New version of starforce...

[ReAnimation]

Not sure if this has already been posted, but here it is anyway...

This latest identified threat by Futuremark is one that relates to a driver being installed on your computer that gains RING0 access (the highest level of access to your computer). The installation requires Administrator level access to install the driver, which runs all of the time regardless of whether or not you're playing a game with Starforce DRM.

With such a high level of processor access (sharing the same levels the operating system enjoys), the Starforce driver can do anything to your computer at any time. This very ability is demonstrated, since the Starforce driver will force a reboot (not a shutdown) when it thinks it has discovered suspicious activity related to copying. The reboot occurs instantly, and any and all unsaved data could be lost.

In addition, Starforce removes the DPM readings (Data Protection Manager) which must be present on many other non-Starforce protected games, setting the stage for a chain of system events, which basically make it impossible to make even a usable backup copy of your favorite game. Starforce can also block access to some other drivers, requiring certain hardware devices to run in PIO mode (Programmed Input/Output), which results in a lot of overhead for the CPU and a slowing down of your system.

Source/Link:

http://www.techamok.com/?pid=297

Update:

Its been confirmed by futuremark that they have not carried out any investigations into starforce themselves, it appears that the information came from members of futuremarks forums.

More info here:

http://www.futuremark.com/news/?newsarticl...0603/2006032104

Edited March 21, 2006 by ReAnimation

[Beastage]

Nothing but pure Virus/Trojan

StarForce give us a break and go find another field of practice, cause you guys have no clue about computers.

[d3nuo]

Nothing but pure Virus/Trojan

StarForce give us a break and go find another field of practice, cause you guys have no clue about computers.

I concur 100%

the makers of this crap should be disallowed to ever touch a computer again. I understand the problem of piracy but when that protection itself transcends into other areas of computing, causing instantaneous reboots, data loss, slowdowns, etc, it should be considered completely illegal. Its pathetic that they can do all this just to protect something.

If I was working on a big PHP project like i have been lately and it rebooted me and I lost all of my code (yes, I save often but you can't save constantly), i'm sure they'd be getting plenty of heat and possibly a personal visit from myself. I hate companies like this that focus on making someones computer a ticking timebomb :angry:

[Master Shake]

Hmm... Sony comes to mind...

What happens to your average user when his computer starts rebooting by itself or when the "protection" fails or malfunctions? This crap only affects your average user, never the "pirates" that it sets out to stop. Everyone knows that...

[guru]

Nothing wrong with ring0 access i think Dscaler drivers use ring0 access. Video quality of Dscaler is still not matched by TV viewer. but running drives in PIO mode is bad.

[Shibby]

Hmm from what has been quoted in this post i think they they are going to far.

If they can break the protection what's to say somebody can't control it?

if any games that use this protection i will refuse to buy it. oh and what the game plumit in sales

[Smit]

How the hell is this legal?

So what if it makes a mistake while you burn a dvd with files named like the games or something and it just reboots your PC and you lose a lot of important work? Would they compensate you?

It also blocks other drivers, doesn't Microsoft not like this sort of behaviour written into drivers? I'm sure I read a page about having to follow certain rules when writing drivers.

[Lycan]

yeh go F*ck you starforce employees, they dont have the right to control acces on our computers

[HoochieMamma]

Man, this Starforce is getting better and better :laugh:

[S7R1K3R]

Man, this Starforce is getting better and better :laugh:

They are just burying themselves into a grave.

[ToneKnee]

It'll just be cracked. Simple.

saying that, only need some idiot to find an exploit and make a virus and causes havok.

[DigeratiPrime]

just don't buy games that have this trojan, save your computer and $.

[TheTerminator]

I hate starforce, with a passion.

Check this out: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/03/15

[Baptist]

It'll just be cracked. Simple.

saying that, only need some idiot to find an exploit and make a virus and causes havok.

So true, a starforce patch aka ultimate virus :/

Starforce just needs to go away. if they only gave me ring0 acces to their stuff :shiftyninja:

i would delete everything

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

And they wonder why it's called malware. :rolleyes:

[Sethos]

What the hell, they can't do that?! Isn't it my RIGHT to make a backup of my games??

Never installing a StarForce protected game on my computer again, ever!

[macro]

Good old StarForce, taking away the feeling of guilt that comes from pirating...

[quigley0]

yeah, it will be cracked by the people who want to pirate games, and know how to.

For average Joe, who just wants to save his homework on a disc, something screwy will happen and his computer will reboot. So, he'll think he has a virus, and take the computer to the BestBuy geek squad who will charge him like $150 to fix it.

It is really getting out of hand. I dont believe that Piracy hurts game sales. The people who Pirate the game, were not going to buy it anyway. The same with music.

Millions of people probably downloaded stupid songs like "The Dukes of Hazard Theme Song". I feel confident that none of them were going to buy it. Ever

Starforce is very intrusive. I hope that Microsoft treats this the same as they did with Sony's rootkit thing

[Vice]

Someone is going to lose some of there computer data over some starforce mistake/hiccup, and sue the games company which has implemented starforce on there game, the games company will lose the suit and starforce will be avoided by every games company from then on.

Now we just have to wait for these chain of events to unfold. I hope its EA who get burned.

[Tim Dorr Veteran]

I dunno, seems reasonable to stop the spread of piracy.

[»X«]

Desperate times call for desperate measures. However im sure there will be a lawsuite soon enough.

Fortunately ive never had dealings with starforce nor do i want to. I just hope developers wont imbrace this kind of "software".

[quigley0]

If they could 100% guarantee that it would not affect everyday use, then I wouldn't have an issue, as I dont pirate games.

But, one thing I have done (and love) is create a virtual drive that has battlefield 2 loaded on it. This allows me to play the game, with the disc. I have the disc, and a CD-Key. The game is mine, and I still have the receipt. I should be allowed to run the game however I want. I have many games, and on any given night, we coud play between 10 different games. I hate searching for discs.

I have trackmania, so I assume that Starforce is installed. This did not, however, affect my battlefield 2 game. But, i suspect that if I installed Starforce before making the game image, then it may not have worked.

So, I have issues with that.

[Vice]

I just took a swing around there forums and wow... lol there are literally hundreds of users all complaining of the same issues with StarForce.

Main problems from what I can see.

Non-working drives while/after using StarForce

Burning programs failing to burn any more

BSODS when trying to do the above ^

Devices reverting to PIO causing failed CD/DVD burns.

Games not working and telling people to use different [compatible] optical drives.

I am glad none of my games include this evasive copy protection.

[ZiGGA]

I just took a swing around there forums and wow... lol there are literally hundreds of users all complaining of the same issues with StarForce.

Main problems from what I can see.

Non-working drives while/after using StarForce

Burning programs failing to burn any more

BSODS when trying to do the above ^

Devices reverting to PIO causing failed CD/DVD burns.

Games not working and telling people to use different [compatible] optical drives.

I am glad none of my games include this evasive copy protection.

Except for Trackmania Nations (IF) you have that.

It sounds terrible for the fact they are letting this Malware pour out onto your system to damage other hardware devices and BSODS. disgusting behaviour.

[Inplode]

starforce = Crap !

i will never install any game/program that has this **** in it

and i forsee any of lawsuits otw to starforce building