What´s a Rootkit? - the problem with Securom

[HRahn]

Some people ask what´s so bad about the copy protection, they say "bla bla, what´s so bad about only being able to install twice" etc...
Nothing so far, the method how this is achieved ist the problem.

The Game installs a Rootkit as part of the copy protection mechanism on your machine A Rootkit is (quote Wikipedia):
"a set of software tools intended to conceal running processes, files or system data from the operating system. Rootkits have their origin in benign applications, but in recent years have been used increasingly by malware to help intruders maintain access to systems while avoiding detection."

The Problem is that a rootkit circumvents a lot of internal system security measures to achieve its goals (this is also the reason why the game cannot be installed on many systems running programs which monitor and block changes to certain system critical parts of the registry and/or system files).
If this rootkit now isn´t properly programmed in itself, an intruder can use it as a tunnel to enter the system it´s installed on and execute unwanted code (Malware, Spyware, Trojans, Virii) on the users system without him even having a chance recognising this, possibly even bypassing security measures like virus scanners.

Exactly this was the problem with the Sony Audio CD protection rootkit and the cause for a widespread recall of the discs with that copy protection on Sonys behalf.

So, please answer me: Do you want to be able to control what software resides on your harddrive and what it does, or do you want to give in to the companies and let them do what they want?

A good game will not require Registry entries for anything else than its start menu icons, nor will it need to place any file outside its own folder on the harddrive.

[Zarniwoop]

The real answer is, why did they bother?

It appears from what I'm being told that the challenge has inspired people to great lengths and the game is already cracked and being distributed. That sucks as I am a huge PC game fan and have no plans to own a console. I will probably just go MMORPG only and buy valve products since everything is console first.... but the point is -

Oh who cares..... the luster is gone from this lead paperweight.

[swaaye]

I have to wonder if they will allow me to activate again. 2 times and you're out. Heh. Yeah, until I find another way to play the game. More than a few people these days have more than one game machine, say a laptop and a desktop.

It sure inspires me to spend on the company's games again. Or not.........

[eatdamuffin]

This kind of stuff really shys me away from PC gaming... I really hope they make a patch to remove it completely

[IDoNotContainSpinach]

Digital downloads... 2007