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Anyone know of any viruses or other issues steming from hacked CS5, Lightroom, etc. software?
No, I'm not a hacker and I dont have any viruses on my Mac [A].... just courious about the issue because of others problems .... and rumors abound.
Thanks for any info. you can provide.
There are always risks involved in downloading hacks/cracks. I'm unaware of anything specific, but as it's a very popular program, I'm sure it's been targeted by those wanting to do harm to your computer. Download at your own risk.
Well, I am aware that there was a trojan packaged into pirated versions of CS4 for the Mac. Mac OS X is a pretty secure platform thanks to the Unix kernal, but nothing's proof against wetware (i.e. human) foolishness, and for some the high cost of Adobe CS vs. the availability of a free torrent download was just too much temptation.
Those are pretty much my assumptions also. Thanks.
Any input on the problems at hand if the trojanor other virus's did infiltrate the Mac/Windows platform?Are the bugs all that difficult to deal with? Canthey be removed? How much of a pain in the arse is it to remove them?
The ones I'm aware of aren't destructive (directly), and are easily removed by AV software. System damage isn't the risk - they are a security hole. They install themselves with root privileges, then phone home like E.T. (i.e. initiate a connection to a remote server). That server can take control of your computer, install additional items, and access information. So, you download the torrent, install the software, then smack your head and say whoops, and download the free "iServices Trojan Removal Tool" and run it, the trojan is gone, and your computer is healthy.
Except that during the brief period while the trojan was active, financial records like your TurboTax return were accessed and transferred (yes, I know, you used the password protection option when saving the file, but that password was also stored in your keychain, and you're logged in so your keychain is unlocked, so the file is accessible). That breach provided everything needed for a complete identity theft, and your information was sold to people who make their living from such things, and you now have to spend months trying not to be forced to pay fraudulent charges and getting your credit history repaired, leaving little time to take pictures, much less edit them with your "free" software.
while possible i'd say that isratherunlikely...
I might add that while I pirate like blackbeard.. I never try to steal adobe products...
Running a good malware checker should give reasonable assurance that the system is clean. There is never a guarantee though.
When running hacked software, you are throwing the door to your pc wide open, and there is getting to be more and more very nasty malware that is very good at detecting that you are looking for it and hiding. As soon as a new villian is discovered, removal kits are published, so a person running hacked software should be constantly updating and running malware removal tools.
I must say that if you know what you are doing, the risk of malware and viruses is decreased enormously. Don't visit risky sites and check the validation of downloads and commentary. But if you just search google on "download CS5 free" you're asking for trouble. Anyway I won't encourage anyone to download pirated versions, but if you know what you're doing the risks are far from great. If you have the opportunity, buy original software, it will pay off in the end. (physically and psychologically)
Quote:
Originally Posted by scalesusa
The risk of getting windows infected by gaps in the original windows software is pretty much as big as the risk of downloading malicious software. They don't put out security updates for nothing each month [A]
Oh yeah, pop-ups like "your pc is infected, click here for the cure" or "this is no joke, you won 10.000$" are mostly malicious as well and they are often the biggest jokes available [;)] Don't trust <s>anything</s> everything they say on the internet.
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Originally Posted by Sheiky
Except you. We trust you, Jan. [:D]
Haha! Arggg... that must have been "everything they say"...dang [:P]
But thanks [:D]