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Clint -> Boycott StarForce Proposal (3/21/2006 4:08:00 PM)
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I know it's a bit late (StarForce has been around for ages) - but I urge all readers to seriously think twice (or ten times) before installing a game/software title protected by StarForce.
The reasoning for those who do not know is that it reportedly interferes with the correct functionality of CD/DVD-ROMs (I have also heard reports of the mal-ware modifying user drive firmwares, rendering drives dead/broken), and also, has recently been found to cause various system problems as it installs vicious system-level drivers (that is RING0, such as those low-level drivers the OS uses) to function as intended by StarForce Technologies.
These new discoveries include rebooting of user systems at the very instant the DRM mal-ware 'believes' it has detected copying, causing immediate unsaved data loss and a major disruption/inconvenience to users. Corruption of ATAPI/USB drivers etc. are amoung many of the adverse effects this mal-ware has upon the OS. The driver is constantly running, regardless of wether or not the application containing the protection is running, using valuable CPU/memory resources. If this isn't enough, it also forces various hardware to revert back into PIO mode, resulting in much higher CPU utilization, and making high-speed recording impossible (in the case of CD/DVDRs).
Even their own StarForce tech support has admitted problems, and offer no solution to these such problems. Uninstallation of offending software does not remove this ****, instead it remains - no mentioning of this in the EULA or anything. I believe this to be illegal and morally wrong, and highly recommend that you do not install the offending titles as linked above.
Even the seemingly brilliant PC title Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter due this May by Ubisoft (notorious StarForce implementor) *may* be crippled with this garbage (Rainbow Six: Lockdown was) - so no matter how good, it will not be installed on any of my systems whilst such parasitic mal-ware resides intertwined in such a good game. We can only hope Ubi decides against further usage, else they will be severely globally sales constrained as the majority of informed users are aware of the detremental effects.
See these for further info:
So here's the poll - there are three options, as far as I can see, they are above. [;)]
We value your feedback/comments on this sensative matter, please do not hesitate to express your concerns and feelings below...
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