Uh-oh - Steam 'hacked'

[sapi]

I like steam.

I really do.

But this worries me.

Take out the 50% bs that will be pouring out of any hacker's mouth, and it's still pretty damn bad...if he's telling the truth

Of course, it's just as likely to be a hoax - but nevertheless, it will be very interesting to watch how valve reacts to this, hoax or not.

I'm all for flaying alive, but I don't think that many people will agree with me here

And if you feel in need of a laugh: look at the 'convincing' proof that has surfaced thus far: this image.

Why do I doubt that that's an accurate representation of Valve's accounts?

[edyzmedieval]

Incredible. This made me lost faith in Steam.

[Bijo]

Heh, it was me.... No, really it was me!

Unless there is proof, for now it's just a case we don't know much of. In a certain way I like Steam due to updates easily detected and carried out, etc., but I also dislike it for when you buy a game in a store or online store you always have to get that damn thing workin' again. Even if you play the damn game Steam must be on afaik. Isn't there a better way?

...then again, the only stuff I've played over Steam is HL2 and CS S.

[Xiahou]

Meh, good for em, if true. I've always hated Steam- it's annoying, obtrusive, shovelware.

[TB666]

pheww, good thing I use e-cards.
Alot safer.

[edyzmedieval]

I hope they haven't registered my credit card information. My cc was refused, I hope they didn't register it.

[Hepcat]

I've never brought any games through it but I've used it to update games and to play them online and I don't like it. I find it annoying and prefer to use Xfire now.

It's rather disturbing news though. Hopefully it's all a hoax.

[Whacker]

Meh, good for em, if true. I've always hated Steam- it's annoying, obtrusive, shovelware.

You forgot "big brother-ish spyware".

Kind of amusing in a personal way, my job is to keep my employer OFF of the front page of CNN due to stuff exactly like this.

[sapi]

The article and the commentary.

So half bs, half fair dinkim tardishness.

Last I checked, though, hacking a server located in the US makes you liable for violating US law.....

[Bijo]

The article and the commentary.

So half bs, half fair dinkim tardishness.

Last I checked, though, hacking a server located in the US makes you liable for violating US law.....

I don't trust that response. I don't trust Steam. Afaik they're all suspect for we have no immediate direct solid proof that what they say is actually true. We just have articles and such claiming things. Nevertheless, of course we assume that what's written there is true :)

And if he broke into their "third-party system..." yeah, he's gonna be hunt down. I'm curious as to how it'll unfold.

[Husar]

I was a bit sceptical about steam already when Valve announced it.
There was this big fuss about people stealing the Half Life 2 Beta from Valve's buero network and then I'm supposed to give them my credit card data?
I think I've never even been on the steam webpage, if it's not www.steam.com, I don't even know what it is.

[sapi]

Well, Steam is a fantastic piece of software, except for a few things:
1) It likes choosing content servers in the US when I've got free ones with a 100ms response time in australia
2) It hates it when your net's capped

What it does, it does well, for the most part

[edyzmedieval]

I don't feel too safe, even right now.

I'm gonna sue Steam and ask for 10 million dollars if anyone touches my credit card.

[Bijo]

I don't feel too safe, even right now.

I'm gonna sue Steam and ask for 10 million dollars if anyone touches my credit card.

Why not go for 20 while you're at it?

[Xiahou]

Well, Steam is a fantastic piece of software, except for a few things:
1) It likes choosing content servers in the US when I've got free ones with a 100ms response time in australia
2) It hates it when your net's capped

What it does, it does well, for the most part

That and it downloads things you didn't ask for and without your permission and it phones home and requires an active connection for even single-player and it's a waste of resources that has to be running while you're gaming.

Other than that, it's fantastic though...

[TevashSzat]

There was that huge game that Steam would download without asking for permission and once you wasted like 1 Gig of hardrive, Steam then asks you if you want to buy the game

[sapi]

That and it downloads things you didn't ask for and without your permission and it phones home and requires an active connection for even single-player and it's a waste of resources that has to be running while you're gaming.

Other than that, it's fantastic though...

Steam never downloads anything that you haven't asked it to.

[Whacker]

Steam never downloads anything that you haven't asked it to.

Yes it does. Games will automagically "patch" themselves without your involvement at all.

As I said, the concept is great, the implementation is horrible. DRM is a blight, and I refuse to give up control over my computer, my stuff, or hand it over to anyone else. The publishers has rights no doubt, but those end and mine begin at some point.

[sapi]

Yes it does. Games will automagically "patch" themselves without your involvement at all.

As I said, the concept is great, the implementation is horrible. DRM is a blight, and I refuse to give up control over my computer, my stuff, or hand it over to anyone else. The publishers has rights no doubt, but those end and mine begin at some point.

You can disable automated patching; and I'd like to know how you plan to play a multiplayer game without the latest patch anyway...

[Whacker]

You can disable automated patching;

True, but the point made earlier was that is the ONLY control you have over it. Other patches are distributed by the publishers, and generally come with a more or less accurate list of fixes and changes. Steam doesn't even give you that option or information. This is in many ways the same way that good ol MS is going with Windows, they all but force you to install "critical" updates such as that Genuine Windows broken spyware.

and I'd like to know how you plan to play a multiplayer game without the latest patch anyway...

You mean on Steam or in general? In Steam it's impossible as I understand it, though it doesn't matter to me anymore, it's been uninstalled off my system for a long time now. Of course I don't have access to the games I legally own, bought and paid for, any there are ways that I could do this but we can't go there in these forums.

I am not trying to be rude, mean, or condescending, but it really does sadden me when I see people who are willing to give up their privacy, rights, and control of their property for a little convenience. Steam is somewhat the poster child of this in my personal view. I know I'm not the only one who resents the idea of 'asking permission' every time I want to play what's legally mine. Further I resent the idea that patches and updates are installed without my explicit consent, and that information on what's been changed isn't provided to me. Will stop here for now but I think my point has been made.

[sapi]

True, but the point made earlier was that is the ONLY control you have over it. Other patches are distributed by the publishers, and generally come with a more or less accurate list of fixes and changes. Steam doesn't even give you that option or information. This is in many ways the same way that good ol MS is going with Windows, they all but force you to install "critical" updates such as that Genuine Windows broken spyware.

A list of fixes is released on the website and basically every gaming website reports it...

I am not trying to be rude, mean, or condescending, but it really does sadden me when I see people who are willing to give up their privacy,

...because clearly no other system will ask for verification before you play online

rights,

No idea what you mean by this one - no one who legitimately purchased software has anything to fear

and control of their property for a little convenience.

I think that if you read the EULAs of many games you'll find that you've already given up that inmore cases than you'd think

Steam is somewhat the poster child of this in my personal view. I know I'm not the only one who resents the idea of 'asking permission' every time I want to play what's legally mine.

I'd rather have a system such as steam than have developers collapse because of piracy...

Further I resent the idea that patches and updates are installed without my explicit consent, and that information on what's been changed isn't provided to me. Will stop here for now but I think my point has been made.

Again, steam mostly hosts multiplayer games which are impossible to play with out of date versions anyway...

[Husar]

True, but the point made earlier was that is the ONLY control you have over it. Other patches are distributed by the publishers, and generally come with a more or less accurate list of fixes and changes. Steam doesn't even give you that option or information. This is in many ways the same way that good ol MS is going with Windows, they all but force you to install "critical" updates such as that Genuine Windows broken spyware.

I see a big difference here because Microsoft never forced me to give them my adress, name and credit card number to use their software, and they don't force me to go online to use their software.
And besides that, I'd rather give my data to Microsoft because they should be able to pay for the security measures required to keep my data safe, and they never had a beta of Windows stolen from their internal buero network by a hacker...

And besides that, I like to have my software on a CD, only program I ever bought online so far was Mount&Blade, excluding Amazon because they wqill send me CDs/DVDs of course.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

Steam is fine with me. just dont buy games online.

[edyzmedieval]

Too bad you can only play CSS and Red Orchestra only on Steam.

[HoreTore]

Uh....nobody here recognized the name of the "hacker"?

Maddox: http://maddox.xmission.com/

[edyzmedieval]

I've read his site long time ago. He's a total psycho.