Motivation of Crackers

[deadlysyn]

I was wondering what the motivation of Crackers is. I have been searching every corner of my mind, trying to figure this out. I don't know for sure if they do it for some obscure chance that it may help them learn a little bit more about programming? Or is it more about trying to rip off hard working companies? I know this one person, who has played around with cracks, and has decided that he wants to try to create some. When I asked him why he would want to do that he couldn't give me a straight answer. I think the part that really got to him was when I asked what he would do if he created a program that is very useful, and he found out that he was losing his rear on it because of Crackers. I know. Again I am wondering about their MOTIVATION and WHY they create these files. I also read somewhere in a thread about Windows XP activation that someone has this thing for taking the key from the COA on the back of the display models. Why would you want to do this, either way it is considered to be stealing. You can't always get something for free, and if you think it's free, then it's more than likely stolen, and you will get caught. Anyway sorry if something I said is going a little too far, but I am really curious about this, and if there really is any educational purpose to cracking someones hard work.

 

[Malpine Walis]

Well, to an extent what you are asking could be quite similar to "why do kids do graffiti?" Honestly, if you pressed someone for an answer, the most you could hope for would be along the lines of "I don't know" or "everyone else is doing it". In short, sometimes there is going to be no good answer. Some people just have no real motivation.'

Other people might have some more specific motivation, like the two virus writers last summer who were passing pwned messages to each other through the code they were releasing. In that case, there still was not a sufficient reason but at least it was more than just shrugging one's shoulders because they don't really know.

As to your friend, I would not hazard a guess.

 

[craig588]

It's like a competition. The various groups have release lists that keep track of all of the things they have cracked.

I know a few members of a few groups, they say that they like to let people have things for free that they have purchased. (Like stealing from rich faceless corperations and giving to poor people)

 

[Brundle Fly]

There are many reasons to make cracks, some most definitely illegal, the motivation is usually the same, beating the system, giving it to the man, instead of him giving it to you.

Other reasons include legitimate ones, such as http://gamecopyworld.com/, backup a game and it won't work without a crack. I use backup CD's for all my games and programs, the originals are used for burning backup CD's, nothing else.

Is that Illegal? Not really sure, and frankly Scarlet......

 

[deadlysyn]

I also use Alcohol 120% to back up my games, and app discs, and hope like crazy it is legal. I also used DVDDecrypter and DVD Shrink, to back up all of my DVD collection. I only do this so that the original doesn't get ruined. But then you have the people that find programs like those, and go to Blockbuster with it. I think that ruins the original purpose of some of the programs. Although I could see creating cracks just for the purose of trying to create better copy protection, although that would hurt those of us that only use those programs for backup purposes. And also of course, I don't think I have ever heard of a White Hat Cracker. But the original question is: Do they do it to try to learn more about programming, since it seems to be so easy to do, or do they do it to try to rip off the companies that create so many of the apps that I use on a daily basis?

EDIT: I just hoped that some of the thoughts in my mind would make for a very good discussion, as did Thelemac, who I asked if this would be ok to talk about, or if it would violate the crack discussion rule.

 

[Thelemac]

There are a few reasons that people give...whether they're legit or just cop outs is for you to decide.

They don't feel you should have to pay with how much those companies make. They want to learn how to do it. They want the challenge. They hate authority. They hate copy protection. They believe in freedom of all information.

For the crackers themselves, some of those could apply. For those that use the cracks, it's all just a way for them to justify the usage to themselves...so they don't have to feel as if their stealing is something wrong.

Also, I just wanted to let ya know to keep it on topic...try to avoid mentioning things that could get this closed such as your own forays into using or creating cracks.

 

[s random]

they like doing illegal things, self accomplishment, dont feel like looking for cracks, and dealing with spyware so they do it themselves then submit it. and they might just like suiting a crack for their own needs. but in general it comes down to "i can do it so ill do it, and screw you if you dont like it"

 

[Crana]

They do it because they can. Its a challenge for them, just like building a computer

 

[>HyperlogiK<]

I think it's mainly kudos rather than some pseudo marxist belief. Coding in assmebly is a challenge full stop, trying to bypass the latest clever development of Safedisc or Securom (and maybe even code some clever splash screen demo with stupid music) is even more of one. I have spoken to a cracker or two and they seemed to do it largely as a sideline from coding new firmwares for mp3/dvd players and stuff like that.

Sorry Thelmac, I know this is a mention of use, but I have only used them to protect my discs rather than to infringe copyright or anything like that.

Doesn't matter, it's still against the rules. Keep it off specifics.

Thelemac

 

[tenchi86]

Ok I couldnt read all the post since they are so long. By crackers do you mean for programs though? If so then I think for a few reasons. I think often it starts off that people want the program for free and find out they enjoy the feeling of unlocking a 50 doller program for free. Others I think just want to show that no company can charge them for programs. A way of saying im better then you.

 

[Brundle Fly]

I have two teenage boys, 14 and 16, how they treat CD's is the equivalent of how a cat treats it's scratching post, they trash them. One of the first CD's they trashed on me was WordPerfect, back in '98, before I had a scanner or digital camera. To get a replacement CD meant jumping through hoops for Corel. I had to find someone to scan the CD and original packaging, then email the pics to Corel. If they agreed it was a legitimate copy, I would then have to send them the original CD and packaging, then wait for the replacement. All told, around $25 for a program that came bundled with my system for "free"(trust me, I paid for it, there ain't no free lunch).

I said screw it. A friend told me to get a burner and make backup CD's of everything, then use the backups instead of the originals. I've done it ever since.

Motivation for crackers? Some sincerely want to help others, they've gone through the replacement CD BS, and found an easier way. Maybe half of all crackers fall into this category.

For the other half, as I've alreay said, they want to stick it to the corporations who they say over-charge for software. I wouldn't lay all the blame for warez on the crackers' heads, a crack is useless without the original program, and this is where crackers get a real bad name.

Warez sites offer ripped CD's, ISO's etal, along with a crack for running the program. Even though the crack may have originally been intended to run backup CD's, it is now being used to steal software. Can you blame the cracker for that? It doesn't just happen in the computer world, many things are not used for the originally intended purpose.

Handguns are made for personal protection. If a handgun is used to rob someone, you can't turn around and say that Colt's(for example) motivation for producing said handgun was to offer criminals a device for robbing people.

In the end, a cracker's motivation isn't important from my point of view. I don't think the cracker's motivation should be called into question here, perhaps it should be the end user's motivation for getting the crack

 

[Pineabs]

all the user agreement of cds says that u are allowed to make a back up copy of your program. but it is impossible for the average joe to try to copy it. thats where alot of these cracks comes in.

 

[Mr_Fuchs]

I was wondering what the motivation of Crackers is. I have been searching every corner of my mind, trying to figure this out. I don't know for sure if they do it for some obscure chance that it may help them learn a little bit more about programming? Or is it more about trying to rip off hard working companies? I know this one person, who has played around with cracks, and has decided that he wants to try to create some. When I asked him why he would want to do that he couldn't give me a straight answer. I think the part that really got to him was when I asked what he would do if he created a program that is very useful, and he found out that he was losing his rear on it because of Crackers. I know. Again I am wondering about their MOTIVATION and WHY they create these files. I also read somewhere in a thread about Windows XP activation that someone has this thing for taking the key from the COA on the back of the display models. Why would you want to do this, either way it is considered to be stealing. You can't always get something for free, and if you think it's free, then it's more than likely stolen, and you will get caught. Anyway sorry if something I said is going a little too far, but I am really curious about this, and if there really is any educational purpose to cracking someones hard work.

crack sites get A LOT of money from advertising porn and other fun products (and other malware). Thread closed, it all comes back to $.

 

[deadlysyn]

crack sites get A LOT of money from advertising porn and other fun products (and other malware). Thread closed, it all comes back to $.

Although the original question was about the people who create the cracks, I do see what you are saying. But where is the money for those same files that are distributed other ways, like over P2P? I think the only occurrence of money on the mind of the cracker is not spending it on that new program that just came out. Anyone could post a file for download on a webpage, but the motivation for creation is the question at hand, and not the motivation for distribution. And of course, while looking for cheat codes, for some games, I have happened upon a few NoCD cracks, most of the time called patches on some sites. This bypasses the license check, that most games really need the CD for, especially if you do a full install. Is that considered a problem by the larger corporations, like Blizzard? I understand those who use them to try to protect their CD from getting ruined. But then there are the people who will go to someone who has a friend with game and say "Hey can I borrow your (insert popular game or program name)?" Those are the same people using some of the programs that we use, for backup purposes only, to try and get around having to pay for it. I don't even let people borrow my discs, and usually tell them that if they want the game or program they need to save up their money. The same way that I have gotten everything I own, whether it be a program or something material. If it means that all the programs that are meant for disc backup have to be taken off the market, so be it. I don't want to have to pay inflated prices for the things that I am going to use daily, because someone found an .iso on some P2P, and a key generator and license crack on some website. But again, the question still remains, "Why do they do it?" Why do they want to drive the costs of Doom 3 up? They don't seem to understand that for their cracks to be effective, someone does have to pay for the program. But in the end, someone has to pay for using their cracks. Personally, I think I would rather spend $30 - $50 on a game, or more on a program if the price is up that high, than spend time in prison for piracy.

 

[Mr_Fuchs]

why do you think cracks listed on p2p are usually laced with spyware. Spyware is meant to collect info about you for advertising, which traces back to money. it always goes back to money. They can drive the price of doom 3 all they want, it wont go up above reason (80) or casual gamers won't buy it. 80 or even 1000 (microsoft office suites are also available) is a good investment seeing as how their website will get MUCH MORE back in advertising, and even more for lacing it with their ads.

 

[deadlysyn]

Ok so money might be part of it, but I still think there is quite a bit more to it than that. I mean are these people just plain gutless, and think that by hiding behind a computer, they won't get caught. And if it were really about the money, I am sure there are better ways they could go about getting it. I mean if you have the knowledge to take a trial program, and make a patch that will make it a full version, you obviously have some skills behind that keyboard. Honestly if it were about money, I am sure these people would be doing a lot more than just sitting around creating cracks, and making what ever they get paid for attaching spyware. I just don't really see it as all that profitable. If you have the skills needed to break through some of the most advanced forms of copy protection, don't you think you would be working for Microsoft, or some other large corporation like that. I would rather use those skills to make a legitimate living, and I know that most of the people here would agree with me. Stealing is stealing, no matter how you look at it. Whether it be cracking a program, or robbing a convenience store. I do see how it could be somewhat educational, using it to learn how to code. But the only way that I see money being involved, is by them not spending it on the program they are trying to crack. I stay at a lame job, where the pay is barely over minimum wage. Why, because I love doing the job. Not everything is about money. And I honestly don't think that cracking is about making money, but instead not spending it. I downloaded a program or two, using P2P, which included the crack. At the time, I was young, and didn't really care. And to be honest, I never got infected with spyware from the cracks, but instead the P2P client itself. In all honesty, I think crack files are most likely to be infested with virii, and trojan horses. Sorry I have to disagree with you, but I really don't think it has much to do with any kind of income.