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TCoS should ditch its rootkit...
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Thanks for this info.
Definitely put me off the game for now, i dont really see why a MMO needs a rootkit, let alone a free game?
Hate this kinda thing.
The reason I (among others) ask for documentation is that I have yet to see proof that this program has been used in a malicious way. The OP and others wants those of us who like TCOS or play it to remove it from our computers because it MIGHT be a problem in the future.
My argument is, if you like the game, then its worth the risk. Sure, you need to take as many precautions as possible. Update Windows, run virus-scan and others types of preventive measures. Nobody here is denying that. Nor am I, or others saying, wait until you have a problem with GG and then do something about it. Therre is plenty you can do in advance to make sure GG isn't a problem.
There are plenty of programs that could be risk factors. The issue here is that the OP and others make GG out to be massively worse than those and also basically says TCOS is a horrible game because of it. To me, that isn't accurate.
I am not going to not play a game because of a software program unless I think its a big enough risk and my asking for proof of a real threat from GG is exactly that - I have yet to see anything that even remotely worries me with GG. And I simply am not (or would not) play a game I enjoy just because of what might happen. By that logic, we should all live in caves and do nothing:
Do not drive a car, you might have a wreck.
Do not cross the street, you might get hit by a car.
Do not walk up the stairs,, you might fall down.
Do not parachute out of an airplane, your chute might not open.
Do not play this game, it might have a security risk.
Simply put, I have yet to see enough CAUSE for concern with GG and if I like TCOS, I feel the safety precuations I have taken with my computer are enough to warrant my trust and enjoyment of TCOS and GG.
This is perfectly valid. Now we are moving into the territory of what constitutes "Acceptable Risk", which is very subjective and differs for everyone. I don't think the AgntSmith was calling for anyone to remove anything based on his findings. What I got from this was him letting people know how GG behaves and how it operates like a rootkit. I am defending that point, just as I will defend the point you just made. There is no right or wrong here and I think many are detracting from that basic fact. The facts here can't be contradicted because they are facts; GG behaves like a rootkit and the way it is installed leaves much room for improvement. Reputable sources have been cited that provide solid proof that GG poses a security risk due to the way it runs on your system. The argument here seems to be what to do about it. I am not going to add anything to that except to say that what each person does with their system is their business. You know the facts, you make your choice.
Had that been his stance, the conversation would probably have ended on the first page.
"The program updates itself without user approval or interaction as well. This is what GameGuard does and how anyone could trust anyone with that kind of power over their computer is beyond me."
"There is a huge difference between legitimate software like PunkBuster that does things correctly and semi malicious software like GameGuard, SecureROM, and others."
"Are you seriously telling me that you trust and unknown third party, one who hides is method and capability from you and obfuscates your removal even if you find out about it to just not do something inappropriate? Please, that is just stupid. Perhaps they will never do anything malicious, that is not the point - why in the hell would you put them in a position to be able to without your knowledge or ability to stop them? That is foolish."
"...don't bother being responsible now and refusing to do business with companies that do things like this that are at best risky and invasive even if not malicious."
"I think people fail to realize the world we now live in. Perhaps GameGuard is run and staffed by the most honest people in the world only trying to do good. But what happens if there security is compromised by those who do bad and now, guess what - the people intent on farming personal data have complete and unfettered access to your PC. The threats to people today with regard to identity theft and other such violations of personal data privacy come mostly from the corporate repositories of such information, not from the individual. So trusting a company with such control or access is not about trusting them as they can and are frequently compromised exposing all sorts of data to people with very malicious intentions."
That's jsut from his first four or five posts. I could go on, but you get the point.
He has repeatedly called the company evil, the software malicious and contended that people who allow it to be on their system are stupid and foolish.
- RPG Quiz - can you get all 25 right?
- FPS Quiz - how well do you know your shooters?
Vesa... You might want to check your tin foil hat for leaks...
Its more likely that since this is now 20 plus pages long(and thus tends to show up on the front page more often) that its just attracted their attention.
Your suggesting to me that people don't have alt accounts on this forum then? That they don't use them to support their own points and bump their own posts?
Not in the least. Its entirely possible. BUT such gets in to a logical fallacy known as "argumentum ad ignorantiam" other wise known as proving a negative. I was more teasing you than anything.
Talk about framing the question... The main question was about its risky manner of operation. That HAS been established to be much the same as a root kit **in operational terms**. Those who seek to derail the thread in to questions of "malicious intentions" or demonstrations of evidence of damage are either missing the point, or have other agendas. Thanks for the post Historian, that cleared everything up...
I believe this thread has run it's course. Points were made, facts were stated, thread is locked before it starts inching closer towards becoming an inferno of flames and a haven of trolls. I am sure most of our readers thank you for the bit of information.