20,000 Steam Accounts Disabled

The Steam Users Forums (thanks Shacknews) announces that Valve called shenanigans on approximately 20,000 Steam user accounts yesterday, and has disabled access to them. Word is: "The method used was extremely easy for Valve to trace and confirm, and so there is no question that the accounts disabled were used to try and illegally obtain Half-Life 2." The post goes on to describe the circumstances under which Steam accounts will be revoked, as well as avenues to follow should you feel your account was banned erroneously. They also go on to debunk what has become the popular myth that they released a bug to the warez circuit to entrap pirates:
Valve did not put out any kind of fake key or fake warez or hack instructions to trap people. The hack came from the "community" as do they all.
View : : :
232 Replies. 12 pages. Viewing page 11.
Newer [  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  ] Older
32.
 
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...
Nov 23, 2004, 16:07
32.
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... Nov 23, 2004, 16:07
Nov 23, 2004, 16:07
 
There was a method of preloading the content, then authorizing it with a key that was given out on the internet, and then disconnecting your modem when it was only half done authorizing, then the game would work. Obviously this method connected your steam account with the warez cdkey. This doesnt bother anyone of the versions that used the steam emulator or just removed steam.

I had heard that there were versions that didn't require steam out there. It would make sense that these people weren't affected, since it was no longer able to change their content remotely via steam.

What I didn't realize was that there were 20,000 people that not only pirated HL2, but used Valve's own bandwidth to download the game! Wow.

This comment was edited on Nov 23, 16:09.
31.
 
Re: Here's how it will play out...
Nov 23, 2004, 16:04
31.
Re: Here's how it will play out... Nov 23, 2004, 16:04
Nov 23, 2004, 16:04
 
Pisses me off that Valves fight to stop the Piraters could very easily carry over and hit us good folks by closing down our steam accounts, making our shiny new copy of HL2 look like a coaster.
It really shouldn't. So far it's obviously working much better than the publisher schemes that are ALWAYS screwing over EVERYONE.
It's not like this practice is new or anything.

This whole steam experiment doesn't sit right. Too much control to Valve.
You would rather have more power in the hands of Vivendi, who is notorious for screwing over gamers?

Notice that Day of Defeat Source game... you can pre purchase it... Gabe, "We can make users pay to play mods on our steam network!!!!"
Day of Defeat is being professionally redone. Hence why it isn't done yet. In my opinion, paying $60 and getting HL2, HL:S, CS:S, and DoD:S (four full games), is a fucking great deal.
Xombie x0mbie x0mb|e Xombie
30.
 
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...
Nov 23, 2004, 16:04
30.
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... Nov 23, 2004, 16:04
Nov 23, 2004, 16:04
 
WANKER. You obviously don't live in an area with no work, a games costs 50% of welfare for the week (which most people are on) trying desperatly to bring up three kids.

NEVER wonder how hard money is for some people because you don't wanna know!

PS Yes we did buy it but we couldn't afford it.

First, let me say I watched a friend's entire family go completely broke and bankrupt. My friend (who was still in High School at the time) was royally screwed. There was a massive health issue with one of them, both parents had lost their job a year beofre, and they didn't have health insurance. They're still in heavy debt today. So yes, I can understand how finances can go down to toilet very quickly.

That being said, if a person has a gaming rig capable of playing Half-Life 2, then how can said person not be able to afford it. Then again, how can a person in the situation described be able to afford a gameworthy PC unless it was donated or it fell off the back of the truck.

While I sympathize with those in financial ruin, most of the people that pirate video games are not "poor" by any stretch of the imagination.

Many are spoiled kids (highschoolers) who don't work after school and want to play on that new computer mommy and daddy bought for them for no apparent reason. I knew way too many of these spoiled brats back then.

Lots are college students that pirate because it's SO easy for them (files are all over their dorm network) or because they've spent all of their money on beer, books, and bit---blondes :).

Then, you have the deviants that do it to "stick it to the man." They justify it by some over-liberal reason like "all software should be freeeee, maannnn."


I have a hard time believing that even 1 of those users that got kicked were in the situation you noted.



"Space. It seems to go on and on forever. But then you get to the end and a gorilla starts throwing barrels at you."
-Fry, Futurmama
This comment was edited on Nov 23, 16:14.
"Space. It seems to go on and on forever. But then you get to the end and a gorilla starts throwing barrels at you."
-Fry, Futurama
29.
 
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...
Nov 23, 2004, 16:00
Cy
29.
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... Nov 23, 2004, 16:00
Nov 23, 2004, 16:00
Cy
 
I'm trying to understand how a person with 3 kids on welfare would even consider purchasing Half Life 2. I would assume he was referring to the droves of people who obviously CAN afford the game but choose to warez it.

Actually it came down to a straight choice between walking the 6 mile roundtrip to my latest centre every day and claiming the fares anyway or buying HL2!

28.
 
Wondering....
Nov 23, 2004, 15:58
28.
Wondering.... Nov 23, 2004, 15:58
Nov 23, 2004, 15:58
 
How this affects the legality of Steam checking your pc for software. Depends on how they did it I guess.

But, on a different note. If someone's account gets disabled, can't they just turn around and buy the silver or gold package and get everything back? (since you get the back catalog)

/edit: spell silver correctly this time.

This comment was edited on Nov 23, 16:00.
27.
 
Re: Here's how it will play out...
Nov 23, 2004, 15:55
27.
Re: Here's how it will play out... Nov 23, 2004, 15:55
Nov 23, 2004, 15:55
 
Hmm, am I the only one that can care less if steam is abused and HL2 is "stolen"?

Pisses me off that Valves fight to stop the Piraters could very easily carry over and hit us good folks by closing down our steam accounts, making our shiny new copy of HL2 look like a coaster.

This whole steam experiment doesn't sit right. Too much control to Valve. I'm expecting this to really become insulting when mods start coming out for HL2 and if you want to play you have to pay a one time fee so that steam will run it for you. Notice that Day of Defeat Source game... you can pre purchase it... Gabe, "We can make users pay to play mods on our steam network!!!!"

26.
 
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...
Nov 23, 2004, 15:52
26.
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... Nov 23, 2004, 15:52
Nov 23, 2004, 15:52
 
You obviously don't live in an area with no work, a games costs 50% of welfare for the week (which most people are on) trying desperatly to bring up three kids.

I'm trying to understand how a person with 3 kids on welfare would even consider purchasing Half Life 2. I would assume he was referring to the droves of people who obviously CAN afford the game but choose to warez it.

Spread the O&A Virus on XM Radio!
http://www.opieandanthony.com
http://www.xmradio.com
Spread the O&A Virus on XM Radio Channel 202
http://www.opieandanthony.com
http://www.xmradio.com
25.
 
So how exactly did they do it?
Nov 23, 2004, 15:52
25.
So how exactly did they do it? Nov 23, 2004, 15:52
Nov 23, 2004, 15:52
 
Steam forums are down, probably overloaded at this point.

So someone explain exactly how Valve did it.

24.
 
Re: Here's how it will play out...
Nov 23, 2004, 15:43
24.
Re: Here's how it will play out... Nov 23, 2004, 15:43
Nov 23, 2004, 15:43
 
Tons of people will bitch and flame about how evil steam is and how you don't actually own it. How the you might not even be able to play the game in a few years if Valve folds or something. There will be a ton of valid points made, many of which I agree with.
I personally believe that it's bound to eventually end up on value shelves in a few years, in a version that won't require Steam authentication. This is one of the reasons why I'm not worried at all about not having a hardcopy at the moment.
Xombie x0mbie x0mb|e Xombie
23.
 
Steam makes piracy easier.
Nov 23, 2004, 15:41
23.
Steam makes piracy easier. Nov 23, 2004, 15:41
Nov 23, 2004, 15:41
 
The cracked Steam version of HL2 I played worked just fine. It was much easier to get running properly than anything I've pirated in years. Unzip to directory and play. No serials, cracks or ISO files to burn. When I got bored of the game after a few hours of play, since it's not half the game Halo 2 is, I simply erased the directory. So Steam actually makes piracy more convenient. Thanks Valve!

22.
 
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...
Nov 23, 2004, 15:41
Cy
22.
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... Nov 23, 2004, 15:41
Nov 23, 2004, 15:41
Cy
 
Having paid for two copies; wondering how hard it is to pay for just one,
Ray H

WANKER. You obviously don't live in an area with no work, a games costs 50% of welfare for the week (which most people are on) trying desperatly to bring up three kids.

NEVER wonder how hard money is for some people because you don't wanna know!

PS Yes we did buy it but we couldn't afford it.

21.
 
Re: Here's how it will play out...
Nov 23, 2004, 15:33
21.
Re: Here's how it will play out... Nov 23, 2004, 15:33
Nov 23, 2004, 15:33
 
Yar, if was an evil hacker I'd have cracked HL2 so that I didn't need steam at all... has this not happened?

I have a friend who gets everything warezed before I generally get my legit copies and gloats over how ace a game is... Oh what fun I'm having over spoiling HL2 for him, so much so he's going out to buy it

Oh and the steam forums are a poster child for eugenics... best avoided.

20.
 
Re: Lol
Nov 23, 2004, 15:26
20.
Re: Lol Nov 23, 2004, 15:26
Nov 23, 2004, 15:26
 
There was a method of preloading the content, then authorizing it with a key that was given out on the internet, and then disconnecting your modem when it was only half done authorizing, then the game would work. Obviously this method connected your steam account with the warez cdkey.
This doesnt bother anyone of the versions that used the steam emulator or just removed steam.


19.
 
Here's how it will play out...
Nov 23, 2004, 15:25
19.
Here's how it will play out... Nov 23, 2004, 15:25
Nov 23, 2004, 15:25
 
Here's how it will play out...

Tons of people will bitch and flame about how evil steam is and how you don't actually own it. How the you might not even be able to play the game in a few years if Valve folds or something. There will be a ton of valid points made, many of which I agree with.

Others will argue about how it's the future and how easy it was to use and you shouldn't steal. Shame on you.

Me? In ten years, I'll look back with fond memories of the game. If we're unable to play it so be it... At that point I probably will be able to track down a crack for it. Who knows? What I do know is that I like Valve's games, and whatever they do next I will most likely purchase through Steam. Especially if games so good can only be played through it.

Cheers.


18.
 
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...
Nov 23, 2004, 15:23
18.
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... Nov 23, 2004, 15:23
Nov 23, 2004, 15:23
 

Good for Valve. As long as innocent accounts aren't swept up in this type of mass banning, I have no problems with it.

Impossible, someone is bound to get cut out accidently...

17.
 
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...
Nov 23, 2004, 15:23
17.
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... Nov 23, 2004, 15:23
Nov 23, 2004, 15:23
 
edit: nevermind
This comment was edited on Nov 23, 15:25.
Xombie x0mbie x0mb|e Xombie
16.
 
Crap crack?
Nov 23, 2004, 15:22
16.
Crap crack? Nov 23, 2004, 15:22
Nov 23, 2004, 15:22
 
I thought the hookey HL2 was cracked in such a way as to allow people to play without using steam or having to type in any codes at all.

If thats not the case, then I give the hax0rz about 20 minutes before they manage it.

15.
 
Re: Lol
Nov 23, 2004, 15:21
nin
15.
Re: Lol Nov 23, 2004, 15:21
Nov 23, 2004, 15:21
nin
 
What's awesome is that it's protection scheme has worked better than any publisher's ever has.

True. And no damn cd in the drive, if you bought it off Steam...

http://tds.nin.com/
14.
 
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...
Nov 23, 2004, 15:20
nin
14.
Re: AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... Nov 23, 2004, 15:20
Nov 23, 2004, 15:20
nin
 

Good for Valve. As long as innocent accounts aren't swept up in this type of mass banning, I have no problems with it.

http://tds.nin.com/
13.
 
Re: Lol
Nov 23, 2004, 15:19
13.
Re: Lol Nov 23, 2004, 15:19
Nov 23, 2004, 15:19
 
So, I guess you should find a new sig?

Never said I had any problems. Preloaded HL2 before it was released, unlocked it morning of its release and took my about 10 minutes. Have been playing the game ever since - in between study time, of course

And just because Valve laid the smack down does not mean it is over. I usre those warez kiddies will find some other way to get around Steam. Steam just makes things harder, and there is nothing a hacker likes more than a challenge.

You cannot make anything fool-proof. The fools are too inventive
You cannot make anything fool-proof. The fools are too inventive

GW: Tr Gandhi (Ra), Shiva Sung (Mo), Mangal Pandey (Ne), Rana Pratap Singh (Wa), Boddhi Satwa (Ri), Bhagat Singh (De), Bahadur Shastri (Pa)
Avatar 11944
232 Replies. 12 pages. Viewing page 11.
Newer [  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  ] Older