Starforce DRM said to force reboots
By Marc Perton 
posted March 21st 2006 12:09PM
posted March 21st 2006 12:09PM
We're tempted to call this one "Son of
Sony," though it looks like it was conceived all on its own with no help from the likes of Sony BMG or its partners. The latest word is that
StarForce, a company that makes DRM for some gaming companies, has implemented a form of DRM that can force a PC to
reboot without giving the user any prior warning. According to reports, the system installs a driver that gives it
low-level access to PC hardware drivers and system resources. CD Freaks reports that the system apparently runs
continuously, regardless of whether a protected game is currently in use. The system could the force a reboot if it
detects what it considers an infringing act, such as attempting to copy a CD or DVD, even if that disc isn't explicitly
protected by StarForce. While we haven't seen any references to the DRM scheme actually causing any crashes, it does
seem like a pretty underhanded way to enforce copy protection. We hope StarForce decides to follow Sony's lead and
apologize, offer removal instructions and vow to never do this again -- though we suspect that's not about to happen,
since the company's sole business is copy protection.
Lawsuit? Lawsuit.
Lawsuit.
This IS against some kind of anti-computer-hacking laws, right? riiight?
I really hate starforce.
oh it makes me laugh what you PC users have to put up with, usually as a result of a totally useless operating system.
Gee, running software that can reboot your computer and runs all the time can't be bad right? not like there'd be any kind of mechanism to protect outside people from probing networked computers, seeing if they're running this, then manipulating it so that their machines rebooted at will. nope. can't possibly happen.
you only "have" to put up with this if you install one of these games. and since it's something you actually install yourself, there is no reason Starforce couldn't do this for OS X or Linux, were they to want to - not a flaw in Windows.
They're located in Russia.. they aren't going to get sued. Game publishers just need to dump them.
You guys are really behind in this story, Starforce DRM tactics have become internet lore and I'm surprised you're just now getting around to covering the Russian company. Next, I suggest you start an apple-like torrent of threads to play catchup because your readers really need to know more about this company's insidious software.
What's up with the incessant Sony bashing engadget? We get that you don't like Sony. Dont you think that engadget readers don't know about RootKit. You mention Sony as many times as you mention StarForce.
Sorry, but it’s completely legitimate to mention Sony along with this story because RootKit is the premiere example of a privacy-limiting technology resulting in a large enough backlash that it eventually kills it.
Sean: The rebooting thing is new, but I don't suppose you read the article judging from you kneejerk reaction.
Can reboot your computer without warning?
Sounds like a computer virus to me...
Ill just stick to buying games that wont install a computer virus in my system :-p
Jay -
You don't sue Starforce the company, you sue the companies that use their protection. Just like in Sony's case - it wasn't Sony's software that was a rootkit. It was third party software that Sony implemented.
I believe toca race driver 3 uses star force protection. If one wanted to play a pirated copy you actually had to unplug your rom drives physically and boot before it would let it be played as a mounted iso. Not that i would know this first hand...but it was someone that told me this of course.
I (unknowingly) installed a game which has Starforce. Within the next week, I noticed the performance of my hi-end graphics workstation computer reduced to an intolerable crawl, and my burner would no longer write, which was inconvenient since I was trying to back up my harddrive in case the performance issue was a precursor to hardware failure.
After clearing Starforce and the game from my computer, it went back to normal. Just google "starforce" and "boycott".
Andy, you might have to contend with software like Starforce as well if you used an OS that allowed you to play the latest games. While you're laughing it up, we're playing FEAR and Oblivion. HAHAHA!
The Starforce software is only there to protect you. If it means they have to install a low-level virus on your computer, then so be it. They know what's best for you. You should trust them to determine which functions of your computer should be off-limits.
All I can say is:
Slackware.
From what I've read Starforce rapes computers of any future use. Fuck Starforce.
And they frequently threaten websites that post negative comments about them...
In Soviet Russia, PC reboot YOU.
I'm glad all those decades of totalitarianism are coming in handy for those Russkies and for our software companies.
Oh if you think this is funny then someone should google and post the stories about a starforce employee posting a link to a torrent for Galactic Civilizations II (a game released by stardock without ANY DRM, which outsold GalCiv I in ten days) under the pretense of pointing out how easy it is to pirate games like that.
This employee posted this ON STARFORCES OWN FORUM...the official forum, run by starforce.
And then there is the case where another employee, on the same forum, responded to a post about an interview in, I think, PCM stating that they had not read the article, and then asked the person TO SCAN THE MAGAZINE ARTICLE....
They REALLY care about copyrights.
The source in this story (cdfreaks) claims this is new behaviour "uncovered by Futuremark" but not according to Futuremark themselves:
http://www.futuremark.com/news/?newsarticle=200603/2006032104#200603/2006032104
Ergo the source is dubious and possibly so is the content....
SC: Chaos Theory uses Starforce as well, I believe, so keep an eye out if you snag an Ubisoft game, or that one inparticular, I stopped being a SC fan when they did that, lost a loyal customer.
Anyhow, suing companies that use this technology would be the route to take, intolerable cruelty to those paying to use your product.
Who pays to get raped? Not many.
Response to: "6. you only "have" to put up with this if you install one of these games. and since it's something you actually install yourself, there is no reason Starforce couldn't do this for OS X or Linux, were they to want to - not a flaw in Windows."
Untrue. User privalage. Windows doesn't understand the concept. Therefore, it is a "flaw" in winbloze.
Learn your Unices before you vomit things that you appearantly know nothing of.
#23 Sweet where's that password box when I go to restart the mac that I'm on then?
See, this shit is the reason I only pirate my computer games. Who knows what evildoer might have tampered with your store-bought copy? Spyware, Viruses, exploding CD Drives, Spontaneous Rebooting...I'll say it again: You use non-pirated software at your peril. The only person you can really trust in this world is Mr. Alt.binaries
:)
LG
#25. (I am sure you were repsonding to my comment):
You obviously do not understand the difference in how the Kernel is inter-weaved within the Windows Desktop, as opposed to Linux/Unix/OS X, etc. Go read some whitepapers on kernel architecture. Of course, they could really be A**holes and force a Kernel panic, but I wouldn't think they would be that bold.
Besides, if I am not mistaken, the article suggest reboot, not just merely logging out.
And if you really want a password box to appear for a user on log out, that can be arranged. :-P
Anything else?
I still cannot remove some SPYWARE SONY installed on my computer when I made the mistake of purchasing a Music CD created from within the SONY SCAM TEAM (SONY MUSIC).
AVOID SONY CD'S!!!!!!!!!!!
AVOID STRARFORCE!!!!!!!!!!
They are stealing ALL of your personal information, and I'll be in the CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT building momentum now ....
SONY should be renamed "We're hackers too, Inc."
o0joshua0o ... you are very very naiave to trust a greedy corporation that would like to own you and your DNA ..
Where did they plant that CHIP in you?
If I install software with Starforce DRM, how will I know? Will Starforce's name come up somewhere and make me agree to what they're doing, or is there a watchlist somewhere that will tell me what software uses it?
Hmm. I feel a sudden urge to start pirating Starforce protected games. I don't know why but if they resort to such intrusive methods, people have to retaliate.
Alrighty, I weigh in on few topics here on Engadget (System fanboys, etc.) but this one really hit a sore spot with me.
Starforce, go to hell. If your worthless software ends up on my computer I will have to find a vunerability in your network. (As per Generals... "There is always a way in...")
When I buy a game I buy the game, not some bloody DRM from hell. You want to reset my computer... Go to hell.
I almost bought TOCA 3.... OMG. I feel noobish.
Alrighty Congressmen hear this! I propose to make it illegal for any software to install without having an uninstall program! (One that removes the WHOLE program thankyou.) This would make this whole thing moot. Make it a felony. Granted this won't stop Russians/etc. from doing it, but it is a start.
Bring that bill up and I'll vote for you, even if you eat babies.
In short, if I worked for starforce I wouldn't tell anyone about it. I've seen what happens to hackers at lan parties (Ever seen the insides of a gpu smashed against cement?) and I doubt that these people would receive treatment half as nice. I know if I met one in a bar they'd at the very least end up with a drink in their laps.
Thank god I decided TOCA 3 looked like a cheap GT ripoff and was probably more arcade than simulation. I don't like to have to break out the crowbar to get crud out of my computer, but hey, I imaged my disk I can take it.
No game is worth this. I hope game manufacturers realize this...
Ubisoft and Starforce have been in bed for awhile now. That's why I didn't buy Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones.
Boycott Starforce has a list of Starforce-protected games that seems to be updated often:
http://www.glop.org/starforce/
Also a handy forum...
And this sort of thing, dear PC games publishers, is why I do all my gaming on consoles now.
My copy of Half-Life 2 doesn't need to phone home before allowing me to play. Shame it doesn't manage to support multiplayer over Xbox Live, though :(
#27
Awesome, you use big words to skirt around that you didn't answer my question. So where can I find the password or authentication for when I want to restart the Mac that I'm on? Oh yea, there isn't any. Did you know you can run an applescript without any authentication that will logout the current user, guess not, you should go read more whitepapers.
tell application "System Events"
keystroke "q" using {command, shift down}
delay 0.5
keystroke return
end tell
^ must have missed that in the white paper
You guys need to check out the "LIST" so you know what to buy and what not to buy. Oh and this story is old. It got me fired up about two months ago when it first got some public attention and i read all about it, including the reboot issue.
http://www.glop.org/starforce/
I also have heard through very reliable sources that most employees of StarForce have illicit relations with animals.
For example, here's one of the common problems brought by Starforce: under Windows XP, if packets are lost during the reading or writing of a disk, XP interprets this as an error and steps the IDE speed down. Eventually it will revert to 16bit compatibility mode rendering a CD/DVD writer virtually unusable. In some circumstances certain drives cannot cope with this mode and it results in physical hardware failure (Most commonly in multiformat CD/DVD writer drives). A sure sign of this step down occurring is that the burn speeds will get slower and slower (no matter what speed you select to burn at). Starforce, on a regular basis, triggers this silent step down. Until it reaches the latter stages most people do not even realise it is happening.
Moreover, the Starforce drivers, installed on your system, grant ring 0 (system level) privileges to any code under the ring 3 (user level) privileges. Thus, any virus or trojan can get OS privileges and totally control your system. Since Windows 2000, the Windows line security and stability got enhanced by separating those privileges, but with the Starforce drivers, the old system holes and instabilities are back and any program (or virus) can reach the core of your system by using the Starforce drivers as a backdoor.
just to bring u guys ypto date *snickers
If I were feeling really nasty, I'd write a virus that specifically targets StarForce'd machines (it's relatively easy to use WMI/etc. to enumerate drivers, and I don't think you need admin to do that) and ioctls them into oblivion. This is very similar to what happened with Sony's rootkit; it wasn't long before there was a virus in circulation targeting it.
Fortunately, I'm in a good mood, and won't do it.
To Wrex: you fully misunderstand how Windows works. StarForce doesn't use any exploits or elevation in privileges to bork Windows. This is not a Windows vulnerability. The only "weakness" is the tendency of most users to run everything as administrator ("root" for you Unix people). Educating people to create a LUA account would go a long way towards ameliorating this; StarForce wouldn't even install since non-admin's can't install drivers.
Linux (and Mac, for that matter, since it's just Linux with a wood veneer) would be similarly borked if, in order to run a video game, you had to be root and the video game required installation of a kernel driver. Any operating system is vulnerable to this combination of poor user education and social engineering on the part of the malware company ("Click here to continue" when clicking is actually borking your computer...)
The only solution is an economic one: pirate all StarForce games and boycott/sue manufacturers like UbiSoft. Hit them in the pocketbook!