Free Copy of the Sims 2 Contains SecuROM 234
dotarray (1747900) writes By now, everybody should know that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Let's apply that to EA, shall we? The publisher is giving away copies of The Sims 2: Ultimate Collection, for free... and not mentioning that it includes the controversial SecuROM anti-piracy software.
Nobody likes SecuROM.
Anti-piracy (Score:3, Insightful)
So, tell me, what do you mean with anti-piracy? Does it help against evil people in boats comandeering unarmed trade ships? So then must be something good.
Or have you meant Digital Restrictions Management?
Does anyone have a link (Score:5, Insightful)
So what? (Score:4, Insightful)
Is there any convention about mentioning anywhere which protection softwares your software is using??
i get it that some people don't like securom, but is it any surprise that even free versions contain it because the probably couldn't be bothered to remove it before making it free?
Who cares? (Score:5, Insightful)
It's free. If you don't like SecuROM, don't install the game. If someone hates SecuROM so much, they probably hate Origin even more, so this seems kind of moot.
Just enjoy the game (Score:2, Insightful)
Other websites: Celebrating the free release of a classic game.
Slashdot: Angry DRM rant.
Re:Who cares? (Score:5, Insightful)
It's free. If you don't like SecuROM, don't install the game.
It would be a valid argument if there were a clear mention of SecuROM before you install the game.
Re:Could be worse (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Anybody know? (Score:5, Insightful)
- Does SecuROM cause security vulnerabilities on PCs on which it is installed?
Adding a method to hide processes running on your system may be considered a security vulnerability. Such systems are usually used only by malware and legitimate software should NOT use any technology to counter the work of anti-virus software. Either your antivirus is weakend (which should be considered a security vulnerability) or "real" malware might also hide under the "invisibility cloak" set up by SecuROM to hide itself.
SecuROm may not be a security threat in itself, but it uses typical malware patterns and generally weakens your system security.
- Does SecuROM prevent applications - other than pirated copies of the game it is supposed to "protect" - from functioning on PCs on which it is installed?
OK, I'm recounting a user report on forum from years ago from the back of my memory here, so take this paragraph with a grain of salt: (may have been a similar copy protection system, if not exactly SecuROM)
I remember a user reporting a broken DVD writer. He bought a new one and replaced the "malfunctioning" drive only to find out that the new drive was also "broken". Turned out it was a DRM system that blocked the DVD writer and that user threw away a perfectly functioning DVD writer. Actual monetary damage here.
- Does SecuROM create any kind of "always on" background process that consumes resources and potentially reduces performance on PCs on which it is installed?
If it is not uninstalled with the software, it permanently eats up ressources that can't be reclaimed by the legitimate owner by uninstalling, as it is hiding itself from the computers software/process management system. (see "rootKit" in #1) As it is hidden, there is no indication that any problem showing up years after the deinstallation of a computer game (#2) might still be connected to a residual software component (read: garbage) from a casual game from a few years ago.
If the answer to any of the above is "yes" then obviously there is a fairly major problem here. If the answer to all of the above is "no", then I'm not quite sure what people are getting upset about given that we are talking about a free game (SecuROM being bundled with paid-for games is another issue entirely).
No. ESPESCIALLY for free games. Why add copy protection to free stuff anyway? It's free to begin with! No one needs or wants to "pirate" it. Unless of course you need a "pirated" copy of the game to keep the negative SecuROM effects from your system.
Re:Could be worse (Score:5, Insightful)
Nice logic, man.
Re:Who cares? (Score:5, Insightful)
YES!
There is no right to a game designed the way you would want to design it. Your right is to vote with your wallets. If the second companies instituted DRM everyone stopped buying their products, then companies would not see DRM as a valid business model.
Re:Anybody know? (Score:1, Insightful)
Ah! Right. Same kind of answers as Verizon [verizonwireless.com] about throttling their mobile network users.
Is this the same as throttling?
No, this is not throttling.
How is this different than throttling?
The difference between our Network Optimization practices and throttling is network intelligence.
Sure. https://www.techdirt.com/artic... [techdirt.com]
Re:Could be worse (Score:4, Insightful)
They could add DRM to the ISO at any time during production. So, I wouldn't count StarForce out, just yet.
Re:Just enjoy the game (Score:5, Insightful)
Other websites: Celebrating the surrepitous distribution of DRM malware.
Slashdot: Angry DRM malware rant.
Re:So what? (Score:4, Insightful)
You know, after the Sony rootkit issue, I do kind of expect vendors to be up front about this.
Because, "hey, here's our software, oh, it might wreck your computer" is kind of a big deal.
These companies feel entitled to install all sorts of crap on your machine. But, this being EA, it's already crap.
They really should be required to tell you the extra crap they're installing, because it has the potential to really fsck up your computer.
Re:Could be worse (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I know it's cliche but... (Score:5, Insightful)
No, this is EA, assume malice, because EA are assholes who don't give a rats ass about their customers or what they do to them.
Re:Anybody know? (Score:4, Insightful)