OT: SPYWARE/TROJAN and Off Topic! - Page 4

Gandalf Parker · #31 April 8th, 2004, 02:53 AM

I spend alot of my time in the alt.hacker newsgroup (white hats). To some people, anything which "reports home" is spyware. Ive heard people who rant and race about Windows Update, or WinXP's registration to turn it on. To them there is never a good reason for such things.

While I agree that such things can be abused, and that abuses tend to shut down good things, Im not going to toss the good with the bad. There are ways to protect yourself from the overzealous without killing everything. Im all for anything that helps get Illwinter their fair share and improve the chances of a Dom3.

[ April 08, 2004, 01:54: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Norfleet · #32 April 8th, 2004, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bayushi Tasogare:
From your 'line in the sand' comment, I'm guessing (and it's only a guess) that you checked as Gandalf suggested, and probably found out that it is only a CD key.

I have not checked if it contains any MORE, but I did get an AWFUL lot of hits, some several kbs transmitted. That's far larger than the "CDkey" is. Also, I firmly suspect that CDkeys are actually individually identifiable tracking numbers: It's obvious, based on the distribution scheme of the game. Shrapnel probably has every CDkey leaving the shipping bay tracked to the individual buying it. To allow it to be correlated Online by the same source that sent them out would be suicide.

NWN and Bioware tried to pull this exact same stunt on me, although they did a better job trying to make it seem harmless. However, when I confronted them with this, their obvious and blatant denials immediately confirmed the truth of my suspicions....and unlike IW, they are definitely possessed with motive, being that they are a puppet of the evil Infogrames.

Quote:

Originally posted by Demosthenes:
I have no reason to 'suspect' Illwinter for anything other than trying to protect their IP in the most innocuous manner that such a small company possibly can.

I'm absolutely sure that they may very well be trying to do so. I've done my share of programming, and you know what? The Last time I wired a "protection" method to protect *MY* IP, it was designed exactly like that, a nice phone-home verification check....and would destroy all of the files of any unauthorized user and hand over control of their shells to me if I pressed the big red button.

So I've been on their side of the fence before. I know what they're trying to do.

Quote:

Originally posted by Graeme Dice:
Then you must be a murderer, since you certainly "can" kill someone.

Why don't you try and not suffer from paranoid delusions so much.

I am very much surrounded by potentially hostile people. Why do you think I've taken to the life of a hermit, wear kevlar, and travel heavily armed? It's not paranoia when they really are out to get you.

[ April 08, 2004, 02:04: Message edited by: Norfleet ]

Gandalf Parker · #33 April 8th, 2004, 03:06 AM

Quote:

So I've been on their side of the fence before. I know what they're trying to do.

Then we know who will have the most problem with it. Pirates or Purists, but not the average user.
That would make it a winning method from the view of the publishers.

Cainehill · #34 April 8th, 2004, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Graeme Dice:

quote:
Originally posted by Norfleet:
Illwinter MIGHT be telling the truth, but this is inconsistent with known behaviors.

And you might be cheating in every game you host. Since you can do it, you must have already done it.
Hey! This would explain why he keeps kicking my furry arse when he hosts! And how he can afford fortresses everywhere, sometimes 3 in the same province, one on top of another!

Say - speaking of fortresses on top of another, what happens if a fortress is built in a province that turns out to contain a magic site fortress (River Fortress for example, or Firbolg Fortress)?

Graeme Dice · #35 April 8th, 2004, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Norfleet:
To allow it to be correlated Online by the same source that sent them out would be suicide.

Suicide? Looks like more of your paranoid delusions .

Quote:

However, when I confronted them with this, their obvious and blatant denials immediately confirmed the truth of my suspicions....

And you are confirming that you are paranoid.

Quote:

So I've been on their side of the fence before. I know what they're trying to do.

No, you don't know what they are trying to do. You have paranoid delusions that everyone is out to get you.

Quote:

Originally posted by Graeme Dice:
I am very much surrounded by potentially hostile people.

Bull****.

Quote:

Why do you think I've taken to the life of a hermit, wear kevlar, and travel heavily armed?

Because you're paranoid.

Quote:

It's not paranoia when they really are out to get you.

Thanks for confirming that you are just being paranoid.

I missed this the first time:

Quote:

and would destroy all of the files of any unauthorized user and hand over control of their shells to me if I pressed the big red button.

It's nice to see that you are willing to destoy the property of others on a whim, and aren't at all concerned about whether your behaviour is illegal.

[ April 08, 2004, 02:20: Message edited by: Graeme Dice ]

Demosthenes · #36 April 8th, 2004, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Norfleet:
It's not paranoia when they really are out to get you.

Graeme Dice · #37 April 8th, 2004, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Demosthenes:
Norfleet you are clearly a highly intelligent individual. The philosophy you are illustrating above plainly shows why you are an excellent wargamer, but it may be lacking in some other, more social, respects.

I would say that he has demonstrated little intelligence. Using a clear logical fallacy as an argument only shows that he lacks the ability to think.

Stormbinder · #38 April 8th, 2004, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cainehill:

quote:
Originally posted by Graeme Dice:

quote:
Originally posted by Norfleet:
Illwinter MIGHT be telling the truth, but this is inconsistent with known behaviors.

And you might be cheating in every game you host. Since you can do it, you must have already done it.
Hey! This would explain why he keeps kicking my furry arse when he hosts! And how he can afford fortresses everywhere, sometimes 3 in the same province, one on top of another!

Say - speaking of fortresses on top of another, what happens if a fortress is built in a province that turns out to contain a magic site fortress (River Fortress for example, or Firbolg Fortress)?

Off topic - Cainehill, we are starting new game now, Karan map, 6 players, could use 1 or two more. Are you interested? If so, log on dominions IRC chaneel quickly pls.

Kel · #39 April 8th, 2004, 03:36 AM

Although I can't imagine what information Illwinter would want from my computer *that I would care about*...I definitely think it is a good thing when someone out there keeps people informed so they can make their own choices about what might be harmful and what might not. I don't necessarily agree or care and I might even call it an extreme point of view, but it's still positive in a 'checks and balances' kind of way.

- Kel

johan osterman · #40 April 8th, 2004, 03:42 AM

Just to clear things up.

Single player is not affected by this issue at all. Using the same code on different computers is not affected at all. There is no remote control trash your computer function hidden in the game, including one such would probably be illegal. �lso the game does not send several kb's of info, just a few bytes, we have no desire to bog down our less than impressive line with bloated data packages from anonymous dom 2 players.