue fixed. I do have job and if I purchased games would be on disc not steam. Hate the way the run a business

And because you don't like the way Valve run their business you feel entitled to pirate games? What a load of bull****.

This thread qualifies for failure of the year. Or audacity of the year, whichever way you look at it.

This isn't new to MSE, it's been around for years with any AV.

It's the risk you run if you're using cracks/pirated software.

Really? So you know for sure what's written in the code for my_cracked_game.exe? No I didn't think so either.

There's a risk. Whether it's a small or large one is irrelevant. It's still a risk.

The "risk" that you referred to, and that I referred to in response, and the topic of this thread, has to do with the flagging of cracks and keygens as malware. You've changed the context of "risk" in your last post to include whether or not a crack or keygen may potentially contain a virus. That's disingenuous.

As the OP said, (if you actually know what you're doing), it's rare. It is a risk however, almost always mitigated by using a VM for testing.

By the way, it's a "risk" of your own life, and/or others' lives, every time you sit down inside of an automobile, but I bet you still drive.

You could have rationally contradicted me somewhat by referring to this article: http://geeks9.com/microsoft-establishes-cybercrime-center-to-avoid-piracy-and-malware/

However, my suggestion of not joining MAPS, also mitigates any new risk that may come about. I would also suggest disabling SmartScreen.

No Illegal Software/Copyrighted Discussion.

Discussions involving warez, cracks, security circumvention, using torrents for downloading copyrighted or illegal material is strictly prohibited. This includes music files or other unauthorized software. Asking for help in doing so will cause warns or suspensions of accounts.

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