Games spying on us (extreme example Black Desert Online)

[Vuyek]

Incoming conspiracy nutter Wuyek :->

So some games have options in them that, when checked, will send data back about how you play back to devs. Most have the choice to opt in (and if you trust the devs, the data is about the game you play only). Basically feedback on the game and data is given by you to devs on everything you do in game. I am OK with that

Some game devs are more... intrusive.

Which is scary... this is an extreme example. Seems to me, from what I read, that Black Desert Online (not a 4x game, but heck, this forum/group is one of the few intelligent people places on Steam) installs another program which literally scans your computer. All of it. Every drive. It is a root kit, and is hard to remove. There is no opt in option - comes with the game.

When removing the game, the extra app apparently stays in. Needs regedit to remove it.


https://www.reddit.com/r/blackdesertonline/comments/42yy1c/xigncode_error_0xe019101a_bd_kr/

http://forum.blackdesertonline.com/index.php?/topic/5649-xingcode-3-spyware-in-game/

https://steamcommunity.com/app/582660/discussions/0/1290691308571849109/

The name of this beauty is Xigncode3.

Thoughts?

Wuyek the conspiracy nutter out.

PS
I could be very wrong on this topic / Black Desert Online. If so, set me straight. Peace out.

PSPS

http://www.wellbia.com/home/en/pages/xigncode3/

"One of the most common functions of this code is to monitor all of the files you have accessed in the last 48 hours; kind of a pre-fetch function. While it doesn't actually keylog, it looks for changes in open files. The intention is looking for hacks but it could be used for anything frankly as it scans your files."

[Nasarog]

Damn, that's pretty extreme. ANother good reason to stay away, though I don't play these types of games anyways. The closest I came was GTA online and RDR online.

[Maximilian]

This reminds me of the management system files in many recent Intell chips, which operates under you OS and is not monitored by your OS. It's so "group adminitrators" can better manage their networks, but I am sure we all can think the security risk this "feature" has. There has been several reported exploits already.

At least this is software, what I justed talked about is hard-coded in the chipset, it's hardware.

We have a little joke in the IT world, people who are so surprised at all the "free stuff" we get on the internet (like Facebook and the like), what they don't realise is that it isn't free. It's bait. We are not consumers, we are the product. I sometimes prefered the times before I got into IT work, the world seemed so much nicer.

Edit - Addition: Isn't BDO an Asian MMO? Forgot which country specifice but if I recall it's an Asian MMO? I hear they usually use a lot of highly intrusive anti-hack software which usually remains on your computer even if you uninstall the game. I remember this issue as far back as 5 years ago.

[BlackSmokeDMax]

Sadly, this leads to fact that you really need to research *every* game you buy.

Whether it's spying like this, terrible (or really any, if not revealed prior to purchase) DRM programs installed, companies who you do not think deserve your business for other ethical/moral/business reasons.

Overall, a pretty sad state of affairs, but I guess that is what happens when so many billions of dollars are involved.

[Nasarog]

Originally posted by Gilleous:

This reminds me of the management system files in many recent Intell chips, which operates under you OS and is not monitored by your OS. It's so "group adminitrators" can better manage their networks, but I am sure we all can think the security risk this "feature" has. There has been several reported exploits already.

At least this is software, what I justed talked about is hard-coded in the chipset, it's hardware.

We have a little joke in the IT world, people who are so surprised at all the "free stuff" we get on the internet (like Facebook and the like), what they don't realise is that it isn't free. It's bait. We are not consumers, we are the product. I sometimes prefered the times before I got into IT work, the world seemed so much nicer.

Edit - Addition: Isn't BDO an Asian MMO? Forgot which country specifice but if I recall it's an Asian MMO? I hear they usually use a lot of highly intrusive anti-hack software which usually remains on your computer even if you uninstall the game. I remember this issue as far back as 5 years ago.

Yup and yup. South Korean I think.

Originally posted by BlackSmokeDMax:

Sadly, this leads to fact that you really need to research *every* game you buy.

Whether it's spying like this, terrible (or really any, if not revealed prior to purchase) DRM programs installed, companies who you do not think deserve your business for other ethical/moral/business reasons.

Overall, a pretty sad state of affairs, but I guess that is what happens when so many billions of dollars are involved.

Very true and absolutely. That's we we look at games, developers, publishers, the industry and all of it and not just at the playable part of the game.