Does Stardock do anything to protect its products?

from WinCustomize Forums
Just out of curiosity does Stardock have any kind of division to check the web for crackers who spread their programs freely? Out of a simple Google search i found a load of forums and personal pages or even upload hosts like Rapidshare and Megaupload. One of them was just too impressive! It even had links to download all the premium skins and suites offered here and at other sites! And another weird thing is that most links direct to domains starting with www.stardock.com! This is just too weird or an inside job! DON'T SUPPORT PIRACY. IF YOU LIKE THESE PROGRAMS SO MUCH BUY THEM. AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU'LL FEEL ALOT BETTER. I just hope someone notices this and does something about it. I know piracy can bring a company to its knees and to see that happen to Stardock it's just sad.
7,008 views 18 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

A proggy's popularity and appeal is what makes it a target for warez/cracks/etc.

It's prominence is a testament to its popularity.

Koop is the person to contact if you find anything particularly of an issue....

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There really isn't anything to be done. Even big companies like Microsoft and Adobe have tons of pirated software and cracks all over the net. It's just part of running a popular software company.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So where's the incentive for someone to try and write software? If they don't give it away people will just steal it. The companies probably only make money from businees class customers. I bet what Stardock loses to piracy in a year amounts to a tidy sum. It's just that people that can't create, don't respect others creations. But, I agree with Adamness, not much they can do.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This is the first time I've seen a verification for WB 5. I'm no programmer, but it seems more difficult to crack something like this than just a simple activation by phone, as it requires an internet connection. I think if some other software companies only allowed activation via internet, there'd be a lot less cracked software to be had for nothing.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As far as Piracy goes - A new Activate.exe file was recently updated in build . 010 of WB5. Wonder what it was updated for
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think if some other software companies only allowed activation via internet, there'd be a lot less cracked software to be had for nothing.


But there are people who don't have Internet and buy their products from stores.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Software suffers from the same problem as music. All the locks and tricks in the book will only keep the honest people honest, and while better locks will keep the less motivated theifs from trying to steal something, there's nothing that can be done to keep the motivated people with nothing but time to kill from cracking just about anything. I think WB has taken a step forward in terms of the steps it takes to thwart the theives but it won't stop everyone.

As for the comment about software makers only making money off of Enterprise customers, that may be true to an extent, but what most software vendors are trying to do is start making money off of support. So, if someone doesn't buy the product that can't get support for it.

Oh and Cyber, I do agree with you and I think SD would be doing itself a favor if it let a few of the mods spend some time sending cease and desist orders to the hosting companies that are hosting the sites that offer these files. Again, it won't end the problem but it might make finding the actual fines more difficult. It might also help if SD added some credentials to the downloads from their servers.. As it is most of the files are available from various download servers that can be gotten to if you just know the URL.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
But look on the bright side, I'm sure that most Stardock users bought the software, or are at least using legitimate trial versions.

The only real way to be sure someone is using a legitimate version is probably an invasion of privacy and is illegal. The irony.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The only real way to be sure someone is using a legitimate version is probably an invasion of privacy and is illegal. The irony.


So true, funny and ironic.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I found a site recently, can't remember its name due to my non interest in its offerings, giving away or selling cheap cracks of Stardock WC content....some might want to bookmark a site like that, but I came back to Stardock and bought a few things just a couple of days ago. I got the Carbonix Suite; Apogee and Utopia cursor sets; OD Plus; Aquarium Addon Pack 1; the Desktop pet and Oxidized Suite.
Apart from a niggling little problem with Desktop Pet wantin' to hide in a cave some where on H:/ drive, instead of residing on my screen , I'm extremely happy with my purchases and feel much better about myself knowing that I obtained them legally, as I did Aquarium Desktop; Natural Desktop and the Unorthodox Skin Pack.
Last of the big spenders, hey....and I've still a few more purchases in mind. Apart from som more Desktop stuff, my wife has shown an interest in purchasing GamesNet and it looks to be next on the agenda, plus any additional games she may fancy.
The thing is Stardock makes some truly great stuff, and then we have skinners who produce great works to compliment the software, so why not do the decent and honest thing by purchasing it legitimately....and if ya' don't, I hope ya have nightmares fer theivin' it instead.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There is one site I am aware of..though I am wary about posting the link...that has way too many cracks for Stardock products. Currently , the most recent for WB is the 4.6 version.

I don't know if Stardock is aware of it or not. Would I post it in forum or email a link or what?
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
email
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
why not do the decent and honest thing by purchasing it legitimately....and if ya' don't, I hope ya have nightmares fer theivin' it instead.


In fact I hope they're contant, persistent and horrifying nightmares that make the fear of a lobotomy without anaesthetic seem quite tame in comparison.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
a lobotomy without anaesthetic


ouch, ouch, and ouch

Ouch

Skull 2
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Currently , the most recent for WB is the 4.6 version.


The one i found had all and i mean all SD Products!!! Even Multiplicity,DX Corporate,WB5, IP3.1 etc,as well as Premium Skins and Suites from WC, all Essorant Premium Suites, all Pixtudio suites,even Vladstudio suites,all IP Packages from D.Arnaez. It's getting creepy with it and dunno how many others are out there!
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The software I understand..I mean, that it can be hacked by downloading it and inserting whatever code or such to get the full version...but how can they hack the premium suites when you have to pay for them in order to download them at all? If the premium suites are just being offered in torrents and such, I get it, but otherwise...

The site I am talking about has nothing but cracks and key generators to download for anything and everything..including all Stardock software...but they all semm to be a version behind what is current...some of the wb cracks go back as far as v1 and v2.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
.but how can they hack the premium suites when you have to pay for them in order to download them at all?


Unless there is grand hole in SD Security (suspicions aroused due to fact that some of the dls go like www.storage.stardock.com/...) my guess is that someone just paid for them and now keeps sharing them via internet.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I found the same one, cyberworld. I was looking for the Altezza skin that I had seen once before, but couoldn't remember the site. Did a google and after several unsuccessful links found one that had just about everything you wanted from Stardock, Essorant, Vlad and others. However, the link that said "Altezza" was a Trillian version of the skin. I of emailing Vlad, went to his site but it was down for some reason. Finally I forgot all about it until this thread.

I am more concerned not with the skins, but with the software with registration keys that were on the list.