Flight Sims Labs produces add-ons to the popular Flight Simulator product from Microsoft. In a recent DRM add-on, they shipped an executable test.exe that compares your serial number to see if it authentic. If the serial number is found to not be authentic, it extracts passwords stored in Chrome and sends it to them. I wouldn't be surprised if this is even sent as clear text as it is likely they have no concern for security in this situation.
If such a specific serial number is used by a pirate (a person who has illegally obtained our software) and the installer verifies this against the pirate serial numbers stored in our server database, it takes specific measures to alert us… That program is only extracted temporarily and is never under any circumstances used in legitimate copies of the product. The only reason why this file would be detected after the installation completes is only if it was used with a pirated serial number (not blacklisted numbers).
This method has already successfully provided information that we’re going to use in our ongoing legal battles against such criminals.
They argue that no legitimate user would be affected by this but fail to understand the significance of this. This act violates computer activity laws and should be punishable with jail time. It doesn't matter if a user stole a product or not, there is no guarantee the product is even stolen, many gamers use stolen copies of games they own because they are sick of using a cd, although in this case, I doubt that is an issue as it is an add-on product.
Even if stealing passwords from pirates was legal and even welcomed practice, the likelihood of sensitive information being stolen from innocent people is extremely high. Kids using their parent's computers or even a shared computer in a family's home.
This practice is illegal, immoral, and unethical regardless how justified they feel against a user stealing their product.
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This is why whenever a browsers asks me if I want to save my password I alway click no. I have played flightsim for a while. But luckily never bought any addons for it.
I have always hated that Chrome and other browsers store your website passwords completely unprotected and viewable to any one who goes into the setting of that browser. Now I hear this.
I am glad I store any sensitive passwords and accounts in a password manager. Even though I don't use pirated software, I had when I was younger and had no way to afford some applications that I needed.
I think this is complete over stepping and something needs to be done NOW! Just like with the investigation of Net Neutrality. This shit is getting crazy. We shouldnt have to worry about this kind of thing.
If you've set a master password the passwords are stored encrypted. At least Firefox handles that quite well.
Chrome has been a good browser for me but I'm glad I'm getting this information
Disturbing the amount of lengths these companies are going. And for what? The more you piss off and challenge these kinds of communities the more effort they will put into cracking digital products and releasing it that are produced by that company.
We just got wait for some politician kid to be effect by this that cross over into national security. Then there will be heads to roll over. Till then I doubt much will happen it will be business as usual.
Yes it is illegal to invade someones personal computer without notice because they use that medium to steal vital informations.
you can not trust these companies anymore, if you hold a lot of crypto is so risky.
Im looking forward buying a second laptop just for business/crypto. Thank you for announcing us!
This is why you should use a hardware wallet.
Still not perfect, but in 98% of the cases, it should be bulletproof.
I ve ordered my ledger nano S already!
Thank you for sharing. This is a good information to me and it may help me a lot.
This is so bad of these people. One cannot trust them plus we should clear our cache regularly.
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So, when someone shoplifts. The store owner can just go to the shoplifters house and copy all the keys.
Interesting fact, I didn't know that part of the law.
:)
Absolutely ridiculous isnt it?
extraordinary & exceptional!
hi @themarkymark,great post.So basically if you steal they're game they steal from you lol.Two wrongs don't make a right,I was always taught.That so typical of todays world.My upvote isn't worth much at the moment but resteemed
Oh yeah,Defo need to use a hardware wallet,much safer
good post
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Thank goodness I keep my stuff encrypted. Also people still use Chrome? =\ Wait people still use Google products at all that are neon haired toxic adult babies?
I'll stick with being in the Linux master race for now.
This is pretty shocking to say the least that this publisher thinks if people steal from them that they can steal from the people and it's right. Some companies put rfid tags on their products so that they can trace you back to your house and market to your area. I think that's a total violation of privacy as well but unless people stand up for this sort of thing its going to continue.
Hackers are really annoying, nice sharing and i will vote you as witness
You are abaolutely right, they should not steal passwords from users who don't pay for their product. After all, their product is just a game and in exchange for that, they could be stealing much more important data...
Yeah my friend! Nobody have the wrigth to do that! Beacuse our passwords belong to us! Not them!
They are crossing the líne with our privacy!!
Good post!
The only things I can Say is that bouth are wrong for stealing!! Nobody like to be steal
I find it rather amusing, that they think their method to test, whether or not their software is pirated on a certain machine is so very fail-proof, that they only hit pirates ...
In that regard, I really am on board with all that see this as an illegal move.
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Thanks
Well that what you get for buying from Microsoft.
But i really want to buy FS noen havnet played i for like 10 years. How good and comøiter do you neeneed ro play it?
Gonna buy a used gaming pc soon oiguess.
your very good.