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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)
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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]
Yes, there are dangers in downloading software of unknown origin onto your computer (mac or pc). Torrents of popular software are often simply viruses with enticing file names.
I would simply avoid the issue entirely. Lightroom isn't all that expensive, and PS is more than 95% of us actually need.
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Originally Posted by barba
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"]This is quite the statement and speaking from significant experience completely over blown and inaccurate - torrents are viruses...right . If you know what you are doing and get the torrent from a site that posts comments about the torrent you should have no problems... If you don't know what you are doing then it’s your own fault IMO. That who these "hackers" pray on, the uninformed.<o:p></o:p>
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Originally Posted by barba
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<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;"]Lightroom is a great piece of software but isn’t 95% of what I use…<o:p></o:p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;"]<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;"]I have been downloading software for years and never had a problem as I put a little effort into finding and using a reputable site and read the feedback from others who have already installed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"] I have no problem with this as I am not making money form the software… come the days I get paid for this I will gladly buy the software.<o:p></o:p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;"]MattG
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I agree with you Matt that the danger is with the user, but I don't think we should encourage people into downloading and so illegal activities.
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Originally Posted by MattG
Sorry, but I'm with Jan on this one. Do you make money from your 7D and your lenses? How about your television? How much money do you make from the food you have in your refrigerator? By your logic, you would 'have no problem' walking into a store wearing a ski mask, grabbing any or all of those items, and running out with them. Theft is theft.
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"]I know but it's a grey area to me... [:D]<o:p></o:p>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"]Adobe was built on free software... They flooded the market with the PDF reader and now it’s the most widely used document format in the world. The only reason their software (CS5, photoshop, Flash, etc) became so dominating is that everyyou kidhad a copy and it became the norm when these kids grew up – anyone remember Macromedia??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"] They were one of the first highly pirated “victums” and they sold to Adobe for millions. If we all had to pay for the software it would have gone no where...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"] I say you pay for it if you are getting paid for it.<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"]<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"]But don’t steal it’s wrong![:|]<o:p></o:p>
MattG
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Originally Posted by MattG
Nicely said [A]