Removing starforce from your system

[aceflier]

Ok not knowing that the 1.1 demo included possible malware I installed it. I also now notice that starforce.exe starts up when I open the demo. I have since uninstalled the demo but starforce still is there. How do I remove this?

 

I suspect ED should have the answere. It's ED's product? Can't seem to find any documentation on how to remove this in the demo readme or even the fact that it was being installed. GG.

[VapoR]

I also would like to know how to uninstall it. It is not getting caught by my antivirus or my spyware removers . . .

[aceflier]

ugtraq id 11628

object

class Design Error

cve CVE-MAP-NOMATCH

 

remote No

local Yes

published Nov 08, 2004

updated Nov 08, 2004

vulnerable Starforce Software Protection Professional 3.0

 

Exploit-An exploit is available for this vulnerability. The integrity of this exploit is currently being verified by Symantec.

 

Solution-Currently we are not aware of any vendor-supplied patches for this issue.

 

:evil:

[yamangman]

There is a tool to remove it on the starforce website

[VapoR]

Can you give a link? I can't seem to find it anywhere on their site . . .

[Slamo]

Removal tool here:

 

http://www.onlinesecurity-on.com/search.phtml?searchstring=starforce%2Bremoval&search=+Find+&where=1&search=Find&art=

 

Also of interest...

 

"If the protected application requires a StarForce driver, this driver will be re-installed as soon as you launch the application again. For further help, please contact the helpdesk of the application publisher."

 

As much as I like the demo I will be uninstalling it and WILL NOT purchase Flaming Cliffs until this is resolved.

 

Slamo

[VapoR]

Ok the remover works well. I could put the remover on my desktop and run it each time after a 1.1 session, but it will reinstall everytime I load 1.1 back up. Problem is, you have to reboot each time.

 

Hell of a way to have to play a game!!

[earlybird]

It seems to me that for ED to install a program that not only failed to uninstall

but actually ran as a process on startup when the game is not running would be a gross betrayal of trust towards a group of users who are very supportive of the company. This would particularly be the case if a) this program is widely distrusted, rightly or wrongly b) it was installed secretively and c) many users would not have chosen to install it had they known.

 

Please, ED, tell me I have misunderstood what is going on here, because I really would rather not believe it!

 

Mike

[aceflier]

Removal tool here:

 

http://www.onlinesecurity-on.com/search.phtml?searchstring=starforce%2Bremoval&search=+Find+&where=1&search=Find&art=

 

Also of interest...

 

"If the protected application requires a StarForce driver, this driver will be re-installed as soon as you launch the application again. For further help, please contact the helpdesk of the application publisher."

 

As much as I like the demo I will be uninstalling it and WILL NOT purchase Flaming Cliffs until this is resolved.

 

Slamo

 

Cheers. Ditto.

[Jarhead]

Wow I read nothing in the readme about this, I just checked my registry and it appears i have some starforce apps installed. Thanks for telling us ED!

[Bug11]

It seems to me that for ED to install a program that not only failed to uninstall

but actually ran as a process on startup when the game is not running would be a gross betrayal of trust towards a group of users who are very supportive of the company. This would particularly be the case if a) this program is widely distrusted, rightly or wrongly b) it was installed secretively and c) many users would not have chosen to install it had they known.

 

Please, ED, tell me I have misunderstood what is going on here, because I really would rather not believe it!

 

Mike

 

If this is true ED have just lost not only my purchase but my respect, and any future purchases.

 

To bundle a questionable application without the user's express permission is unacceptable. It shows lack of respect and disregard on their part.

[PnHobbit]

It seems to me that for ED to install a program that not only failed to uninstall

but actually ran as a process on startup when the game is not running would be a gross betrayal of trust towards a group of users who are very supportive of the company. This would particularly be the case if a) this program is widely distrusted, rightly or wrongly b) it was installed secretively and c) many users would not have chosen to install it had they known.

 

Please, ED, tell me I have misunderstood what is going on here, because I really would rather not believe it!

 

Mike

 

If this is true ED have just lost not only my purchase but my respect, and any future purchases.

 

To bundle a questionable application without the user's express permission is unacceptable. It shows lack of respect and disregard on their part.

 

Starforce is not a questionable application. Many professionally created games use this system such at GTR, Colin Mcrae Rally 2005, and more. Starforce isn't some amateur toy, the only people who dislike it are the hackers because it forces them to take extra steps if they can even get around it such as pulling out their cd drive to play the pirated game and more.

[aceflier]

It seems to me that for ED to install a program that not only failed to uninstall

but actually ran as a process on startup when the game is not running would be a gross betrayal of trust towards a group of users who are very supportive of the company. This would particularly be the case if a) this program is widely distrusted, rightly or wrongly b) it was installed secretively and c) many users would not have chosen to install it had they known.

 

Please, ED, tell me I have misunderstood what is going on here, because I really would rather not believe it!

 

Mike

 

If this is true ED have just lost not only my purchase but my respect, and any future purchases.

 

To bundle a questionable application without the user's express permission is unacceptable. It shows lack of respect and disregard on their part.

 

Starforce is not a questionable application. Many professionally created games use this system such at GTR, Colin Mcrae Rally 2005, and more. Starforce isn't some amateur toy, the only people who dislike it are the hackers because it forces them to take extra steps if they can even get around it such as pulling out their cd drive to play the pirated game and more.

 

I play none of those games.

 

Are you that much of a fanboy? I bought 2 copies of original lockon to support this dev team and they turn around and put this crap on my PC without mentioninng it in the install. You need to wake up v1.xx of Starforce has a proven backdoor to it. What version is on your system?

[britgliderpilot]

You need to wake up v1.xx of Starforce has a proven backdoor to it. What version is on your system?

 

If no harm is done (which is probable), then I see no practical reason to stop supporting ED.

 

 

You guys seem to think that ED deliberately and maliciously installed software with flaws onto your systems . . . . I suggest that they used some anti-piracy software that had problems they did not know of. They made a mistake, we can do something about it, and from what I can see Starforce already know of the problem and are rectifying it for future versions.

 

So long as v1.1 has the later, holeproofed version, then what reason do we have to not buy it? You'll turn down an extensive new add-on to a flight sim because a hard-working dev team slipped up?

 

Sounds like a petty tantrum to me.

[Bungle_uk]

Well, I can see both sides to the argument. I can understand that ED need a good anti-piracy software system. I can also understand peoples concerns with the vulnerabilities of it. Personally, I see no problem with it IF the vulnerabilities with the starforce system are fixed by the time of release or shortly thereafter. However I think that IF ED new about the vulnerabilities of the starforce system within the demo then they should have put something in the demo readme file and/or the EULA.

Having said that I will probably buy the product anyway but that is my choice and I appreciate that everybody has different amounts of "Secure information" on there system

[Guest ruggbutt]

I appreciate that everybody has different amounts of "Secure information" on there system

 

"Secure information"=pr0n :D

[Starlight]

If no harm is done (which is probable), then I see no practical reason to stop supporting ED.

We should wait for somebody who wreak havoc on our PCs to say that this was not a good choice?

 

You guys seem to think that ED deliberately and maliciously installed software with flaws onto your systems . . . . I suggest that they used some anti-piracy software that had problems they did not know of. They made a mistake, we can do something about it, and from what I can see Starforce already know of the problem and are rectifying it for future versions.

It's the kind of system I don't like. Ok to copy protection, NO to activation and to similar things.

Then ED should have gathered info about this product before buying it for their game.

Starforce has plans to correct it. ok, plans... if they manage to do so... maybe they won't be able, or maybe they need another year.

The FACT is that the software supplied today IS flawed. Full stop!

And the other FACT is that no one told us that this software was being installed and could not be removed at least without using proper tools (not supplied)

 

So long as v1.1 has the later, holeproofed version, then what reason do we have to not buy it?

because it contains a flawed software.

and also because in many systems the 1.1 demo has showed bugs that affected earlier versions and that were already corrected with previous patches. And all of this happens after many months of delays and "checking and doublechecking" everything ;)

 

You'll turn down an extensive new add-on to a flight sim because a hard-working dev team slipped up?

It's a patch, with a new aircraft, but the sim basically it's the same.... you can prove by copying all the texture files from LockOn and you nearly have the full game.

 

Sounds like a petty tantrum to me.

I, and many people here, feel cheated by a company which we trusted and supported for many months, even when there was long time to wait.

[britgliderpilot]

It's the kind of system I don't like. Ok to copy protection, NO to activation and to similar things.

Then ED should have gathered info about this product before buying it for their game.

Starforce has plans to correct it. ok, plans... if they manage to do so... maybe they won't be able, or maybe they need another year.

The FACT is that the software supplied today IS flawed. Full stop!

And the other FACT is that no one told us that this software was being installed and could not be removed at least without using proper tools (not supplied)

 

Plans?

 

Re-read the details - Starforce has had the problems corrected in later versions, in an interview which is apparently six months old.

 

Yes, ED should have gathered information. Maybe they missed something. I don't know . . . . but you don't know either.

 

 

So long as v1.1 has the later, holeproofed version, then what reason do we have to not buy it?

because it contains a flawed software.

and also because in many systems the 1.1 demo has showed bugs that affected earlier versions and that were already corrected with previous patches. And all of this happens after many months of delays and "checking and doublechecking" everything ;)

 

Flawed software?

Original versions of Starforce were flawed. New versions have the original problems fixed. In my book, correcting flaws means that the software isn't flawed anymore.

 

It is extremely likely that the v1.1 demo is not the same build as the final release will be. You should know this . . . . .

The demo is to show off new features, not to be the be-all and end-all of v1.1 shiny technology.

 

 

You'll turn down an extensive new add-on to a flight sim because a hard-working dev team slipped up?

 

It's a patch, with a new aircraft, but the sim basically it's the same.... you can prove by copying all the texture files from LockOn and you nearly have the full game.

 

The new addon, Flaming Cliffs, is not a patch, and it contains more than a new aircraft. Primary combat roles in the Su27/Su33, MiG29 and Su25 are all very different with the changes made - BVR is entirely different, just flying the Su25 is a whole new challenge. I consider that an extensive add-on . . . . not a patch. For pilots of the Russian jets, the changes are enough that the sim is NOT the same . . . . .

 

If you're not a Russian jet pilot, then I'm afraid that's too bad. The Russians are paying and the Russians are developing . . . . and until some Westerners start giving ED money, you have no choice but to bite the bullet. That's the way it is.

[coldcrew]

no lomac for you, more lomac for me. Have fun playing 1.02

[Dmut]

no lomac for you, more lomac for me. Have fun playing 1.02

:D

good point coldcrew.

it's like it was in 1999 with "y2k" problem. it was a mass hystreria, but nothing happend on 01/01/2000 morning :)

[aceflier]

it's like it was in 1999 with "y2k" problem. it was a mass hystreria, but nothing happend on 01/01/2000 morning :)

 

ED might be saying the same thing come release day. :roll:

[Nomad]

bleh many ppl who whine about SF dont even have antiviruses or firewalls installed. funny eh.

[Guest ruggbutt]

bleh many ppl who whine about SF dont even have antiviruses or firewalls installed. funny eh.

 

And many do. You're quite uninformed.

[Nomad]

And many dont. Actually I am quite informed. Not sure about this particular thing though, but I remember that mass-hysteria when Steam was first released. And many ppl were talking about security/trojans/spyware bla bla etc. Valve was going to monitor their private lives and all those terrible things. So I asked around a bit, what type of protection they had from other similar things, and guess what... most of them had nothing.

Just trying to tell that people often do get over-excited about something like this, without actually thinking about it first. Just because its fun to write flame-posts on forums? :)

[Dmut]

it's like it was in 1999 with "y2k" problem. it was a mass hystreria, but nothing happend on 01/01/2000 morning :)

 

ED might be saying the same thing come release day. :roll:

Sorry, due to my "far-from-being-perfect" English I don't think I have fully understand your phrase. :?