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Ubisoft's Internet-required DRM Already Cracked

by - source: Tom's Hardware US

Hackers have already found a way around Ubisoft's Internet DRM that's used on Silent Hunter 5 and Assassin's Creed II.

Last month, we found out about a new Ubisoft DRM scheme that requires PC gamers to be constantly connected to the Internet in order to play an authenticated game. With the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed II and Settlers VII being some of those titles protected under the new scheme, gamers voiced their concerns over such restrictive and potentially inconvenient DRM.

Of course, it's be naïve to believe that pirates won't be doing their best in order to circumvent this protection. One of Ubisoft's first titles to use this new scheme, Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic, released earlier this week – and it didn't take much time for pirates to crack the DRM.

In the release notes for the pirated version of Silent Hunter 5, the hackers instruct not to use the Ubisoft launcher or to block any connection to the Internet, and then use some modified files to run the game. At the end of the note, the hackers also urge gamers to support the companies that make the software they enjoy.

We cannot verify whether or not the cracked files effectively bypass Ubisoft's copy protection schemes, but it's clear that the pirates are tinkering with it.

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Vampyrbyte 04/03/2010 21:40
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-7+

Every other copy protection scheme has been circumvented. Why wouldnt this?

mojito_619 04/03/2010 21:48
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-3+

In your face Nubisoft! Walalala!

roots 04/03/2010 22:45
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-6+

When will the these people learn copy protection just does't work it makes problems for paying customers?

dan117 04/03/2010 22:49
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-6+

Instead of trying to make uncrackable DRM (and failing), they should try to make games better, cheaper and publish them on Steam. Less money wasted, better games, easier to buy.
Also, more games should use Steam because the ability to download/install on any PC with 8MB/s is awesome (Romanian internet FTW).

Clintonio 04/03/2010 23:43
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will_chellam 05/03/2010 12:16
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-2+

Quote :Steam generally requires us to stay connected. Perhaps they should just go on Steam and save us the untested, probably hole-filled crap they're putting on these games.


My steam doesnt - it lets me run in offline mode and only requirs me to connect once a month to revalidate my account....

Pailin 05/03/2010 01:51
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-1+

hmmm...

mine didn't the other day.

We had a pwr company planned power cut and afterwards our router didn't work.

Steam said - so start in offline mode as no net?

but didn't work at all, couldn't even load Steam - no net = no gameing >_<


wanna fix that, need to be able to play my games with no net
else will be buying Very few more games on Steam...

Can get "No Disc" fixes online for DVD games afterall :D

knightofdames 05/03/2010 07:54
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-0+

lovely

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