4 ms·

Except now you probably installed malicious code on your system.

by daenz 4y ago

cyanydeez 4y ago
More than often, not.
- daenz 4y ago
  I dug around a little bit and couldn't find a source supporting either of our claims. I did find verified examples of crypto miners in cracked software[0]. I think the threat landscape for cracks has probably changed with the rise of crypto mining. 0. https://decoded.avast.io/danielbenes/crackonosh-a-new-malware-distributed-in-cracked-software/ https://decoded.avast.io/danielbenes/crackonosh-a-new-malwar...
  - userbinator 4y ago
    That's "precracked" software, which is big enough to disguise the presence of malware. I was talking more about patches/keygens to be applied, which are relatively tiny compared to a cryptominer (and, although I'm not sure about recent times since I've been out of the scene for over a decade, crackers used to be quite skilled and proud of making their releases tiny.)
    - jjeaff 4y ago
      There are plenty of trusted places that you can get clean cracks and keygens that have been thoroughly tested. That being said, a small file size doesn't mean anything in the case of most cracks/keygens because you have to give them admin access to your system. Which means it can download and install anything it wants in the background.
  - vbezhenar 4y ago
    It is possible. But there are respectable websites with cracked software which generally does not allow for malware. If you would be a little bit picky and careful, the chances are not that high.
mindslight 4y ago
First, the whole purpose of a crack is to remove malicious code. So you're likely coming out ahead. Second, you shouldn't be running any proprietary binaries unsandboxed with Internet access. My standard use of Windows is to install a fresh VM, install whatever software(s) I want, kill all network access but for my local Samba server, and then do my work. Lack of updates that pull the rug out from under me is a feature, and when there are features I want it's easy enough to repeat the installation process while watching TV or whatever.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

Except now you probably installed malicious code on your system.

by daenz 4y ago

Except now you probably installed malicious code on your system.

cyanydeez 4y ago

More than often, not.

daenz 4y ago
I dug around a little bit and couldn't find a source supporting either of our claims. I did find verified examples of crypto miners in cracked software[0]. I think the threat landscape for cracks has probably changed with the rise of crypto mining. 0. https://decoded.avast.io/danielbenes/crackonosh-a-new-malware-distributed-in-cracked-software/ https://decoded.avast.io/danielbenes/crackonosh-a-new-malwar...
- userbinator 4y ago
  That's "precracked" software, which is big enough to disguise the presence of malware. I was talking more about patches/keygens to be applied, which are relatively tiny compared to a cryptominer (and, although I'm not sure about recent times since I've been out of the scene for over a decade, crackers used to be quite skilled and proud of making their releases tiny.)
  - jjeaff 4y ago
    There are plenty of trusted places that you can get clean cracks and keygens that have been thoroughly tested. That being said, a small file size doesn't mean anything in the case of most cracks/keygens because you have to give them admin access to your system. Which means it can download and install anything it wants in the background.
- vbezhenar 4y ago
  It is possible. But there are respectable websites with cracked software which generally does not allow for malware. If you would be a little bit picky and careful, the chances are not that high.

mindslight 4y ago

First, the whole purpose of a crack is to remove malicious code. So you're likely coming out ahead. Second, you shouldn't be running any proprietary binaries unsandboxed with Internet access. My standard use of Windows is to install a fresh VM, install whatever software(s) I want, kill all network access but for my local Samba server, and then do my work. Lack of updates that pull the rug out from under me is a feature, and when there are features I want it's easy enough to repeat the installation process while watching TV or whatever.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]