SecuROM Discussion (old)

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: HardWarrior
Does SecuROM do anything more than validate a game CD and blacklist certain types of software?

Yes

1. It creates undeletable (without special tools) registry entries, rootkit revealer points them out.

2. It is known to cause incompatibilities, resulting in legit buyers being unable to play their purchased games on their systems (and thus could possibly breed a new generation of pirates, for the "patched versions" lack SecuROM and thus work)

3. Blacklisting legitimate software (like Microsoft's Process Explorer) is just plain wrong.

4. It causes the game to run slower (especially the startup), from what I have read (although I have not done so as it is illegal), the "patched" version of SecuROM titles without SecuROM run faster overall with a decrease in the time it takes to start the game. But, like I said, I have not verified this and will not as I refuse to use "no cd patches"

5. Certain versions install a service when a limited account is detected

6. It also limits your ability to control your system, link

It installs a shell extension that, for example, prevents Windows Explorer from deleting 16-bit executables.

7. Several gaming companies have listened (supreme commander's makers comes to mind) to their customers and have removed SecuROM due to the trouble that it has caused their paying customers. Other companies, such as Atari, EA and 2K continue to use and/or expand the use of SecuROM despite massive customer protests:

Removal of SecuROM petition on Atari's forum
Fear's SecuROM thread

Search the technical support forums of any SecuROM 7 protected title to find how much trouble this piece of DRM causes. While it is no Starforce, it is certainly bad news.

 

[HardWarrior]

Isn't that just peachy? isgust; Thanks for taking the time to explain, Schadenfroh. Well, I guess it's time to act like a hardcore consumer and boycott SecurROM titles just like I do Starforce titles.

 

[Stas]

I still play "protected" games. I just don't pay for them... The hax they use to take away our freedoms are introduced by publishers not developers.
ID rules BTW. All the games from them (even Quake 4 by Raven) run like a portable app. You can just copy the folder with the game to a new installation of Windows and not worry about reinstallation or anything like that. No registry ties. And guess what? I BOUGHT Quake 1/2/3/4 and Doom 3.
So screw you, gready bastards from EA and alike, I'm not paying you sh*t.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: waggy
whats wrong with secureRom?

Its rootkit that allows viruses to infect your computer.

 

[Beev]

Oh jesus fucking christ people, do some research first:

http://www.securom.com/support_enduser.asp?t=3

SecuROM? will install a Windows? service module called "User Access Service" (UAService) on your system. This is a standard interface commonly used by several other applications as well. It is no spyware or rootkit at all. This module has been developed to enable users without Windows? administrator rights the ability to access all SecuROM? features. Please be assured that this service is installed only for security and convenience purposes. Since it is a standard Windows? service, you can stop and delete this service, like any other Windows? service. If deleted, the access for non-administrator users to SecuROM? protected applications will be affected.

And before you compare it to Starforce and how they denied being terrible: Starforce is garbage and literally everyone in the industry knows it, along with a lot of consumers. Securom is at least a trusted form of copy protection

 

[pcslookout]

I hope they tell their customers before hand so we know exactly what we are buying. I don't have a problem if they don't hide the fact but if they do then that is playing very unfair. If it does it will really suck.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Sraaz
Oh jesus fucking christ people, do some research first:

http://www.securom.com/support_enduser.asp?t=3

SecuROM? will install a Windows? service module called "User Access Service" (UAService) on your system. This is a standard interface commonly used by several other applications as well. It is no spyware or rootkit at all. This module has been developed to enable users without Windows? administrator rights the ability to access all SecuROM? features. Please be assured that this service is installed only for security and convenience purposes. Since it is a standard Windows? service, you can stop and delete this service, like any other Windows? service. If deleted, the access for non-administrator users to SecuROM? protected applications will be affected.

And before you compare it to Starforce and how they denied being terrible: Starforce is garbage and literally everyone in the industry knows it, along with a lot of consumers. Securom is at least a trusted form of copy protection

does it refuse to play if you have a legit program like process explorer?

Yes

 

[Ichigo]

Has anyone in this tried running Bioshock while Process Explorer is running? Somehow, I doubt it.

 

[CP5670]

Excuse me, but I don't consider something that blocks legit programs like Process Explorer to be "trusted." :roll:

 

[waggy]

whats wrong with secureRom?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Process Manager from Sysinternals is an optional third-party app that happens to now be owned by MS, it is not part of the operating system and it isn't a program a normal gamer "needs" to run.

SecuROM is not blocking Windows Explorer or even Task Manager.

It's mildly annoying that copy protection exists at all, but it seems silly to be outraged by not being able to run a process spy tool without rebooting.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Sraaz
Oh jesus fucking christ people, do some research first:

http://www.securom.com/support_enduser.asp?t=3

SecuROM? will install a Windows? service module called "User Access Service" (UAService) on your system. This is a standard interface commonly used by several other applications as well. It is no spyware or rootkit at all. This module has been developed to enable users without Windows? administrator rights the ability to access all SecuROM? features. Please be assured that this service is installed only for security and convenience purposes. Since it is a standard Windows? service, you can stop and delete this service, like any other Windows? service. If deleted, the access for non-administrator users to SecuROM? protected applications will be affected.

And before you compare it to Starforce and how they denied being terrible: Starforce is garbage and literally everyone in the industry knows it, along with a lot of consumers. Securom is at least a trusted form of copy protection

does it refuse to play if you have a legit program like process explorer?

 

[jdoggg12]

Originally posted by: hooflung
Off the SecuROM Wikipedia page :

"The version of SecuROM that comes with Armed Assault, S.T.A.L.K.E.R, Neverwinter Nights 2 , Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (patched to v1.04), Tomb Raider Anniversary (demo and Full version) and Bioshock prevents the game from running at all if Process Explorer, a free tool offered by Microsoft (initially it was from Sysinternals), has been run since the previous reboot."

W....T....F.....

The more these companies fight piracy with ridiculous provisions like this, the less sympathy they will get from the public when hackers chop the software up or outright pirate it.

 

[CP5670]

In UT3's case, even it does use Securom, I think Epic will probably remove the CD protection altogether a few months after the game's release. They have done that with all their past games.

 

[hooflung]

Off the SecuROM Wikipedia page :

"The version of SecuROM that comes with Armed Assault, S.T.A.L.K.E.R, Neverwinter Nights 2 , Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (patched to v1.04), Tomb Raider Anniversary (demo and Full version) and Bioshock prevents the game from running at all if Process Explorer, a free tool offered by Microsoft (initially it was from Sysinternals), has been run since the previous reboot."

 

[Schadenfroh]

The other SecuROM thread (that pcslookout created) has been merged with this one, bumping it so people will know where it went.

 

[Acanthus]

Programs like steam are just a better option in my opinion, if we have to go in the direction of annoying DRM.

Like everyone else id rather be without it entirely, but Starforce and SecuROM are both terrible.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Sraaz
Oh jesus fucking christ people, do some research first:

http://www.securom.com/support_enduser.asp?t=3

SecuROM? will install a Windows? service module called "User Access Service" (UAService) on your system. This is a standard interface commonly used by several other applications as well. It is no spyware or rootkit at all. This module has been developed to enable users without Windows? administrator rights the ability to access all SecuROM? features. Please be assured that this service is installed only for security and convenience purposes. Since it is a standard Windows? service, you can stop and delete this service, like any other Windows? service. If deleted, the access for non-administrator users to SecuROM? protected applications will be affected.

And before you compare it to Starforce and how they denied being terrible: Starforce is garbage and literally everyone in the industry knows it, along with a lot of consumers. Securom is at least a trusted form of copy protection

does it refuse to play if you have a legit program like process explorer?

Yes

then i guess i wouldnt call that a "trusted form of copy protection".

man if i known bioshock had it i wouldnt have purchased it.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Sraaz
Oh jesus fucking christ people, do some research first:

http://www.securom.com/support_enduser.asp?t=3

SecuROM? will install a Windows? service module called "User Access Service" (UAService) on your system. This is a standard interface commonly used by several other applications as well. It is no spyware or rootkit at all. This module has been developed to enable users without Windows? administrator rights the ability to access all SecuROM? features. Please be assured that this service is installed only for security and convenience purposes. Since it is a standard Windows? service, you can stop and delete this service, like any other Windows? service. If deleted, the access for non-administrator users to SecuROM? protected applications will be affected.

And before you compare it to Starforce and how they denied being terrible: Starforce is garbage and literally everyone in the industry knows it, along with a lot of consumers. Securom is at least a trusted form of copy protection

does it refuse to play if you have a legit program like process explorer?

Yes

then i guess i wouldnt call that a "trusted form of copy protection".

man if i known bioshock had it i wouldnt have purchased it.

The STEAM version does not use SecuROM. Anyone know if the devs of Bioshock get more money if they buy it through STEAM or will they get less since they have to pay 2K Games a bounty for allowing it on STEAM and Valve for providing the distribution service?


Update: SecuROM "protects" the STEAM version as well

 

[Painman]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
The STEAM version does not use SecuROM.

Actually, it does.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Painman

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
The STEAM version does not use SecuROM.

Actually, it does.

waaaaaah? STEAM has one of the best (if not the best) DRM solutions in the industry, why would they want SecuROM online?

Update: SecuROM infects the STEAM version as well

 

[doggyfromplanetwoof]

This crap doesnt install on vista x64..

Plus if you have TeaTimer up from SpyBot, you can block registry adds before they are added.

 

[fyleow]

..

 

[waggy]

yeah why does the Demo have it? thats just nuts./

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: CP5670
In UT3's case, even it does use Securom, I think Epic will probably remove the CD protection altogether a few months after the game's release. They have done that with all their past games.

I believe most DRM's tell publishers to remove it after the first 2 months. Hell, SecureROM all ready got paid from the publisher to license it so why do they care if they remove it?