Why NOT to use a Keygen.

[Farsquidge]

Just seen a great example of why not to use a Keygen to crack legit software.
I was called in to a friends PC to look at why it was running erratically and internet kept locking up.
He had downloaded a copy of Acronis True Image Home with a Keygen program, and that nice Keygen had loaded a sneaky Trojan that disabled Windows Update (to prevent the Malicious SW removal tool from downloading) and various other items then proceeded to use his own PC to distribute Spam within a bot network!

Got his fingers burnt and reloading all his PC will teach him not to do it again! :o

[tnyynt]

Warez have that special characteristic, they're fully loaded! :cool: ...which I personally find as being a positive thing!

[Pull9Gs]

It a risk that people are willing to take I guess.

[mariner_heart]

its simple! why will somebody reverse engineer a software and crack it without any reason?

[Lokioki]

I prefer invite-only trackers becose of that..

[rico002]

warez rock

[zeezee]

its simple! why will somebody reverse engineer a software and crack it without any reason?

They could do it for the thrill? :D

[Mikulec]

Somebody here heard something about antispyware and antivirus software?

LOL

[scilor]

If you use Warez just test it in a Virtual Machine -.-

Cracking -> Fight against the industry making everything complicated and expensive

[zeezee]

Cracking -> Fight against the industry making everything complicated and expensive
Which in-turn leads to more cracks :)

[TheCopacabanaMan]

If you people don't like to spend money for software, why don't you use FREE software?
Example:
- Linux
- OpenOffice
- FoxIt Reader (PDF)
- ...
... there is very much free software outta there, and in many cases, free software is better than commercial one.
Just search!

[rico002]

agreed...Linux+Warez=no problems for me

[zeezee]

agreed...Linux+Warez=no problems for me

haha, that wasnt the point but w/e works :)

[RizwanKhan]

Happiness
is like a
butterfly,
if you stop chasing it,
it will come to you

i like this :D .. going to have to try as i am always after it but never seem to get it ...

[Kraize]

i like this :D .. going to have to try as i am always after it but never seem to get it ...

Lol random and not relevant to the thread :D

Who doesn't use warez? I just use warez for movies and to try stuff out =/ If I like it, I buy it. Problems is in trials all the software is limited, I want to try full software, but stupid companies are retarded T.T

Kraize

[mikeeey]

you can trust your warez forum and your "warez friends" on the forum. but do you know where they got the Keygen from? perhaps a chineese forum? and where they got it from?

even if you trust your friends on the warez forum who knows where the software came from, it' not like the people on the forum intentionally put a virus in it

[Kraize]

you can trust your warez forum and your "warez friends" on the forum. but do you know where they got the Keygen from? perhaps a chineese forum? and where they got it from?

even if you trust your friends on the warez forum who knows where the software came from, it' not like the people on the forum intentionally put a virus in it

That is why you don't trust your "warez friends" and scan all software you download :) before using and don't scan with AVG haha

[mikeeey]

lol why not AVG? AVG detects warez quite well. On the warez forums i always see "AVG DETECTED VIRUS! PLZ HELP!!!!" lol.

[Kraize]

Yeah but in my experience AVG detects every keygen as a virus/trojan lol. It doesn't care. Says trojan lol. I use CA AntiVirus.

Kraize

[jorv88]

warez rule n ur friend must b a noob. every warez user knows that u have 2 have a good anti-virus\spyware\what everware...i have been using warez for a long time n i have never gotten infected kuz i scan everything b4 i extract it..if i had payed for everything i have d/l i would have spent hundreds n goten mad @ most of the software ive tried... 2 mention the keygen im using on my bit-defender it gaved me 10,000 days of use...yes 10,000 days...n this is the best anti-virus ive used... n as a warez user ive used tons...so most companys dont lost much with me kuz if i use the product n like it i recommend it 2 my friends..

[Kraize]

I totally recommend proper grammar T.T and maybe proper english n nt txt tlk. Just maybe? Because this is a proper forum.

[rico002]

i like this :D .. going to have to try as i am always after it but never seem to get it ...

happiness is something u can nvr have and only pursue

[Kraize]

happiness is something u can nvr have and only pursue

Wait a minute. I know this is off topic, but you can have happiness =/ who said you couldn't?

[rico002]

Wait a minute. I know this is off topic, but you can have happiness =/ who said you couldn't?

u thnk u have it, but it will only be something u can pursure, because if u had everything u wanted, u would have nothing to look forward too

[mariner_heart]

happiness is something u can nvr have and only pursue

i also liked the movie Pursuit of HappYness! great movie!

[Kraize]

u thnk u have it, but it will only be something u can pursure, because if u had everything u wanted, u would have nothing to look forward too

Having happiness doesn't mean you have everything you want. And because life is full of turns, you always have something to look forward to. I'm happy, even though I don't have everything I want. So I can say with confidence that I am happy.

[funy]

its refreshing to see people being frank about warez, how many times do we see the big names here on the forum getting all huffy about warez, and yet on another forum are posting it! ( and no im not going to say who, as in the long run they have done better good for the community in terms of tools/tutorials etc for our phones, than they can undo with a naughty post)

[rico002]

its refreshing to see people being frank about warez, how many times do we see the big names here on the forum getting all huffy about warez, and yet on another forum are posting it! ( and no im not going to say who, as in the long run they have done better good for the community in terms of tools/tutorials etc for our phones, than they can undo with a naughty post)

i thnk ur talking bout me but not 100%...but yea i posted warez, i didnt thnk it was going to be a big deal and it was blasphemy, huffy i dont thnk is the word, more like anal, but its all good, do wut u do...im def not gonna lose sleep over it hahahhaha

[funy]

no wasnt talking about you, someone further up in the food chain here, but thats not my point, just saying that there are some seriously hypocritical members here which bitch on one forum about warez and post it on another.

at the end of the day id rather the warez wasnt anywhere near this forum, that way it wont get shut down

[farukb]

Every time you use warez, god kills a kitten.
-Fzzyrn
hehe:D:D:D:D

[burgertime]

I was kind of digging the exestential convo about happiness on the Warez discussion. Ha, people want shit for free it's just the way it is. If your stupid enough not to use a virus scan, well your should accept the consequences.

[farukb]

i personaly have 2 pcs one with windows xp and one with linux ubuntu
i use linux for surfing...because linux is 99.999999% safe,no need for firewall or antivirus

for those who don't have 2 pcs and need windows they can do a dual-boot (two OS on single pc)...it takes a bit knowledge...but it works

[rico002]

i kno right like linux hasnt been around....well wut can u do but i agree hypocritcal is good adj to describe it

[Farsquidge]

i kno right like linux hasnt been around....well wut can u do but i agree hypocritcal is good adj to describe it

Wha? I'm getting to old for this forum!!! :eek:

[l3v5y]

i personaly have 2 pcs one with windows xp and one with linux ubuntu
i use linux for surfing...because linux is 99.999999% safe,no need for firewall or antivirus

for those who don't have 2 pcs and need windows they can do a dual-boot (two OS on single pc)...it takes a bit knowledge...but it worksI dual boot both my PC and my Mac...

Linux does have some viruses, and I can try and write one if you really want to argue with that!

[rico002]

im sure it does but not enough damage to effect me hahahaha

[FLORINOX]

If You Can Afford It Then Buy It ,if Not Crack It Only If You Really Need It.30-40$ Isn't That Much

[TRJS]

Out of curiosity, how safe are all those cracked and customized Windows versions that are floating on the web? I guess a cracked OS image is the best way to hide all kinds of malware in it... But is it actually done, or would something like that be discovered before it gets spread in a larger extend?

[avatar_43]

I've been using Warez for some time, However if I can buy the software (I.E not in the 3 digit mark) then I will and I've never had any problems with infection (used Avast! for about 3 years) I used AVG before but at EVERY keygen it was "ZOMG!! Virus alert" Even if there was no threat

In my opinion Warez can be good and bad, Good in the fact you get the full software, Music Video etc, Bad because it breaks copyright laws and there are some mallicious people who try and infect others system

As for TRJS, If your unsure about it don't use 'em simple as that mate, Or if you choose to use it then you can check for any infections after you've installed, I've never had any problems with 'em though

[Kraize]

I love warez. I buy every software except for the M$ crap and Adobe. How the f'n hell is a 15 year old going to buy Adobe PS which is like $400.

Kraize

[vibranze]

If you use Warez just test it in a Virtual Machine -.-

Cracking -> Fight against the industry making everything complicated and expensive

Or in sandbox environment, eg. sandboxie, altiris SVS, etc:)

Cheers,
Vibranze

[IzaacJ]

I love warez. I buy every software except for the M$ crap and Adobe. How the f'n hell is a 15 year old going to buy Adobe PS which is like $400.

Kraize

Thats just like me :D M$ is to unstable for their prices and Adobe is way to expensive! Must admit though, I ALWAYS use warez BEFORE I even think of buying any software, I wont spend my hard earned money on something I THINK is good xD

[JimmyMcGee]

Thats just like me :D M$ is to unstable for their prices and Adobe is way to expensive! Must admit though, I ALWAYS use warez BEFORE I even think of buying any software, I wont spend my hard earned money on something I THINK is good xD

And that's why innovation is stymied, By you guys STEALING, yes it's stealing, the software, the developers don't get any money. And then they don't feel like developing new software to not be rewarded.

We are a capitalist world, businesses provide goods and jobs for the reward of money. If you cut off that money flow, than they cut off their betterment of the world with important software and jobs.

Just think about that next time you bit torrent some software. You are not just stealing software, your leading to the unemployment rate increase.

[samy.3660]

And that's why innovation is stymied, By you guys STEALING, yes it's stealing, the software, the developers don't get any money. And then they don't feel like developing new software to not be rewarded.

We are a capitalist world, businesses provide goods and jobs for the reward of money. If you cut off that money flow, than they cut off their betterment of the world with important software and jobs.

Just think about that next time you bit torrent some software. You are not just stealing software, your leading to the unemployment rate increase.

Sorry to say, but you are wrong.
Example: Microsoft OS has the largest market share in the world, why??
Because it is easily available in piracy.
And do you think it is harmful for microsoft, that there software is being pirated, NO, because even though it is being pirated and used worldover, it became famous and people are being used to it. SO CAPTURED THE MARKET.
That is why Microsoft hasn't taken any security measures to avoid piracy.

2nd Reason:
Stealing someone his cell phone worth 500$ and using a pirated software worth 500$, isn't the same.
Because when you steal a cell phone you put the person whose cell phone you have stolen into a big loss(500$)(It is his loss, coz he was taken away of 500$ worth).
But When you use pirated software, you don't put the person or company into loss, because at the first place you haven't stolen a tangible material which has a real value(means, which will get over with use). But a software can be copied as many times as desired, without any input.
That is why stealing a real (tangible) material is not like using a pirated software.

None the less i am not promoting use of pirated softwares. But i was explaining the difference.

Thanks

[levenum]

I already said everything I had to say on WAREZ issues here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=2322620&postcount=84).

But I must correct samy.3660 on his 2nd Reason:
Yes it is true that when you make a copy of a program the company does not loose any physical object or any of the cash it currently possesses.

But you must understand that the problem is with the business model most (not all) software companies use today:
Having several developers sit in an office for several month and produce a worth while piece of software takes a lot of money. Think payroll, office rent, electricity etc.
And some very large programs like Photoshop take teams of dozens of developers and sometimes years to make.

Now in their current model the only way for the company to recover all that investment, not to mention to make any profit is to sell the license to use the software to as many people as they can.
But if as soon as one person buys it he lets everyone else copy from him they will not pay the company and the model fails.

Now you may say "but what if I didn't want to buy it anyway?"
Well a company that makes something people don't want does not have the right to exist in a capitalist society, but when you make this claim while actually using the product it means you do need or want their stuff so your claim is invalid.

In other words - if you do not want to by it proove so by not using it.

[JimmyMcGee]

Sorry to say, but you are wrong.
Example: Microsoft OS has the largest market share in the world, why??
Because it is easily available in piracy.
And do you think it is harmful for microsoft, that there software is being pirated, NO, because even though it is being pirated and used worldover, it became famous and people are being used to it. SO CAPTURED THE MARKET.
That is why Microsoft hasn't taken any security measures to avoid piracy.

2nd Reason:
Stealing someone his cell phone worth 500$ and using a pirated software worth 500$, isn't the same.
Because when you steal a cell phone you put the person whose cell phone you have stolen into a big loss(500$)(It is his loss, coz he was taken away of 500$ worth).
But When you use pirated software, you don't put the person or company into loss, because at the first place you haven't stolen a tangible material which has a real value(means, which will get over with use). But a software can be copied as many times as desired, without any input.
That is why stealing a real (tangible) material is not like using a pirated software.

None the less i am not promoting use of pirated software. But i was explaining the difference.

Thanks

Oh So its ok to Car Jack a Rich person driving a BMW, but not a poor person driving a 86 Dodge Caravan with Peeling Paint? Because the rich guy can absorb the blow? That's what I'm reading.

That's Double Standards my friend. Just because Microsoft is a big multinational doesn't make stealing their software any more legal or "right."

There are fixed costs in making software that has to be made back some how.

Lets do some math. For example it costs you $10,000 to make a piece of software. And you are a nice guy and you want No profit, you just want to make $10,000. Lucky for you 10,000 want your software, if they all bought it, it would cost each person $1. Now if only 5,000 people bought it and the other 5,000 pirated it. It would than cost the 5,000 who legally and morally bought the software $2. Just think about that on a much Grander scale!

Pirating Drives Prices Up.
Pirating Drives Hassles Up, because Legit Customers have to jump through hoops with Licensing Serial Numbers and what not.
Pirating Drives Taxes Up, because we waste man hours persecuting Software Pirates in the Court Systems.
Pirating Drives Innovation Down, No one will do anything without reward. Sometimes its Notoriety, but mostly its money.

[zeezee]

And that's why innovation is stymied, By you guys STEALING, yes it's stealing, the software, the developers don't get any money. And then they don't feel like developing new software to not be rewarded.

We are a capitalist world, businesses provide goods and jobs for the reward of money. If you cut off that money flow, than they cut off their betterment of the world with important software and jobs.

Just think about that next time you bit torrent some software. You are not just stealing software, your leading to the unemployment rate increase.
Now, take a minute and think for warez. How many people would be deprived in technology b/c of the simple but deadly money issue preventing them from achieving what they want to do, or be prevented from learning new skills just b/c money? Although there maybe open source almost-equivalents but does the industry uses the expensive stuff, so whats better than using what they use to develop skills? then you can give back.

Thats another angle of looking at the issue

[samy.3660]

Ok levenum got my point.
jimmy, you didn't got my point.

To levenum.
I am not telling here that software piracy is good, but it is not the same as real stealing (eg: Hard cash).
Ok most of the people in the world use Windows OS pirated, and due to which it gains so much publicity and demand. But when you use it professionally (not for personal use) you will have to buy it invariably due to legal hassles.
And again if your software is worth, you will earn millions without being harmed by piracy eg: Micrsost, Adobe, Opera, Apple, and many other companies...

So it doesn't matter really, but if you possess huge $$$$$$$ than you shouldn't definately use piracy.

One major drawback of Patency:
Medicines which must(MUST) be cheap to help people are not cheap, because some people are earning royalties on it indefinately.

[deedee]

Think how much better the end of year financial statements of the likes of Microsoft, Adobe and Apple would be if nobody pirated anything and we all paid full price for it.

[levenum]

Several things:

zeezee:
What you described is exactly the problem OLPC (One Laptop For Chiled) project is encountering:

To sell it to the governments Nicholas Negroponte decided to switch to Windows, because "it is what everybody uses".
But if because of the prohibitive cost of Windows OS and other proprietary applications currently serving the industry an entire generation of children (and not just in the developing countries) grow up using alternative free (as in open source, not free bear) software then it will become the industry standard.

WAREZ is not the solution, it just perpetuates the problem.

samy.3660:
Just to be clear: I didn't accuse you of saying that piracy was a good thing nor did I say it was the same as stealing.
I am not lawyer, but it is clear that even the law does not treat the two offenses in the same way. Theft is theft and copyright infringement is something else.

But it is very important not to confuse patents and copy rights. These are two very different things intended for different purposes.

Richard Stallman wrote a nice article (http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html) explaining this.

While patents on software definitely are a bad thing because of the difference between a software project and a real life invention of new method or apparatus, patents are, if used properly a good tool to encourage publishing of new ideas.

I the case of the pharmaceutical industry there is a particular problem and frankly I do not have a good idea as to what to do with it so I am not taking sides for now.
The problem is this:
With a given pill in mass production each one may cost only a few cents to manufacture.
But to get the first one right, it may cost several billion dollars in research.
Given the current world economic system, patents are the only insurance for the companies that they will get return on such a huge investment.

But at least we can take comfort in the fact that patents expire. Drug patents in particular (I may be wrong, but I think they last about 7 years).
So the company that put up the dough for the research gets a head start, then after a while anyone can copy it cheaply.

I don't think its an ideal solution (probably not even a good one), but there are serios global issues involved here that are way beyond the scope of discussion on this forum.
Even in the off-topic.

[NotATreoFan]

I never understood the appeal of using a pirated copy of Windows. Just think how much less Windows might cost if the piracy element was removed from it. While I'm certain that Mac OS X is pirated by some people, it's not nearly as many people (percentage wise, so it adjusts for % of market share) as those who decide they don't want to pay for Windows.

Windows Vista Ultimate is $399, and Mac OS X is $129. While I don't think Microsoft would ever come down that low, $249 or $299 could be feasible.

In my case, I have my own IT Consulting company, so I pay Microsoft $299/yr to license their software from them. In the last 3 years, I have paid them $900 and have access to:


Windows Vista Business (10 licenses for x86 or x64)
Windows Vista Ultimate (1 license for x86 or x64)
Windows XP Professional (10 licenses for x86 and 10 for x64)
Office 2007 + OneNote (10 licenses)
Windows Server 2003 (1 license)
Windows Server 2008 (1 license)


There are quite a few others (https://partner.microsoft.com/us/40013779) included as well, this is only a short list.

[kareeem]

Thread caught my eye and usually it depends on your source. If you're downloading from some random source that's not monitored or commented on, then it'd be pretty dumb to even think about downloading it.

[JimmyMcGee]

Ok levenum got my point.
jimmy, you didn't got my point.

To levenum.
I am not telling here that software piracy is good, but it is not the same as real stealing (eg: Hard cash).
Ok most of the people in the world use Windows OS pirated, and due to which it gains so much publicity and demand. But when you use it professionally (not for personal use) you will have to buy it invariably due to legal hassles.
And again if your software is worth, you will earn millions without being harmed by piracy eg: Micrsost, Adobe, Opera, Apple, and many other companies...

So it doesn't matter really, but if you possess huge $$$$$$$ than you shouldn't definately use piracy.

One major drawback of Patency:
Medicines which must(MUST) be cheap to help people are not cheap, because some people are earning royalties on it indefinately.

No I got your point. You didn't get mine.

Once again you say lots of people Pirate windows. I'm IT Manager for 100 work stations and 150 users. NO ONE has a pirated copy of Windows, not even at home. None of my friends or family has pirated version of Windows. So don't tell me that Microsoft has the largest market share because of Piracy.

Also, I guess I'm on my own out here. I believe Business and not Government or Crime is the key to prosperity.

Here's another reason I'm against Piracy. Windows has to code in Anti-piracy stuff into their OS and hire lawyers to sue pirates. Now imagine if they didn't have to hire lawyers, imagine how many more jobs they could create for Tech Support and Engineers.

@zeezee, While I see that there may not be good open source solutions, its still not a good reason to steal something. Oh and, I've found great open Source Solutions to all my needs. Even Server Back Up! I'm turing my company into and Open Source users and I've had not a problem, or difficulty finding what I need. :)

[NotATreoFan]

Once again you say lots of people Pirate windows. I'm IT Manager for 100 work stations and 150 users. NO ONE has a pirated copy of Windows, not even at home. None of my friends or family has pirated version of Windows. So don't tell me that Microsoft has the largest market share because of Piracy.


Only 100/150? :rolleyes:

I support 400+ users and 500+ computers all by my lonesome. :cool: Not to mention running my consulting company.

[JimmyMcGee]

Only 100/150? :rolleyes:

I support 400+ users and 500+ computers all by my lonesome. :cool: Not to mention running my consulting company.


Yup I'm living the Easy Life. :p

Oh AND I'm too lazy to cook! :eek:

[Black93300ZX]

Just seen a great example of why not to use a Keygen to crack legit software.
I was called in to a friends PC to look at why it was running erratically and internet kept locking up.
He had downloaded a copy of Acronis True Image Home with a Keygen program, and that nice Keygen had loaded a sneaky Trojan that disabled Windows Update (to prevent the Malicious SW removal tool from downloading) and various other items then proceeded to use his own PC to distribute Spam within a bot network!

Got his fingers burnt and reloading all his PC will teach him not to do it again! :o

I think that shows why to use private trackers for your torrents so the files are tested and guaranteed virus-free, not why you shouldn't pirate at all. ;-)

Oh, and to Jimmy, I only have a pirated copy of Windows on the computer I built myself, because $200 for XP (at the time) is just entirely ridiculous when you can get a computer with XP for $350. :P

[zeezee]

Just seen a great example of why not to use a Keygen to crack legit software.
I was called in to a friends PC to look at why it was running erratically and internet kept locking up.
He had downloaded a copy of Acronis True Image Home with a Keygen program, and that nice Keygen had loaded a sneaky Trojan that disabled Windows Update (to prevent the Malicious SW removal tool from downloading) and various other items then proceeded to use his own PC to distribute Spam within a bot network!

Got his fingers burnt and reloading all his PC will teach him not to do it again! :o
She/He could have still been able to benefit from downloading the Acronis. Once she had installed it and everything, go into acronis and burn a backup/recovery boot disk and then he could redo her windows and still have basicallly the whole and clean acronis software without even using it in the OS. Hehe...think outside of the box :D

[Black93300ZX]

I don't feel bad pirating certain kinds of software, I will never pity Bill Gates and his $100 billion because I took a word processor he charges $190 for. I do think it's shitty, however, when you take software that's cheap from a small developer. Piracy can kill production from some, but I know Microsoft will have no problems keeping their wheels turning without my $200. As for viruses, as I said earlier, use a private tracker if you're worried about those... You can get the same viruses downloading freeware but you don't see posts on here saying "why not to get 3rd party applications".

[ilikepu]

well ive never supported piracy i have legit volume keys from microsoft for my business but on another note i do support keygen on a personal level just to test out the full capability of a software if i like the software i purchase it if i dont i trash it i mostly support open source and freeware

[Davey101]

its simple! why will somebody reverse engineer a software and crack it without any reason?

They could do it for the thrill? :D

Sorry to bump a discussion that may have already run its course but I wanted to expand on these points. I'm not advocating warez, just trying to point out that the people who make them available are not necessarily evil.

An equivalent question would be, why would anyone go to great effort to source an advance DVD copy of a movie, rip it to AVI and upload it to usenet or to complete strangers via bittorrent, "without any reason?"

Doesn't make any sense does it? However these people clearly exist. Maybe they're motivated by a sense of personal achievement, or maybe community spirit. In other words, the same things that motivate people to make available their legitimate work, here on this forum.

The only differences between a warez provider and a contributor here is that the warez provider does not care about copyright laws and we do. Maybe that's because some of us are fairer-minded people (I'm certainly not) and maybe it's just that they are able to get away with it due to a combination of anonymity and geographical location. As for people who add viruses to cracks and keygens, I'd wager that many of them are simply adding viruses to other people's work.

I'm not going to deny that breach of copyright is damaging (to authors, producers and developers) and forces commercial companies to increase prices, however it is getting increasingly difficult to prevent. The only logical outcome is the eventual end of the commercial, copyright-centred industry.

In the UK it used to be illegal to tape TV shows on a VCR. They eventually changed the law because to have a law that can't be enforced makes a mockery of the legal system itself. Things change...

[N1c0_ds]

If you use Warez just test it in a Virtual Machine -.-

Cracking -> Fight against the industry making everything complicated and expensive

...and small developers trying to survive. (but who am I to talk!)

Also, if you get your keygens made from the known members of your warez forum, it becomes much safer. There's also a freeware alternative most of the time.