Trackmania Nations - Contains Starforce protection and adware

[markb]

My apologies for posting this without a bit more research, I presumed (naively) that when download.com say they do not allow adware and spyware programs on their site it means exactly that.

Trackmania Nations installs the Starforce protection drivers and although I have been unable to find any myself there are quite a few reports that it installs adware as well.

I suggest anyone who wishes to download and install it bears this in mind.

[Howard_Casto]

It's been reported by AOTS that this release of trackmania contains spyware, and that is why it is free.  That is the real reason it keeps trying to dial out.

I can't confirm this though.

[SirPoonga]

Why does a free program have copy protection?

[Howard_Casto]

Because they are retarded?

Sorry I don't have an answer for that one. 

[markb]

The starforce drivers that trackmania installs are on a lot of commercial software as well and remain on your system even after the game is un-installed. They prevent or at least make very difficult the use of pirated software, backed up software or no cd cracks. From what I understand they are similar in nature to Sony root kit that stirred up a hornets nest a short while back and hide themselves somewhere that can only be seen by viewing the hidden devices in the device manager. I guess that by installing these on freely available software Nadeo hope to prevent the piracy of commercial software.
Regardless of the piracy issue I do not like software installed on my pc that I didn't deliberately put there and is very difficult to remove.

[mahuti]

lame. off with their heads.

[Howard_Casto]

If someone wants to get me a list of the files/devices/ect it installs (or a link to such data)  I can probably write a remove utility.  It's a shame because trackmania is such a good series. 

[TOK]

If someone wants to get me a list of the files/devices/ect it installs (or a link to such data)  I can probably write a remove utility.  It's a shame because trackmania is such a good series. 

You don't need to, Starforce themselves has been pressured to create a removal tool.
http://www.star-force.com/protection.phtml?c=91

I found out about this when I installed the regular Trackmania demos based on a recommendation here. About 75% of the time my computer came out of standby, I had an error message saying a program had performed an illegal operation and crashed. I found the file was in my burning software, and also explained why I was burning occasional coasters after never having a problem burning CD's or DVD's. No more Starforce for me. What I really don't get is why a company put copy protection in a demo?

If there is a crack out for a game you have purchased, there is a way around Starforce. Install the game and install the crack BEFORE restarting. Starforce games prompt you to restart after install, and that is when the Starforce drivers are activated.

[APFelon]

SOme demos include Star Force protection in order to protect the code of the retail game, believe it or not. As I understand it, if a company releases a demo of a retail game and then releases the retail game, the demo can be used by cracking groups as a reference. Star Forcing the demos removes that "leg up" that the cracking groups have.

Make no bones about it, Star Force bites the hairy one. If anyone knows of a website that has a current and complete list of Star Force protected games and demos, I'd like to bookmark it. I don't pay retail for scumware or malware.

APf

[TOK]

Not sure how frequently it's updated...
http://www.glop.org/starforce/#games

[Grasshopper]

What a disgrace. I never cease to be amazed by the arrogance of some companies. Installing software without the user's consent is actually now illegal here in the UK since the Computer Misuse Act came into force.

If the bad publicity doesn't kill them then I hope they get sued out of existence. Same applies to Sony with their DRM rootkit.

Having said that Micro$oft should shoulder some of the blame for not taking Windows' security seriously enough. It simply shouldn't be possible for a program to silently insert these types of hooks into the OS.

[markb]

Unfortunately if you want to play the games you have to install starforce drivers and they are covered in the EULA as far as I know. By agreeing to the EULA you have therefore have given consent (for what its worth).

[Howard_Casto]

Having said that Micro$oft should shoulder some of the blame for not taking Windows' security seriously enough. It simply shouldn't be possible for a program to silently insert these types of hooks into the OS.

Stop blaming m$, this isn't their fault.  There aren't any hooks invloved... the install program for the demo simply doesn't tell you what it is installing. 

Regarding hooks, if they weren't available, 90% of the wrappers, no cd hacks and misc utilites out there wouldn't work, so I think I'd shut up about them. 

[Ahigh]

.

[pointdablame]

lame. off with their heads.

Great contribution there wonder boy.  At least you got an increment on your post count.  That'll impress the ladies!

Pot... meet kettle

[Grasshopper]

I thought I'd resurrect this old thread as I've just got hold of a copy of Trackmania Nations (came free with a magazine) and I'm wondering whether to risk installing it.

I've just looked through the very long EULA and there is no mention of Starforce although Ad-Ware is mentioned. Does anyone here know whether this has always been the case, or whether the publishers have now bowed to pressure, removed the Starforce protection, and changed the EULA accordingly?

[Howard_Casto]

It's always had spyware and probably always will.  That's why it's "free".  A simple case of getting what you pay for.  Trackmania nations is a great game, and the spyware can be removed with a tool, but it must be installed for the game to work.  As much as a love the game I won't be running it simply as a matter of principal. 

[rant]
On a side note, apparently the mameworld genuises don't frequent our forums, or the internet for that matter (as the spyware thing in trackmania was a farily big story everywhere).  They recently posted it on the mameworld news, which I find doubly funny, considering not only did they not know about the spyware, but they posted a glowing review of the now, 4 month old game they "just discovered". 
[/rant]