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gain the source-code

Cracks don't work like that. It's a process of "unwrapping" the encryption/obfuscation layer to get a raw exe dump, which usually won't run correctly due to broken PE header etc, fixing it up so that it does, then tracing and disabling the DRM routines themselves. The workflow involves a debugger (mostly) and other tools, not programming per se, although that may be involved (code ripping, scripting.)

As for the safety of the exe, obviously they would need to do testing but so long as they got an original scene release from a major group it's unheard of(?) for them to be malicious. Cracks downloaded from public tracker torrents are very frequently infected, to the point that downloading them is retarded (use gamecopyworld), but these have been infected after the fact by people looking for an easy way to build a botnet. Reliability would be the main concern, some DRM uses nasty tricks to subtly break cracked copies e.g. FADE. My favourite is Sonic Adventure 2 on the Dreamcast, if it detects a copied disc it works normally except that it loads the player character's model very slightly smaller. This is fine until the last level, when you can't quite jump far enough to cross a gap :^)

Possibly you are thinking about the FADE, used first in Operation Flashpoint.

http://www.gameburnworld.com/protections_fade.shtml (first link on Google)

Like most DRM, it apparently has been circumvented.

Some geek (and gamer!); I spit on your grave!

CD\DVD copy protection developed by Sony DADC. The newer versions of the 'protection' scheme try to restrict 1:1 copying. I couldn't find a reference to when it was first used, but archive.org provides a mirror of securerom.com since Oct 08, 1999, so this is hardly new technology.

Are you sure you are a gamer? Titles using SecuROM include: Armed Assault, Bioshock, Neverwinter Nights 2, C&C 3: Tiberium Wars, Tomb Raider Anniversary, Overlord, Hellgate: London, Spore (and the creature creator), Baldur's Gate II, Unreal Tournament 2003, Hitman 2, Roller Coaster Tycoon 2, Lord Of The Rings, and The Sims 2. That's just the tip of the iceberg! Granted, it is mainly used for Windows games but I was under the impression that some PS3 and XBOX360 titles implemented the system, aswell.

Luckily, there are a dedicated group of people constantly working to exterminate these nasty "copy-protection" mechanisms. ClonyXXL and Alcoholer are but two applications that will scan the game and set the correct settings in your burning software (CloneCD or Alcohol 120%). There are also a number of patches if you look around.

GameBurnWorld?

The thing that annoys me about the "rootkit" whiners is the fact that I never heard anyone complain about the several dozen previous games that used securom.

Here's a list of games that use various copy protection schemes: http://www.gameburnworld.com/protectedgameslist.sh tml

Here's a partial list of popular titles that used Securom:

Alien Vs Predator 2
Alone In The Dark-The New Nightmare
Alpha Centauri
Colin McRae Rally 2
Descent Freespace
Empire Earth
Gothic 2
Half-Life - Blueshift
Hitman 2
Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring
Masters Of Orion
Neverwinter Nights
Populous 3: The Beginning
Roller Coaster Tycoon 2
Sim City 3000
Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3
Tribes 2
Turok 2
Unreal 2 - The Awakening
Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament 2003 patches
Warcraft 3: Reign Of Chaos

I don't remember any big stories when any of these games used securom. I'm not saying it's right to use securom, I'm just pointing out how odd it is that people are complaining about Bioshock when I don't remember any of the games listed above making headlines on slashdot or digg when they used securom.

There are dozens of games that install the securom driver, I had it installed on my system (from another game) well before Bioshock was installed on my computer, and yet all the sudden people seem to care when Bioshock is released. It's rather unfortunate, since Bioshock is such a great game and it's getting all this negative press.

and no surprise, its again sony - nobody else.

Its still amazing that the tv people talked someone into thinking limited hardware was a good idea for their broadcast flag.

Its still amazing that the tv people talked someone into thinking limited hardware was a good idea for their broadcast flag.

here is list with some games and protections used.