Many reason not to touch warez

[Win_98]

They are illegal, they have virus, they are a diseases. They are not worth it in my opinion, everytime you download something you take a gamble of losing all your files on your computer. Is it worth it? definitely not. The warez people have the clean copy, they inject virus into them then they give them to you. They caterorized us as lamer because all we do is use them and all they do is crack them. I gotten major pain virus before and corrupted everything on my computer, costed me and arm and a leg in the process. As long as you dont touch them you are safe from virus, and if you do you better bet that you have backed up everything which is very time consuming. they will infect everything on your c,d,e,f etc so you tell me, how can you back up 40 gig etc would take forever wouldn't it?

[psyklone]

As long as you dont touch them you are safe from virus

this is not true. this is one way that some virii propagate, but it is not the only way. exercising caution when downloading ANYTHING from the web or running anything from floppies and in some cases cd's will drastically reduce the chances of infecting your machine ... but to insinuate that warez sites are the only place that will infect your machine is misinformation.

[bkehoe]

Hmm, the luvbug, KAK, e.t.c. come to mind as virus' that anyone got. Happy99 also.

Didn't IBM make a few thousand PCs with a virus? Hah, Microsoft is the virus. ;
)

Brendan

[voogru]

I dont even bother searching for warez because of the bad ads if you know what i mean.

Id rather go out and buy the full version and protect my Innocent eyes http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Plus you usally get extras like editors and stuff like that.

voogru

[NDC]

Yeah, I just don't like to download from Warez and have to run the crack file and guess if it's going to even run. I like to have full retail versions of the application. Collecting CD's is another one of my hobbies, I have over 300 full retail CD's. Although some applications are hella over-priced! LOL http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[bulb]

I have been downloading warez for years, and have yet to be infected by one, I keep my virus patterns updated and scan everything I download. Of course, my computer is not much to look at, just a p166 grinding away @200 with parts that have been given to me, so I'm not too worried about getting a virus. But if it wern't for warez and cracks, I wouldn't even have an os. I sure as hell am not about to pay $90 for a program that doesn't even work. Anywho, you know what they say, opinions are like a certain bodily oriface....everybody has one.


-m@

[BBA]

Heck...I got a virus just trying to get a serial number for a legitimate program I only had the actual cd for...

I think warez are pretty risky if they even do work. Legality aside, too many sex banners pop up if you don't know the 'secret' way in.

And for warez legality in general, the software companies would like to shutdown the sites and illegal distribution rings, but they know it's a losing battle they just have to fight.

In concerns to me, I see the virus as a bigger threat than lawyers.

Still cant argue this point: You really should pay for software you have.

[NDC]

Most of the Warez sites are sponored by sex sites. I saw this one Warez site where it said that they finally had to give in to getting sponsored by a sex company. Yeah, those sex banners are really annoying. Close one, two open, close two, four open!, and so on!

[brandon184]

After reading your post about 3 times, as I do usually... I noticed you underemphasized how they are illegal. And overemphasized how they can contain viruses.

They are illegal in any circumstance. They will not always have a virus attached to them.

[Snuffy!]

I've been downloading warez for years, and i've never had one problem, I don't know what you are talking about. I don't even use a virus scanner, I think you are paranoid, or have run into some very bad luck.

Warez sites aren't annoying, if you know the right ones to look on and how to go about it.

[This message has been edited by Snuffy! (edited 09-11-2000).]

[Entragian ][]

There are trusted warez groups out there. I don't worry about a virus because I "shop" at particular sites and D/L from particular groups.
You are right in using caution though. Many people are out just to harm.
I play a crack and if I like it, I go and buy the retail version. If I hate it, it gets deleted off my HD. I think the creator should get his $$ if he makes a good game. But I'm not giving up 50 bucks for a game that sucks. Thats my opinion, you have yours.

Ent

[Snuffy!]

Yeah, where I live, you can have access to local warez servers at universities, where instead of all the cut down games etc, u can just download the .iso file at a breakneck speed. There are also places like that internationally as well, all you need to do is to have a fast connection, and be able to find the place.

[qball]

Driving a car faster than the posted Speed Limit is illegal, yet 98% of drivers do just that.

Paasing on the right hand side is illegal, yet 100% of all drivers have done that at some time or another.

Legality is very relative. If you noticed lately, Microsoft lost a federal ruling, this basically can be construed that Microsoft did something illegal. Yet, what has that really meant? It is not stopping them from selling software or shipping new versions.

[Graham]

There is a, perhaps spurious, argument that goes like this....

I need a word processor, Word is the 'standard', I don't need all the functionality of Word, so I wont pay the high price for it.
If I obtain an illegal copy, although I am breaking the law, I am not depriving MS of revenue, 'cos I wouldn't buy it. MS [i] may [i]get a benefit in that I would recommend it to others, having found what a good programme it is.

For Word substitute any other bit of software.

G

[Infidel]

I've been downloading 'warez' for years and I don't have any sort of active virus protection. I have never been infected with anything. If you use common sense and stick to 'trusted' sites and 'official' releases there isn't as much risk as software companies want you to believe. Pirating software is, however, still illegal. Want to hear my admittedly lame justifacation? "I can't afford to buy the software. Therefore the companies wouldn't be getting my money anyway." Whats yours?

[MASTOURA]

Coming to confirm that warez are virus free. At least in my experience. Now as far as the "ads" are concerned, there are plenty of FTP servers that are a little slower, but much safer too.

About the "illegal" thing: Yes, warez is illegal. Yes, the companies should be paid for their product. But as I posted before, most people (not companies) have illegal copies of OS (especially MS) anyway. And don't tell me that you guys log into Napster to share your own music. Illegal is something VERY relative. If game companies were charging affordable prices and if the games out there were GOOD games, no-one would be downloading warez. But charging $60 for a game (here in Europe) or $20 for a music CD is outrageous, especially if the quality is not there.

Believe me, warez are "nice" if you want to "try" a game. But if you REALLY love it, you will eventually buy it. Who wants to have a game that takes 700mb of HD space, and has no music, no network support, no video clips, etc.? With warez you always have to look for updates, patches, add-ons, etc. It is a pain in the ***, if you love the game, but a nice solution if you have heard about a game and want to give it a shot. This said, please don't read my post as an encouragement to pirated software. But please don't be "romantic". All you guys who have burners, don't tell me you use them to burn cds with your own creations. Be honest, and be realistic.

Just my opinion.

MASTOURA

[dgardner]

I have to say in my experiance of warez I haven't had any trouble with viruses, but I have had with things like downloads stopping halfway through, being incorrect etc.. But I know there illegal but really am not that bothered. I really dont see the point in spending $60 (europe prices in american dollars) on a game that is going to keep me interested for about a week. Then on top of the $60 for a game try taking into consideration the cost of upgrading your pc at least once every two year just so that you can fork out $60 to play the latest games.
Then look at why I use warez, you over there in the US get the second version of the game when we over here in europe haven't even got the first!! So I download your versions which we cant buy over here, so how are they going to accuse me of breaking the law for copying something that I cant buy???? Same goes for movies too.

I have to agree with what other people have said, if manufacturers brought down the price of games, music and video then I think you'd find they make more money from increased sales.

Please note I am not saying downloading warez is a good idea, cause its not!!! And it is highly Illegal, but on those laws so is Napster, at at the moment I cant see it being shut down, and if it is I can see it going underground and and alternative being run by people who are part of these forums. In fact hell I i was asked I would!

My $0.02 worth

~Dave~

[Win_98]

The other problem with these warez, they are a pain to download. They password protect them and sometime you waste so much time downloading it only to find that the rest was broken. They promote porn, hoping that you will sign up for it so they can pay for the site they put up. Most of the games they have up for download are not exactly what I would buy or want to even try anyway, I mean we all have different taste right? So out of 100 games you may like only 1. Some of them are infected with virus so the risk is there and you never know until it is too late. I also have slow connection 56K so it make it very difficult for me to download anything that is too big namely cd games that is 200-600meg. The less you download warez the less likely you have virus. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif which is true and all I been doing is getting freeware, sharewarez, and mp3 that are 100% virus free. I paid for most of the stuff I have, including windows98, and games that I like. I could have gotten them for free but it was frustrating and the risk of virus just ain't worth it. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif Actually I don't feel dumb buying it, I think it was the right thing to do promoting software companies so they will continue to make better software. It not like we can't afford it, some people just rather get it free or rather not pay for it.

[falcompsx]

warez are stupid, they rarely work, and do have a much greater chance of having a virus then any other legetimate file online. I'm not saying I don't pirate software, mostly MS stuff because of their **** they pull on customers. So i don't feel guilty(I am though) thing is, they will call u first if they are gonna search your computer for illegal stuff, and I'll just zero my drive and install my legal win98 and office 97 and games. they can't do anything about that because those i legally own.

[Brangwen]

I've heard some warez is good and some is not so good. Just like software on a store shelf. It's more sensible for many reasons to purchase the software, i.e., warranties, instructions, upgrade info, and tech support (usually). Is it right or moral? No, of course not. To say otherwise or to scribble a lame justification to make it seem so is disingenious and insulting to others and ones self.

Brangwen http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif