By now, everyone should be familiar with the issue of Securom and the manner in which it is adversely affecting games sales in recent months. However, for those of you who have been living under a rock, the situation could be summed up as follows:
1) A number of companies, particularly EA, are using a form of DRM called Securom, devised by Sony, for the alleged purpose of protecting their games against piracy.
2) To the best of my knowledge, no company includes a statement relating to Securom on the EULA. Therefore this software downloads and installs without the user being aware and can therefore be classified as malware or a rootkit.
3) Securom can cause conflict with legally purchased software installed on the computer, such as Nero. The software seemingly scans the system to detect programs that it terms as pirate tools and prevents the user from installing the purchased game.
4) There are reports of Securom causing damage to hardware.
5) Securom remains on the computer even after the game is uninstalled.
6) There are various levels of Securom ranging from the draconian install limitations imposed on titles such as EA’s Spore to the seemingly more innocent disk check employed on Bethsheba’s Fallout 3. Securom may or may not force the user to have an Internet connection in order to play the game and may or may not limit the number of times a game can be installed.
7) Statistics have consistently shown that Securom has no effect on piracy. Indeed, the stated purpose of combating piracy is deliberate misinformation: Securom appears to be an attack on the gaming rental and resale industry. Pirated copies of games do not include Securom.
8) Securom makes the user’s pc more vulnerable to external attacks.
9) Despite numerous complaints, campaigns to award low ratings to games that include Securom on sites such as Amazon and moves to commence legal proceedings, major companies continue to use Securom and justify its inclusion as a means of preventing piracy. The CEO of Electronic Arts has actually dismissed customers who complained about Securom on a number of titles as pirates or ignoramuses.
10) Pirates do not complain about Securom as it never reaches their system; ignoramuses do not complain about Securom as they are blissfully unaware that it is on their system.
I have probably omitted a number of points, but I think that the statements above provide a fairly accurate description of Securom, its effects and its purpose. Securom has prevented me from purchasing a number of titles in recent months. I refuse to buy a game that will install software on to my system without my permission . I also refuse to buy a game that requires me to connect to a server for validation: if a game requires Internet connection, then it has been rented rather than purchased from the company. I am bemused by the number of people who justify Securom or who are willing to accept the inclusion of the “more sedate” versions of Securom on the games they purchase [rent], particularly when we are unaware of the full implications of having this software installed on our systems.
I propose the following:
1) To the users: we need to draw up a list of all games that include Securom, irrespective of the degree to which the Securom visibly invades our systems. We should refrain from purchasing any games on the list.
2) To the companies: if you want to combat piracy, drop the prices of your games and stop including malware on your products.
1) A number of companies, particularly EA, are using a form of DRM called Securom, devised by Sony, for the alleged purpose of protecting their games against piracy.
2) To the best of my knowledge, no company includes a statement relating to Securom on the EULA. Therefore this software downloads and installs without the user being aware and can therefore be classified as malware or a rootkit.
3) Securom can cause conflict with legally purchased software installed on the computer, such as Nero. The software seemingly scans the system to detect programs that it terms as pirate tools and prevents the user from installing the purchased game.
4) There are reports of Securom causing damage to hardware.
5) Securom remains on the computer even after the game is uninstalled.
6) There are various levels of Securom ranging from the draconian install limitations imposed on titles such as EA’s Spore to the seemingly more innocent disk check employed on Bethsheba’s Fallout 3. Securom may or may not force the user to have an Internet connection in order to play the game and may or may not limit the number of times a game can be installed.
7) Statistics have consistently shown that Securom has no effect on piracy. Indeed, the stated purpose of combating piracy is deliberate misinformation: Securom appears to be an attack on the gaming rental and resale industry. Pirated copies of games do not include Securom.
8) Securom makes the user’s pc more vulnerable to external attacks.
9) Despite numerous complaints, campaigns to award low ratings to games that include Securom on sites such as Amazon and moves to commence legal proceedings, major companies continue to use Securom and justify its inclusion as a means of preventing piracy. The CEO of Electronic Arts has actually dismissed customers who complained about Securom on a number of titles as pirates or ignoramuses.
10) Pirates do not complain about Securom as it never reaches their system; ignoramuses do not complain about Securom as they are blissfully unaware that it is on their system.
I have probably omitted a number of points, but I think that the statements above provide a fairly accurate description of Securom, its effects and its purpose. Securom has prevented me from purchasing a number of titles in recent months. I refuse to buy a game that will install software on to my system without my permission . I also refuse to buy a game that requires me to connect to a server for validation: if a game requires Internet connection, then it has been rented rather than purchased from the company. I am bemused by the number of people who justify Securom or who are willing to accept the inclusion of the “more sedate” versions of Securom on the games they purchase [rent], particularly when we are unaware of the full implications of having this software installed on our systems.
I propose the following:
1) To the users: we need to draw up a list of all games that include Securom, irrespective of the degree to which the Securom visibly invades our systems. We should refrain from purchasing any games on the list.
2) To the companies: if you want to combat piracy, drop the prices of your games and stop including malware on your products.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram