ICQ downloads ya software registry??!! (pirate software!!)

[old.rockhard]

Just thought all you icq users out there might be interested in my chat i had with me mates the other day:-

"IF" ya have pirate software on your pc and you have icq.....
when icq brings out new version it "COULD" check and download copy of your registry when it notifys you of new version couldnt it?!!!!!
what ya reckon!
they "COULD" pass this info on if they wanted couldnt they?
hehe
me got fix for tho "IF" you do have!

select START/RUN........
clear box
and type in REGEDIT and OK
you done that?
right, expand directory for HKEY_CURRENT_USER
ok?
Then expand directory for SOFTWARE
expand directory for MIRABILIS
then ICQ
click on DEFAULT PREFS
you should see a line that says
AUTO UPDATE "YES"
righty
can you hold on a min.....
highlight AUTO UPDATE
click on EDIT and MODIFY
then change YES to NO
ok it and exit regedit and all done!
ok?
[PYRO]rockhard points finger at you, scolding you for your actions


Found out whilst browsing sites from altavista. Cant remember where i saw it but would be interested to hear from anyone else who has seen same/similar as i find it hard to beleive, and if they do, why would they have the right to do this without asking your permission first!.
With it being stated on various sites that 25%ish of all software people install on their pc?? is pirate reckon this should be of interest to quite a few people (hehe).


regards,

rockhard

 

[old.FingerMagnet]

Hmmm, that sounds like it could cause some people problems. However pirate software is naughty and no decent person should have any on their computer

I'm fairly sure that the amount of pirate software on the average home PC a heck of alot more than 25% More like 90%, thats not indicative of my own situation you understand. Oh dear, I think I can hear FAST knocking at my door....

 

[old.rockhard]

not to worry m8,

reckon software industry must be in a tolerant mood with home users at the mo as they COULD do somet about it if they wanted.
The task would be so massive in taking people to court that it would probably cost more to do than what they would get in compensation from prosecutions.
Not only that but theyre doin ok profit wise at the mo arent they?
Doesnt make sense to try and alienate your customers does it? Anyway if people do have pirate software I am sure they also buy some software through the year so they arent loosing out all together!


rockhard

 

[Rup]

I'm not on the ICQ hacking mailing list, but I do run ISpyU which captures ICQ traffic (for protocol analysis). Whilst I'm no expert (and there are a few unknown fields in certain packets), I can explain 99% of what ICQ transmits to the server.

ICQ has never automatically updated itself for me, but it has notified me of a newer version for download and offered to send me to the webpage. I think one of the unknown fields in the login packet is probably a version number, but I haven't stamped the ICQ ver on my packet logs so I can't be 100%.

I realise there will always be code-trust paranoia (and it's probably not unhealthy to have one), but there are hundreds of programs you use that could transmit information behind your back. To the best of my knowledge, ICQ has very little opportunity to transmit data which the hacking experts cannot explain.

Rup.

 

[old.FingerMagnet]

Thanks m8! Does that mean I can stop hiding behind the sofa in the dark (trying to pretend not to be in). Hopefully now I can sleep safely at night again!

 

[old.=DI=Penry]

There's already ICQ exploits out there - if you're using 99a - under certain conditions anyone could download your registry (or anything else) if they wanted too !

Well they are owned by AOL after all !!!

 

[old.Gupt_007]

Where exactly are these exploits available?
I'd be interested in getting/testing it out!!

Bwahaha...who's that knocking on your door??

 

[old.Fra]

http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/funky_fred/icq.html
take alook
(cant be asred trying to remember what the ubb codes for html are...so u just gonna have to type

)
eh...it done it anyway

So I can

[This message has been edited by Fra (edited 13 July 1999).]

 

[old.s@xon]

Just a quick note to those who edit their posts.

If you have to edit more than once you can delete the previous 'this message has been edited....' text each time you edit

 

[old.Goldy]

Correct me if I'm wrong (I usually am)

But under current UK data protecttion legslation it is illegal to gather date in this way without notifying, and receiveing your authority to do so.
Now whilst it might be illegal, I'd hedge a bet that they'd do it if they could/are doing it now, but it just means they cannot directly act on this information gathered.


So what we all need is a pirate copy of soem program called F**k you aol

 

[old.=DI=Penry]

Sorry Goldy - It's quite the opposite! - by that i mean LEGAL !
There's exemptions from the UK data Protection Legislation for this type of thing, brought in in the 1998 act !

You are allowed to obtain any information by any means IF it was necessary for "Detecting" crime !!

see section 55 of Data Protection Act 1998

So basically you are allowed to rip off any files from anyone's machine (but only if it shows them to be a criminal !!!)

This is tha Law, and the law is an ass !

 

[old.=DI=Penry]

and another thing !

i quote form the reference above

"that in the particular circumstances the obtaining, disclosing or procuring was justified as being in the public interest."

So you can also rip any info if it makes Tabloid fodder !!!

Hummmm !

 

[old.Goldy]

Thanx for the clarification, seems I'm outa date as always.

Now where I hide that delete key