Can someone please settle something for me?

[notageek]

My brother in law thinks Warez won't contain viruses and trojans. I say they do. Do they?

[Paul Wilders]

-{ Quote: " quoting: notageek link=board=27;threadid=24574;start=0#msg144263 date=1079299894]
My brother in law thinks Warez won't contain viruses and trojans. I say they do. Do they?
" }-

Not necessarely - but quite often they do - same goes for cracks. That said: using warez (pirated software) - unfortunately - is rather common. In the end it doesn't boil down to getting some nasty "extra's"as well - it does come down to ethics - and in the long term: software coming with a far higher price tag.

regards,

paul

[Mr.Blaze]

WAREZ IS HORRIABLE WEBSITES ANYTHING WITH WWAREZ AT THE END OF IT AVOID AT ALL COSTS

Cracks and patchs are the worst

yes they do containe worms and trojans

some bind trojans to so call free appz


if he insists on doing bad things i suggest he avoid warez sites and look for others no cracks no patchs and instead only rely on keygens lol

wilders is not in any way affiliated with piraters or pirating websites nore condones those seeking it

however cause this was poisted as a security concern i felt free to reply

blazeys disclaimer lol

[notageek]

Blaze I fell the same way as you. But he seen some free warez he thought would be cool to try. I told him no it's not only illegal the warez can contain viruses and trojans. But I'm going to leave it as that and if he messes with them and gets burnt well that's something he has to deal with.

Paul thank's for you info. I hope asking what others thought didn't cross the line.


Please people stay away from illegal sruff like cracked software and stuff like that.

[sig]

It's a classic case of social engineering...getting someone to download something they want with a surprise inside. While not all warez contains malware as Paul noted, since the user isn't getting it from a "trusted" source like the vendor, how does the user really know what it is they are really downloading? Or what might be included with the download? This is perhaps especially true if P2P is the source of the warez.

Just fyi, here's a December advisory from BOClean regarding a trend they were seeing in increased worm proliferation via P2P: http://www.nsclean.com/nws-p2p.html

[notageek]

Well I got off the phone with my Brother in law and he downloaded something from a warez site and he said in stalled it and he computer is dead. I don't know what he means by dead but I told him them things was bad. :) I told him I'll come out and take a look at it. Look for me to come back asking for help if it's something I don't know what it is. :)

[DMo224]

It's like my dad always says:

"Don't do crackz! And watch out for those pirates, argh!"

[sig]

You're too kind, notageek. If it were me and he persisted in downloading warez after I'd warned him, I'd let him pick up the tab for professional computer repair so he could really find out how "free" warez can be. ;)

[dangitall]

Good point, Sig. There should be a price paid for stupidity!

Notageek: you make sure that you inform the d-a that he did this to himself! The sweetest phrase one can ever utter is ...

I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!

;D

[Iceman]

Super nice replies!


Nota

Bet your brother-in-law will appreciate you alot more if his computer was down for a week or so....an would listen nest time.
A person be it a welder, carpenter or software vendor deserves payment for his work. Any person who has worked eight hours a day for a paycheck understands. The software vendor may have fourteen kids to feed...
To crack software is playing oneself very cheap....its not "getting over"

regards

Iceman > aka: Snowman

[notageek]

You know you guys have a point. I'm going let him sit on the computer for a few. But don't get me wrong he will be charged for it. His wife will make sure he pays some how. ;) Thanks to all who replied

[javacool]

To add to what others have said:

Not only does a good chunck of warez, cracks, keygens, etc. come with extra "surprises" (whether trojan horses, viruses, worms, rootkits, or other malicious code), but many of the sites that offer said illegal programs/cracks will attempt to install other software behind the user's back, such as spyware, keyloggers, adware, dialers, and more.

To anyone considering downloading such stuff, despite the risks - Please do the right thing and help out those who spend their days (and nights) working on shareware: register it. :)

Best regards,

-Javacool

[FanJ]

I have to disagree with my buddy Blaze (sorry Blazey !).

I don't like warez, I don't like cracks, and I do not like keygens !

[dangitall]

I don't think Blaze was condoning warez, FanJ.

[MikeBCda]

Maybe notageek should simply sit his b.i.l. down and explain to him in nice simple one-syllable terms that there's more than a slight difference between freeware and warez. ;)

[notageek]

I don't think blaze was condoning warez.

I surely don't condon warez and cracks and keygens.

I say buy it or save to buy it. The best thing to do is beg family to buy it LOL

[Pretender]

My brother has talked about loading software on several people's computers before and acts like that's what the software is for. I keep trying to tell him that the software is for the computer and the user that bought and registered the software, but he still doesn't seem to get it. It ticks me off when someone steals and that's exactly what I consider warez, etc to be............STEALING!

[bigc73542]

I still can't understand how they allow the web sites to remain up that are pushing this kind of pirated software. It seems that if they know that they are doing something illegal they would stop them. >:(

[notageek]

LOl i don't know but I got a PM at another forum site from someone that was bragging about warez and where to get stuff like TH and what not for free. That's sad if you as me.

[HandsOff]

Just to give this thread a little balance, and not to condone warez, and their ilk, I feel compelled to point out that it sometimes a little difficult telling the good guys from the bad guys when it comes to the computer industry.

Honestly, I am hard pressed to think of any other industry in which lies and deception have been so gladly tolerated by the consumer as it has been in the personal computer industry.

I'm sorry, but a 17 inch montitor should not measure 15.5 inches diagonally. I have bought not one, but many pieces of hardware that came with drivers that simply did not work.

Click here to see their privacy policy? No thanks, When I buy a vacuum cleaner, I don't send Hoover my personal information, and I'll be damned if i am going to give it to some software company so they can sell it to marketing agencies.

I don't use Warez sites, or their kind, as a rule, but one time I purchased a software package for designing and printing my own checks. Well unfortunately I had to reinstall it and could not find the intallation key. So I found the companies website, told them my problem and the details of my purchase. I had the CD and all the other materials, but could not find the s/n. The next day I get an e-mail from them. All it contained was a price list for all of their products. Nice! Well, I wasted more of my time trying to find a human to email or talk to on the phone, but it was no use. Then the wild idea came to me that maybe I could find it on the internet. I did. All the time I wasted, and it took less than five minutes for me to get it from one of these "bad" sites. (I don't even remember what they were called).

Yeah, someone is probably dying to point out its my fault for loosing the number, or that is not the way a good software company would have / should have helped me.

Basically all I am saying is:


"Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Here I am - Stuck in the middle with you!"
-The Beatles


One other thing, you all know what Blazey would or would not condone. Well so do I. I dont think he would condone my having to buy the same program twice. Since I paid my money it is their responsibility that I am able to use it. What they tried to do was steal my money to pay for it twice. I guess Warez or whoever it was that time were wearing the white hats that time.

- HandsOff

[sig]

Your not keeping track of your key for the program and a vendor with poor service/customer relations is hardly a justification for or a reason to praise warez. Apply the same logic and rationales to "real life" situations (as opposed to online activities) and they simply don't stand up. (Although the prisons are full with people who use similar specious justifications for their decision making processes and actions.)

Besides, this thread is not at all about whether people are for or against warez; it's about the potential security risks users may encounter by installing warez. Which the original poster's BIL apparently has now learned first hand.

[meneer]

The fun part is that people always talk about installing the latest hardware and by doing so, they spend lots and lots of money. Spending money must be cool.
When it comes to software these same people tend to spend nothing at all. I suppose they have to save in order to spend later ::)

[HandsOff]

Hello Meneer,

Yes, spending money is cool to the extent that one actually gains something from the expendeture. The point I was making about the drivers was that selling a product that doesn't even work is not what I would consider an ethical business practice. To say that something works when it does not is a lie. To lie in order to get money and not deliver what is promised is stealing.

As far as being at fault for losing my software key, well I suppose that is true. However, how can it be true that the same company that can afford schlocky marketing adds, and highly decoritive, if not misleading packaging can not affort to print the registration key on the CD itself.

To make matters worse, it is not at all uncommon to find out that additional restraints have been placed on software that never even hinted at by the packaging, the website or the EULA. Such was the case when I tried to reinstall a disc burning software that I bought. When I attempted to re-intall the software it blocked my installation. I contacted their "customer support" and was told that the software could only be installed three times. When I pointed out that condition was not something that I had agreed to they asked me why I installed it so often. Well, the reason, though i dont think it is really relevant, is that I have compatability between that and other software that I use. Well, i guess i should be grateful because they finally decided to issue me a new key and allow me to use my product.

Along the same lines, I often find during the installations of software programs that I am required to submit my name, address, telephone number, sometimes even occupation, company name, job title, household income. I have yet to see one software package that states that you will have to provide personal information in order to use their products. We all know that there is widespread abuse of the information gathered.

Glorifying Warez? I don't glorify the fact that I am forced to turn to one group of a questionable ethical nature so that I am permitted to use software that I purchased from a "legitimate" company. But when I pay for something I will do whatever I have to in order to prevent the "legitimate" company from stealing from me. And is not a glorification but an ironic fact that I spend two fruitless days trying to activate my software "the right way" with no results. When it finally occurred to me I could look elseware to activate my program I was up and running in five minutes.

Now someone is going to tell me that I was wrong to do what i did? Or are you saying that is wrong for people to have any other options other than paying more money greedy companies that want your cash but couldn't care less about the customer?

- HandsOff

[HandsOff]

I was thinking about it and I guess it would be misleading if I ommitted this truth from what I said:

I would be afraid to go to any Warez site for the reasons mentioned by others. Trojans, active-x, spyware, viruses, ect...Even if I paid for a program and lost the key. I would prefer to find a product from a different company, though.

Anyway the climate is different now. Freeware is getting to be the best software out there anyways. I for one have supported freeware and shareware programs. I hope that good freeware programs get the support they desserve. For the rest, I hope they get what they deserve.

- HandsOff

[Mr.Blaze]

LOL I DONT CONDONE WAREZ?

I DONT CONDONE PIRATERS

Of course my ideal of piraters and what white coller companys is are totaly diffrent

my budy jan has a strong opnione cause some of his best frinds he cares about are programers so it hits close to home

personaly i do feel bad for small companys

i mean real small companys who make something cool and charge like 9 or 10 bucks for a liscince

to me it is just plaine wrong to jack them

but heres where im not politically correct and i get some heat off of it

i dont care about companys that charge 600 dollers to 900 dollers for a 120 mb programe

but thats just me and by the way there are programs that actually cost that much up to 4000 dollers

do i condone warez nope do i condone pirating and traficking stolen goods no

but do i care if some one is in the middle of the street handing out 100 doller bills you think im going to ask where the money come from lol

im just realistic lol

i love nancy and javah cool and tds family would i jack them hell no cause i know them

and many of the companys that hang out here

id even report stolen keys and pirated traficing of there products to them i have in the past

there not only my friends but i have a investment in them

so if they go out of buisness cuase every one jacking them im left with thumb up my but lol

it all depends on your perspective

im blaze this is who i am

i may not be an angel but i always been honest with you guys even if im not politically correct i still respect all your opniones even if there bad towards me

simply put i respect you all

[shunned]

Why does anyone use warez....alot of reasons have been posted and rationals....but is it possible that a major reason is simply because warez users think they can get away with it? No responsibilty for their actions..cause they never will be caught....
Not long ago I read where some old granddad was being sued by the recording industry for illegally downloading music...an all granddad did was lovingly allow his grand children to use his computer. An his isp had a record of the downloading.
But is it the kids using most of the warez....not very likely that many kids want to be bothered with complicated software..oh they may get a few...but the really expensive warez products no kid needs or wants.
Unfortunately, for whatever reasons a person may choose to use...the world is what the world has become an the line between what is right and wrong has become so thin to alot of people that all they need is convince themselfs that they wont have to face the responsiblity of their actions....an they cross the line....quickly! Remember ENRON... or Ms Steward.......
An does the idea of a trogan or virus really deter the warez user....very, very, unlikely.
Only a person's own willingness to maintain a respectable concept of himself an not lower himself to thief...the willingness to abide by a decent set of morals....an make the right choice., only that stops warez.....but tell that to a person of low self-esteem..or one who lacks confidence...an you may receive a blank stare. By nature people are lazy minded...once convinced that their behavior is right its easier to stick to that pattern then make the effort to change...the path of least resistence...the easy way...no responsiblity

[shunned]

P.S

An nope..I am no angel.....have made the wrong choice more than I care to remember.........Yet, warez is wrong....

[Mr.Blaze]

hmmmm i dont know i try not to judge others its not my thing


people know right from wrong

eventualy it all catchs up with them

but im not going to play judge jury and excutioner on them

thats for the law to decide and yes people eventualy you well be cought

just a matter of time and place

[FanJ]

Hi buddy :D

OF COURSE I DO respect you !!!

No doubt about that !


Cheers, Jan.

[HandsOff]

it bothers me when people are so quick to be judge and jury.

I don't pretend to know what motivates people who make Warez or Warez like sites. But i remember feeling that in that one instance someone had come to my rescue and defied a heartless corporate entity, and justice was served. Wether it was just luck, i do not know, but I was not asked for money or infected with malware.

From that point on their is always going to be a question in my mind. Are these people really just crazed anarchists? Are they champions of the underdog? Do they have a philosophical believe that knowledge should be shared?

- HandsOff

[LowWaterMark]

-{ Quote: " quoting: HandsOff link=board=27;threadid=24574;start=15#msg145197 date=1079481122]From that point on their is always going to be a question in my mind. Are these people really just crazed anarchists? Are they champions of the underdog? Do they have a philosophical believe that knowledge should be shared? " }-

Well, I don't know HandsOff. :-\

The circumstance you've described is not the norm. Warez producers generally aren't sitting out there advertising - "Hey all you people who bought valid keys but can't get them to work, come here and download this hack, crack, keygen or whatever."

The people that are usually targetted are people who simply don't want to pay at all, not repeat customers who got a bad deal (lack of problem resolution) from the support at the company they bought software from.

I certainly understand your specific circumstance as you described it, but again I say "people in that circumstance" are not usually the people downloading these things, and real people are being cheated out of their payments for products and services rendered. :-\

[JimIT]

-{ Quote: " quoting: HandsOff link=board=27;threadid=24574;start=15#msg144505 date=1079345607]Basically all I am saying is:


"Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Here I am - Stuck in the middle with you!"
-The Beatles

" }-

Not the Beatles.

;)

Stealers Wheel.

[HandsOff]

LowWaterMark, Your point is well taken. I realize I should not charactorize the whole industry as being bad. I live in the silicon valley and have been given a lot of help and encouragement by software engineers who helped me when i was a student.

But I would not agree that it is really rare that a purchaser of software is not screwed by anti-piracey measures that compromise his privacy and his ability to use the software. I can appreciate that they want to protect their product but as a purchaser of software I don't feel that the burden should be put on me. And it has happened to me a lot.

On the other hand, I guess my annoyances pale in comparison with having sites on the internet dedicated to stealing what you make for a living. I just never have liked to have to prove I own something. I am sorry if I offended anyone. Sometimes I don't see the forest for the trees. Let's hope honesty makes a comeback.

- HandsOff

[HandsOff]

Not the Beatles???

Oh, well....

oobla de oobla da life goes on.....

[Mr.Blaze]

WELL THATS NOT TRUE SOME COMPANYS ARE PURE EVIL LOOK AT PORN DIALERS LOL

[HandsOff]

If that is the case Mr. Blaze, then perhaps we should feel to download as much porn as we want and not pay for it!

- HandsOff

[Paul Wilders]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Mr.Blaze link=board=27;threadid=24574;start=30#msg145860 date=1079582825]
WELL THATS NOT TRUE SOME COMPANYS ARE PURE EVIL LOOK AT PORN DIALERS LOL
" }-

To steal or not to steal, that's the question, Blaze.

(Hamlet expressed one and the same in essence, using Shakespeare as a messenger - read the book, and notice the ending).

regards.

paul

[Mr.Blaze]

man you guys havent had much experince with porn dialers lol


for example free porn free porn but then they secretly install a dialer on your pc

there actualy several types of porn dialers some just as bad as a trojan

secret dialers added to your registry


that is pure evill

[HandsOff]

Oh, but I have!

Even though I am considered the greenest of greenhorns in this neck of the woods, I am actively sought out in some parts by those who know even less!

Mr. X called and informed me that for the second time his computer had dialed up the Bahamas and racked up a hefty phone bill. He asked for some help, and besides doing a little basic spyware removal I made a suggestion that I hope he and everyone for that matter, follows. In most areas you can, at no charge to yourself, have your phone company remove the ability to dial 1-900 numbers. By doing so, you become immune to the worst charges incurred by the dialers. If more peoplel did this those dialers would probably all just go away!

- HandsOff


P.S. I am not implying the Mr. Blaze = Mr. X

[MikeBCda]

-{ Quote: " quoting: HandsOff link=board=27;threadid=24574;start=30#msg146679 date=1079730165]
In most areas you can, at no charge to yourself, have your phone company remove the ability to dial 1-900 numbers. By doing so, you become immune to the worst charges incurred by the dialers. If more peoplel did this those dialers would probably all just go away!
" }-

I might add, the cost probably varies depending on who your phone company is, but it's practically zilch here (Bell Canada) -- $10 one-time charge, not even a monthly fee. I went that route a few months back after I picked up one of those dialers (which, unexpectedly, turned out to be a psych-reading service, of all things) -- I also put in SG and SB at the same time, and the 900-blocking was just dirt-cheap extra insurance.

(Edit) Just dawned on me, maybe I should have kept the dialer after all -- it was domestic rather than overseas, mercifully, and the two connections it succeeded in making before I got it out only cost me $5 and change (which Bell credited back to me when I explained).

I've always wondered if a psychic would be thrown for a loop by a brain injury, like mine. ;D ;D

[HandsOff]

This is a bit off topic, but i think it is interesting none the less. I recently read an article stating that the technique used by someone giving a polygraph test is very similar to the technique used by many psychics. In short, they convince you that they can tell if you are lying (or some personal information in the case of the psychic). I have taken a polygraph before and "passed", however, from my end it is impossible to know what the machine was able to do.

Personally, I believe that it is a deception, manipulation, and intimidation, and as such I don't believe they should be used...psychics, I mean...

- HandsOff