Starforce protection as I see it...

[Morglum007]

Well, then, now you know how exactly SF works.

Analysing more in deep key and method is it sure it uses a 64 RSA algorith, We know that cause we needed time ago making a keygen, and our conclussions were irrefutable. A coleague did it, but there is still a problem. We got such keygen, but for one game we discover there were almost 150 valid keys that launched SF machine. When we studied SF at physical level, we noted how many sector SF checks and how it does. There were an impressive timing between certain checks, regular with almost every SF game, but so irregular in copies. Thats what SF is looking for. We tried too to insert twin sectors in those checking sector, and when launching, SF said literally: "There were a problem when checking the timing in the disc: please clean it up, and try again..."
We have logging od SF sector, and it is the same in every game, but different sectors.

Concerning diferent drives, besides every drive read at its own, all of them preserves a pattern when reading. For example, one drive can read certain sectors at 12 ms, 24 ms 36 ms 36 ms, and other at 6 ms, 12 ms 18 ms and 18. Besides speed is different, both have same patterns, so no matter what drive we are talking about.

Yes, p-codes are assemblers native system, and SF uses it to avoid debugging. To running SD ( Safedisc) or SecuROM we can fool the guard module and launch Softice with it, but with SF, even launching Sice with it, will result useless. SF gets all the control, and it is like a compiler ( as u named). There is only ONE at once, so Sice or SF, choose....xD

I asure u, timing is the key with SF. SF copied the CD Cops system, and protected a little more, but it is the same in essence.

If u means, step by step, this is a industrial secret of SF, and will be unfair for it. Just read any tut about RSA. It is no difficult. Manual ( or data decryptor block) key is the "public" key, and the inner one is the "private" one. Only a valid combination will launch VM. SF uses a very smart system cause no physical info is on CD, just reads its nature.

Sorry could not help on that.

Morg @ CdSTEam