WARNING: Possible Viral Beta Circulation

[Azul]

Just a Unabomber joke...maybe the Unabomber is too obscure...

Anyway, everyone read this, it'll make you think about something other than HL2.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.04/joy.html

 

[mekilla]

Like someone has already stated, get the anon torrent download of hl2. COMPLETLY virus free, if you are still worried when it opens and runs fine, just compile your own executables. Nothing detected: no spyware, no virus, no trojons, Sygate Personal Firewall, and Norton Antivirus have not detected anything. Note that a lot of content has been released for the unofficial beta, the screwed up levels have been fixed. There are a good 5-10 99% completed levels, and new multiplayer levels coming out each day.

 

[sPaG]

I started the thread, I hope to finish it.
The Beta is clean. No outbound communications, no trojans, and no virus programs. But sometimes you never know. It's pretty easy for somebody to add something to the archive and continue sharing it.

Just be careful out there. Or better yet, don't download the beta. Not saying which side i'm on... but I leave that choice up to you.

Take care!

-sPaG

 

[Mountain Man]

Originally posted by darkmaster0016
What could the hackers get from us by including something to hack us with?

Oh, they can get a lot of stuff: CD keys for games installed on your system, any passwords or credit card numbers or anything else you may type, the ability to steal installed software right from your system, using your system as a hacking gateway, using your bandwidth to launch a denial of service attack, just to name a few.

Believe me, it is not in your best interest to make yourself vulnerable to hackers.

 

[Cheetarah654]

i hope the beta has a virus that fries everyones computer and the operator

 

[The Dark Elf]

The people claiming the stolen files are clean are forgetting something.. Virus killers are made to find viruses. and they also need to be updated with definition files as new viruses are found, and new ones are only found when they have been identified. Valve was infected by customised new malicious files that had not been used previously, as such no virus killer would have spot them. Also virus killers don't make a habit of telling you your new video game you've just installed is a virus just because it made some changes to your registry, or created some config files or something. And the thief was clever enough to create something from scratch that hureistic searching wouldn't properly detect.. And since virus killers also go by file size aswell as other traits, how will a virus placed within the code of a larger program, or even spread out across a number of files to disguise itself be detectable. The fact is the files could have a very nasty surprise in them and running Norton over them is certainly not going to give trustworthy results, heck Norton is well known for missing a lot of older viruses as it is, what hope does it have of finding one that is currently dormant and so far undetected or researched by the various VK engineers around the globe

Cant stop you from downloading it, just bare in mind that your risking anything on your system, if you do online banking, or have important passwords or files, think seriously before proceeding. Not to mention the fact that your breaking the law looking at it. And risking getting yourself banned from here and other places for giving out spoilers, showing images, or helping others get hold of it

Also don't trust your firewall either, just because it doesn't report anything going through doesnt mean nothing is going through, a firewall only protects you against known exploits, you shouldn't be worrying about the things it notices and logs, you should be worried about the things it doesn't notice and log. There's a lot of network traffic go back and forth to machines, how many of you can honestly say you know what every bit of it is and where it came from and what its purpose is. Not many I wager.

Also ask yourself this. Why are some people going to great lengths to tell you its completely clean so you'll download and run it? Makes you wonder, and any of those could be the ones responsible for the theft in the first place, would be in their best interest to have you run the thing

step into my parlor said the spider to the fly

 

[Unnamed_Player]

I don't mean to pee in anyone's pool here but the source is out there. I have scanned the files that came with the ANON release and compiled my own. So far as the real release is concerned it's clean. But the source being readily available means that anyone is free to trojan or infect the executable and stick it into the archive. Just be smart about it.

As for the stuff about it connecting to some Valve server, bull chips. If you want to test it yourself you can start the game, alt-tab out of it and run a netstat to see what kind of connections are present. The beta doesn't try to connect to anything.

Now please, for the love of god, please let the thread die a peaceful death! I beg of you!

 

[Nuclear_Gerber]

There are better ways to spread viruses and trojans than with a 1.4gigabyte file.

 

[Deadlor]

Originally posted by Cheetarah654
i hope the beta has a virus that fries everyones computer and the operator

It's funny how everyone thinks everybody else has the same morals as themselves.

 

[shiv]

A few questions concerning how to get rid of a virus on your hard drive. "slightly off topic" Does a reformate usually get rid of virus or not? Can a virus copy itself into the bios and then the reformate wouldnt get it? And if so could you flash your bios and get rid of it. And lastly would you flash before or after the reformate?
:flame:

 

[Swedehack]

Originally posted by sPaG
Greetings Half-Life 2 Community,

I don't mean to scare any of you. But it's extremely important to realize that there are some "fishy" things going on out there with the 'leaked' source code from VALVe. I am hearing some pretty disturbing information from sources which claim there are some malicious programmers attempting to use "social engineering" to spread their dangerous virus/trojan software inside the "hl2_beta.rar", a compiled and successfully working source but no content. Users would/could experience system instability, crashes, and possibly hacks if the hackers build their own mailer program in to the source.

This is not a joke. It's a very real threat. It's not meant to scare any of you, but make you realize that this 'source' or 'beta' that has been rumored to float around could very possibly be used for malicious intent. I am hearing, part of the reason why the 'beta', which has been constantly stated being 'stolen', is taking so long to reach circulation is due to malicious transformation. This is a bad sign and I hope many of you take the proper pre-cautions not to download this material.

For any of you kids out there using your parents computers.. this isn't worth the risk to trash their computer as well. For those of you who own your computer, you have a certain obligation to yourself and your own intelligence not to download something so risky. And for all of us excited about Half-Life 2, you have a LEGAL obligation not to download the source or a "leaked beta". All I have to say is, if you download this "beta" and it really is 1.32 gig of gay porn, or even the full working Source engine with malicious code, you get what you deserve.

Personally, I am not going to be downloading anything. I am a programmer and would love to see the source code myself, but I have a lot of respect for the programmers at VALVe because of what I am. I am also smart enough to realize how dangerous it is to download this content, legally and securely. And as much as I want to see how well my machine will perform in Half-Life2, I wont download this supposed "Half Life 2 beta", as that's just suicide. All you people need to realize is it was stolen by some very efficient hackers, who in turn, develop cheats and virus programs, and if they truly hold a fully working beta or even just the source to use social engineering.. you would be stupid not to believe they would use it to their advantage before releasing it in to circulation. That's why it's taking so long.

Look how many of you already downloaded the 1.32G of gay porn. I have a message for those of you attempted to acquire the beta.. "You have been warned." Next time, you will have bigger problems. And the irony in all of this is, you will see how VALVe feels. Damn, that's funny... poetic justice.

I am looking forward to the Half Life 2 release. Even though the source is released, the game isn't finished. They will be patching it and refining it in the future. Especially with games like Counter-Strike2 or TF2.. so the code you all possess will be less valuable as the years go by. I hope VALVe releases Half Life 2 sometime in the not-so distant future. I really hope VALVe continues to operate and can manage possible "rumored law suits". If you ask me, they should turn around and sue Microsoft. Yes, VALVe should be a little more intelligent about their source code distribution and storage within their company, but Microsoft is still causing problems around the globe with their horribly unpatched, unresovled, exploited insecurities. But that's a different topic and hopefully a different thread.

Good luck Gabe, VALVe, and everybody who supports them through this real shitty event. It sounds like the FBI is involved, and they are making progress. Even though many of you laughed at me on this forum for saying the FBI will be involved.. look who is right? This goes to show that you people don't understand the severity of this event.

Anyway, you have been warned. Please don't make me say "I didn't warn you." Don't make me be right again.

Take care Half-Life 2 Community!

First off its a playable alpha not a beta .. there is a big differens and yes its been nuked becouse some lil lame h4xXØr choose the wrong persons to attack i mean dont you think that us big dump admnins dont check the shit getting uploaded to us? and before that there couriers.
Well.. booohooo.. whaddayamean dangerous i have the latest source code leaked and im not really that into programming but since valve has been delaying so much i got pissed at them and i leeched it,, valve stop being bitches someone stole the code.. why delay the game?? .. becouse they are delaying it until the holydays and more people will buy it at xmas.. ofcourse.. every kid loves hl.. but i actually stopped waiting for this game im plkaying maxpayne2 got it yesterday instead and BWOY its 4 real! now im waiting for call of duty! you should check those games out instead.



:bounce: :bonce: Gr337s frØ/\/\ Vo|D

 

[Swedehack]

Originally posted by Dhoco X
Pff.. great ! I would like the computer of all the people who download it were destroyed by the virus. :|

ITS NOT A BETAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Swedehack]

Originally posted by Manty
Doesn't take much to make a 400mb hl2.beta.rar file on kazaa and put a little old friend called NetDevil in one of the folders

It's up to the stupidity of people :

1) Attempting to download ILLEGAL software
2) Being stupid

You dont know what you are talking about real pirates use ftp and work as teams to get the releases ditributed.. i am one of those.. and

1 i wouldnt get caught dead using kazaa or directconnect
2 kazaa is real LAME
3 so is direct connect
4 we all hate you.

 

[Guest]

People who download the beta and get infected by virii deserve it, so I wouldn't bother with these warnings.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by Swedehack
You dont know what you are talking about real pirates use ftp and work as teams to get the releases ditributed.. i am one of those.. and

1 i wouldnt get caught dead using kazaa or directconnect
2 kazaa is real LAME
3 so is direct connect
4 we all hate you.

The difference between a kid downloading stuff from kazaa and a "real" pirate (arrr matey?) is that the latter have very elaborate excuses for their behaviour. That's about all there is to it.

 

[DjBourgeoisie]

Originally posted by Swedehack
You dont know what you are talking about real pirates use ftp and work as teams to get the releases ditributed.. i am one of those.. and

1 i wouldnt get caught dead using kazaa or directconnect
2 kazaa is real LAME
3 so is direct connect
4 we all hate you.

w0w j00r s0 l33t!

 

[ASnogarD]

Considering that Gabe was infected by a key-logger that was not detected by his anti-virus solution, and that considering that he would not be naive enough to believe he did not need a respectable anti-virus solution.

I wonder how many of those who downloaded the "beta" have a keylogger as a bonus ?

The hacker has already demonstrated a lack of consideration to other peoples privacy, why stop at hacking Valve ? To a hacker having the option to infect a leak of one of the gameworlds most anticipated game must be a dream come true.

 

[muhahahaha]

yo i have scanned the whole half.life.2.beta-anon.rar and not found any virii or trojans, I bet spag is just trying to make noobs stop trying to get hl2. For me, i have been playing hl2 since last week, itz a great game!!! I hope valve will release it soon and STOP DELAYING. btw, sPaG, dun make your post like a message in chain emails, I hate them

ban me if you think you dun like my post, i dun care.

 

[muhahahaha]

Oh i forgot, Kazaa sucks, filled with virii, only for noobs that do deserve to be infected, for pros, use irc. faster and easier, i am not taking about downloading hl2, i am talking about downloading anything. btw, i scanned the hl2.beta-anon.rar with norton, mcfee, panda, spybot, norman. i do think the leak is clean

 

[nw909]

Originally posted by muhahahaha
Oh i forgot, Kazaa sucks, filled with virii, only for noobs that do deserve to be infected, for pros, use irc. faster and easier, i am not taking about downloading hl2, i am talking about downloading anything. btw, i scanned the hl2.beta-anon.rar with norton, mcfee, panda, spybot, norman. i do think the leak is clean

I use bittorrent.

 

[koopa]

Originally posted by ASnogarD
The hacker has already demonstrated a lack of consideration to other peoples privacy, why stop at hacking Valve ? To a hacker having the option to infect a leak of one of the gameworlds most anticipated game must be a dream come true.

The kind of people who distribute/write trojans are generally not the same guys who hack systems or crack games. Pretty much everybody looks down on the virus writers (luckily, the talented people tend not to bother with that kind of stuff). Getting a copy of the HL2 code is worth some bragging rights (if you see what I mean) - a hacker is not going to taint his reputation by sticking a virus in there.

 

[ASnogarD]

Ok you scanned it , but I still think the keylogger was homemade and is not in the wild - ie never been used till the attack - thus AV programs can't detect it yet. AFAIK the really good hackers keep a package of i-tools they don't share with script-kiddies and these tools don't get reported to AV programmers.

Isn't reasonable to assume Gabe would have a decent AV installed? After all he must deal with the general public which leaves him open to get virus loaded e-mail.

 

[muhahahaha]

wah wat a fast reply, i DUN care if there is some damn key logger in the code, all i care is to play. BTW hl2 resources got leaked early this week, now, i can play hl2 with very good graphics. too bad i cant post screen shots

 

[muhahahaha]

i shall add one more thing, if there was a virus or a logger in the hl2, i do think the anti-virus community would be popping out and announcing that they have found a virus in the source code, instead of this unknow person posting some bullish crap on some forum. I do think antivirus companies have looked over the code since they all want to be the first to boast that they have a way to clear the hl2 virus (if there was one). With millions of people downloading hl2 now, i think there will be a huge uproar if a virus really did existed in hl2 since millions of people will have their comps screwed up.

 

[X-FacToR]

If you ask me, they should turn around and sue Microsoft. Yes, VALVe should be a little more intelligent about their source code distribution and storage within their company, but Microsoft is still causing problems around the globe with their horribly unpatched, unresovled, exploited insecurities.

No one said you have to use microsoft OS, or valve for that matter...bassically ms doesnt even have to update their software. No ones making them do squat. Sue MS LOL Use another OS.

 

[Mountain Man]

Originally posted by Nuclear_Gerber
There are better ways to spread viruses and trojans than with a 1.4gigabyte file.

That's ignoring the fact that this 1.4GB file is perhaps the most anticipated game in the history of gaming and that countless thousdands of people are gladly throwing caution to the wind just to get a glimpse of it. I'd say that in this case, that'd actually an excellent way to distribute malacious code.

 

[Mountain Man]

Originally posted by muhahahaha
I do think antivirus companies have looked over the code since they all want to be the first to boast that they have a way to clear the hl2 viru...

Yeah, right. They're probably thinking, "People want to mess around with illegal software? Screw 'em."

 

[morpherex]

Yea right, people are thinking I love to double post like a douche.

 

[ASnogarD]

Originally posted by Mountain Man
Yeah, right. They're probably thinking, "People want to mess around with illegal software? Screw 'em."

You forgot to add that the AV companies would also have to illegally download the 'beta' to check it.

 

[inevident]

WARNING: A Hacker Released This, Therefore It Has A Virus

usually morons who repack things add the viruses, but I have yet to see a legitimate hacker/releaser including any type of virus/worm.

 

[mutt]

haha this is funny

 

[c0de]

would you like some candy? :dozey:

 

[Mountain Man]

Originally posted by morpherex
Yea right, people are thinking I love to double post like a douche.

I was replying to seperate posters, hence, seperate posts. One would have thought that was obvious, but you appear to be uniquely mentally challenged. Don't worry, I'm sure with the proper treatment, you'll be able to lead a normal, healthy life.