securom 4 not copyable EVER!

[HughBackov]

Originally posted by gh0sth@cker
That's basically using a fixed exe

Yes, I know.

making 1:1 copies which is the most ideal solution for people.

NO, it is not! What is "ideal" is a game which can be backed up, played, and modified easily, and that is a game WITHOUT copy-protection.

Software users need less copy-protection, not more. Duplicating the protection only duplicates the problem and encourages its further use.

[podunkviller]

Originally posted by HughBackov
Software users need less copy-protection, not more. Duplicating the protection only duplicates the problem and encourages its further use.

duplicating the protection shows that it wasnt really a protection in the first place, thus DIScouraging its future use.

[emptyeighty]

Originally posted by HughBackov
Duplicating the protection only duplicates the problem and encourages its further use.

Now heres an interesting thesis.
But if you dont backup your original CDs 1:1 how can you be sure that patches will work for your copy? For example OFP patches come with the safedisc protection altogether. You cannot patch your game if you have copied it using a fixed .exe. You would need an unwrapper for the latest safedisc which most people dont have.

I would also rather see unprotected games again, but unfortunately the war has started and it seem like there will be no end to it in the near future.

[luciano87]

Originally posted by noonie449
Really, I would like to know how!!! Could you kindly explain what settings you used???

Try alcohol 120%: it can make an 1:1 image on the hard disk and emulate it. The administrator says that a newer version that support securoom 4.8x burning will be realised very early

[HughBackov]

Originally posted by podunkviller
duplicating the protection shows that it wasnt really a protection in the first place, thus DIScouraging its future use.

Actually, no, for a couple of reasons. First, it doesn't discourage its use because of the "hoops" you have to jump through to do it. Not everyone has the software, proper CD-RW drive, and technical knowledge to make working copies. However, anyone can use an executable which has had the protection removed. The trouble is right now those executables are hard to find and even harder to make because no one is detailing how to make them. Second, as we are now seeing with the latest versions of Securom and Safedisc, trying to completely duplicate the protection is impossible. The developers of these copy-protection systems have shown that drive compatibility is not much of a concern to them. If they have to break compatibility with older CD-ROM drives to prevent the protection from being duplicated , they will do it. Therefore, they will eventually be able to refine their products until CD-RW drives cannot duplicate them. Securom is already there from what many are saying.

What really would discourage the use of copy-protection is to show that it truely is futile because the original disc can be easily used to break it. Right now too few people can remove the protection from the latest games. This needs to change and the only way it will is if those who know share what they know. Trying to monopolize this information doesn't help anyone because the copy-protection developers connstantly change their protections anyway. However, by building upon each other's experience, the user community will have a chance to keep up. The main reason that the versions of Safedisc after 2.4 were broken is because r!sc shared his work so others could build upon it. We need more of this type of sharing, not less.

[HughBackov]

Originally posted by emptyeighty
But if you dont backup your original CDs 1:1 how can you be sure that patches will work for your copy?

Because you don't need a copy. Just use the original CD as the key to decrypt the update. Then, backup the unprotected files you created.

[emptyeighty]

Originally posted by HughBackov
What really would discourage the use of copy-protection is to show that it truely is futile because the original disc can be easily used to break it. Right now too few people can remove the protection from the latest games. This needs to change and the only way it will is if those who know share what they know. Trying to monopolize this information doesn't help anyone because the copy-protection developers connstantly change their protections anyway. However, by building upon each other's experience, the user community will have a chance to keep up. The main reason that the versions of Safedisc after 2.4 were broken is because r!sc shared his work so others could build upon it. We need more of this type of sharing, not less.

If everybody had access to the latest unwrappers, Macrovision and Sony would analyse how they work and improve their protections accordingly. The best way is the way its done now: Release fixed .exes/no CD cracks for most of the games and make the unwrappers publicly available afterwards for all the others.

[emptyeighty]

Originally posted by HughBackov
Because you don't need a copy. Just use the original CD as the key to decrypt the update. Then, backup the unprotected files you created.

Erm, the purpose of a backup is to be used in case the original CD is malfunctioning.

[HughBackov]

Originally posted by emptyeighty
[B]If everybody had access to the latest unwrappers, Macrovision and Sony would analyse how they work and improve their protections accordingly.

First, the copy-protection developers already do this. They continually refine their product because they know that any protection which relies on a physical key (like a CD-ROM) can be broken using that key. Second, I doubt that generic unwrappers for the latest protections exist for that very reason. However, the one thing no protection can stop is manual decryption and rebuilding using the original CD because that is what has to happen for the game to run at all.

What I am advocating is that if enough people know how to decrypt and rebuild the EXE's manually, this form of copy-protection will truely no longer be effective because there will be always be a plentiful supply of cracked EXE's for the latest versions of ALL games.

Right now, cracks for all updates to all games do not exist and the ones that do can be difficult to find or can disappear at any time because their distribution source is limited. Look what happened when Gamecopyworld recently removed the cracks to the latest Sierra and Activision games. Some have returned but not all.

The best way to assure a steady and easily obtainable supply of deprotected executables is to have as many people as possible able to create them. And the best way to do that is to teach people how to manually do it themselves.

[HughBackov]

Originally posted by emptyeighty
Erm, the purpose of a backup is to be used in case the original CD is malfunctioning.

if you didn't have to play the game using the original, then it would be MUCH less likely to get damaged. You could store it in a fire-proof safe and only bring it out to decrypt the latest update. Eventually development of a game ceases (usually no more than a year after release) and then the original CD is no longer needed for updates either. So, if it gets damaged at that point, there is no loss because the deprotected files can be backed up.

[emptyeighty]

Im not an expert on this, but as far as i know decrypting and rebuilding the .exes manually is a lot of work and takes up huge amounts of time which most people just dont have.

However, if you want to learn how to do that stuff start with the easiest of protections, cd checks, and work your way up through the older commercial protections (in case you havent done that already). I know there are tutorials out there for them. You will most likely meet people with knowledge you are looking for on the way.

Originally posted by HughBackov
if you didn't have to play the game using the original, then it would be MUCH less likely to get damaged. You could store it in a fire-proof safe and only bring it out to decrypt the latest update. Eventually development of a game ceases (usually no more than a year after release) and then the original CD is no longer needed for updates either. So, if it gets damaged at that point, there is no loss because the deprotected files can be backed up.

Well, thats a possibility, but i was thinking of a worst case scenario when writing my post.

[HughBackov]

Originally posted by emptyeighty
Im not an expert on this, but as far as i know decrypting and rebuilding the .exes manually is a lot of work and takes up huge amounts of time which most people just dont have.

Which is why you pool resources. Yes, it may take hundreds of thousands of man-hours to decrypt and rebuild all games. Therefore, if you don't wish to wait on one man to do it, you throw hundreds of thousands of men at the job.

However, if you want to learn how to do that stuff start with the easiest of protections, cd checks, and work your way up through the older commercial protections (in case you havent done that already). I know there are tutorials out there for them. You will most likely meet people with knowledge you are looking for on the way.

The older tutorials are no longer really effective because the ones i have seen don't detail how to hide debuggers from the newer protections. The basic principle remains the same, but some of the techniques need to be updated.

So, would anyone like to share how to hide a debugger from securom and safedisc protected executables? Send me a private message if you don't want to post it.

Well, thats a possibility, but i was thinking of a worst case scenario when writing my post.

So was I. The worst case scenario is you rebuy the game. However, it will be much more likely that you can just obtain the deprotected file or files you need from the Internet if more people knew how to create them.

[emptyeighty]

I have my doubts that youll find enough people to do that. I also doubt that anyone would share their knowledge on how to beat the most recent protections for free.
Good luck anyway

[ByteMare]

yeah, they do...

Im not an expert on this, but as far as i know decrypting and rebuilding the .exes manually is a lot of work and takes up huge amounts of time which most people just dont have.

I totally agree with the statement above. You gotta put your breakpoints carefully, if the program detects you..well..time to hit the reset button again...my first "experience" with Safedisk was a nightmare...

[noonie449]

It looks like i have been proven wrong.I downloaded the latest blindwrite 4.2.1 and perfect 1.1 copy of UT2003 followed if a little slow at running.


I love it the same every year but we always come out on top.