Im Scared Of Steam

Ev!L-aLphA · Sep 23, 2003, 06:14 AM

seriously i sorta am...

http://193.111.198.91/site/forum/sho...threadid=19420

(read this first)
http://www.planetmayhem.org/modules/...php?storyid=61
(read this second)
http://www.planetmayhem.org/modules/...php?storyid=63

http://www.planetmayhem.org/modules/...php?storyid=56

Steam is spyware?

it doesnt seem like Valve is willing to comment on it...

Steam searches everything from folders, to .zips, to .exes, to .mp3s, to .avis, to .mpgs, to .cpps, to ur damn internet explorer cookies and temporary files... and if thats not enough... it logs all of it (the full path) to a file...

umm, until Valve stops acting "better than you" and actually makes a goddamn comment about this, im not touching anything else made by Valve or any other company associated with Half-Life games. Including Half-Life 2, what a way to promote their game, making people think theyre being spyed on, and then not saying shit. f***ing idiots

i dont know wassup with this maby they work with the riaa cuz they search for mostly mp3 files :/

i may get HL2 but i dont know about steam

oh yes let me also say that u can find Kazaa usernames in the file also..

your username, and the username of the guy u downloaded from

heres some straight pictures of all of this:

http://members.lycos.nl/elx/steam/

and

http://home.no/coax/steam/

Rayder · Sep 23, 2003, 06:21 AM

Well, with names like "Steam" and "Valve", somebody's bound to get shafted or burned somewhere.

Could this be the humble beginnings of "Windows Rights Management" type of stuff? It certainly sounds like it to me.

MSX · Sep 23, 2003, 08:47 AM

Yeah its the same reason I haven't played CS 1.6... Well, aside from how they've been ruining it since 6.5. I fear I'm going to have to play HL2 with my modem unplugged...

ToshiroOC · Sep 23, 2003, 09:14 AM

Steam isn't spyware - that cache stuff is because it expands and allocates the cache but doesn't initialize it, so what happens is whatever old files were in the sectors of the hard drive that got allocated to the cache.gcf file are still readable if you go through cache.gcf. This is only an issue in FAT32, and will not happen in NTFS to the best of my knowledge. The cache stuff isn't spyware, but that doesn't mean the software doesn't have anything else in there o_O

pww2250 · Sep 23, 2003, 07:43 PM

I think its little more than an attempt to reinvigorate interest in HL and its mods. I personally find it annoying and unrefined more than anything else.

Whats up Joe!

brc64 · Sep 23, 2003, 11:15 PM

I've played Counter-Strike 3 times today via Steam, and I don't have a gcache.gcf file anywhere. The only GCF files I have are for my games.. that's it. I even peeked into those with a hex editor and didn't find anything "scary". Unless you've got a reason to be paranoid (H4x0r!!), I don't see any problem with running Steam (aside from the fact that it has a horrid interface and it can be slow as hell).

- Me

jonis · Sep 24, 2003, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ToshiroOC
Steam isn't spyware - that cache stuff is because it expands and allocates the cache but doesn't initialize it, so what happens is whatever old files were in the sectors of the hard drive that got allocated to the cache.gcf file are still readable if you go through cache.gcf. This is only an issue in FAT32, and will not happen in NTFS to the best of my knowledge. The cache stuff isn't spyware, but that doesn't mean the software doesn't have anything else in there o_O

Yeah, afaik ntfs should be ok... steam isnt spyware, but i still dont like the way valve/vivendi are force-feeding the crap down our throats...

tek · Sep 24, 2003, 12:10 AM

Forget CS 1.6, that Steam bullcrap I dont trust, and I wont have anything to do with it.

Ev!L-aLphA · Sep 24, 2003, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MSX
Yeah its the same reason I haven't played CS 1.6... Well, aside from how they've been ruining it since 6.5. I fear I'm going to have to play HL2 with my modem unplugged...

woot same here no modem in hl2 :P

@/2ct!< · Sep 24, 2003, 02:43 AM

Yeah, and all mods too. I havent DLed steam yet, but looks like I have to If I want to keep playin Dod. I heard it was buggy, and if so they shouldnt shut down WON so soon.

Raider1 · Sep 28, 2003, 12:27 AM

Yeah it's slow but that will get fixed, just like CS did when it frist came out buggie as hell severs crashing all the time. JUST REAMEMBER IT"S STILL CS 1.6 BETA.

ToshiroOC · Sep 28, 2003, 06:54 AM

Besides, even if it is spyware, if Valve doesn't have a warrant for my computer they can expect some serious legal problems from me if I ever get in trouble because of their program o_O

Vampyromaniac · Sep 28, 2003, 07:38 AM

now what on earth would you get in trouble for?

toddsmack2k · Sep 28, 2003, 08:14 AM

It might be in the folder that you have Vamp C:\My Document\Downloaded Files\pron,music,warez!!

Vampyromaniac · Sep 28, 2003, 08:18 AM

Um I was asking Tosh, thank you very much

EDIT: I have no such folder, I just checked now!

ToshiroOC · Sep 28, 2003, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vampyromaniac
now what on earth would you get in trouble for?

J:/warez - 26gb*
J:/movies - 12gb*
J:/mp3s - 30gb*

List could go on

*ALL LIESif you're from the RIAA

The mp3s are primarily rips of my own stuff, the movies same (some pre-release stuff I intend to buy), and the warez are actually ISOs of things I have already bought or stuff I've long since deleted and lost the originals for

The_Neon_Cowboy · Sep 28, 2003, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ToshiroOC
J:/warez - 26gb*
J:/movies - 12gb*
J:/mp3s - 30gb*

List could go on

*ALL LIESif you're from the RIAA

The mp3s are primarily rips of my own stuff, the movies same (some pre-release stuff I intend to buy), and the warez are actually ISOs of things I have already bought or stuff I've long since deleted and lost the originals for

are u sure were not related

...

sounds alot like me

toddsmack2k · Sep 29, 2003, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vampyromaniac
Um I was asking Tosh, thank you very much
EDIT: I have no such folder, I just checked now!

Sharkims · Sep 30, 2003, 12:31 AM

There is a little note about it in the steam faq.

http://www.steampowered.com/faq.htm#technical0

Raider1 · Sep 30, 2003, 01:02 AM

Sure

***craig5320*** · Sep 30, 2003, 01:38 AM

convieniant answer :|

brc64 · Sep 30, 2003, 02:30 AM

I have no reason not to believe this response. I'm told that Bit Torrent use to do the exact same thing on FAT32 drives. Unfortunately, people just tend to believe whatever they want to believe. As for me, I don't even have that file, and none of my other cache files contain any recognizable information (using NTFS here).

- Me

Sharkims · Sep 30, 2003, 03:10 AM

I am also running NTFS, it does not have that information inside it.

tek · Sep 30, 2003, 03:16 AM

Ehm, I'd have life in jail if they ever found out whats on my magic 60gb 8mb buffer HD.
OMG, dont even get me started on the CD case, thats why 60gb is enough for me, everything goes on CD and in the CD case, oh jesus... over $100,000 in there.

shhh

~~craig588~~ · Sep 30, 2003, 03:30 AM

You lock it and the cd case in a safe and you bury it, get a good one too, not some crap one from sears.

This is for informational and entertainment purpouses only, it is not a reccomendation or guide.

Vampyromaniac · Sep 30, 2003, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sharkims
There is a little note about it in the steam faq.

http://www.steampowered.com/faq.htm#technical0

LOL! it's gone

Sharkims · Sep 30, 2003, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vampyromaniac
LOL! it's gone

Looks like they changed the site coding.

http://www.steampowered.com/index.ph...58432,02298800

Vampyromaniac · Sep 30, 2003, 10:45 AM

Thanks.

EcPercy · Sep 30, 2003, 10:04 PM

lol @ tek.. its not worth keeping that much software around... honestly do you ever use even 1/3 of it? my bet is no... lol get rid of about $95,000 worth... besides.. if you got caught with that... its like $10,000 fine for each version of software pirated... so what.. you would be out about 1mil ... thats not worth the risk...

@/2ct!< · Sep 30, 2003, 10:41 PM

is steam forced yet? I just tried to play DoD but authentication failed on my normal server !!?$!?#$!@%?

Sep 23, 2003, 06:14 AM	#1
Ev!L-aLphA \| n f e c t e D Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: California Posts: 4,111 Rep Power: 0	Im Scared Of Steam seriously i sorta am... http://193.111.198.91/site/forum/sho...threadid=19420 (read this first) http://www.planetmayhem.org/modules/...php?storyid=61 (read this second) http://www.planetmayhem.org/modules/...php?storyid=63 http://www.planetmayhem.org/modules/...php?storyid=56 Steam is spyware? it doesnt seem like Valve is willing to comment on it... Steam searches everything from folders, to .zips, to .exes, to .mp3s, to .avis, to .mpgs, to .cpps, to ur damn internet explorer cookies and temporary files... and if thats not enough... it logs all of it (the full path) to a file... umm, until Valve stops acting "better than you" and actually makes a goddamn comment about this, im not touching anything else made by Valve or any other company associated with Half-Life games. Including Half-Life 2, what a way to promote their game, making people think theyre being spyed on, and then not saying shit. f**ing idiots i dont know wassup with this maby they work with the riaa cuz they search for mostly mp3 files :/ i may get HL2 but i dont know about steam oh yes let me also say that u can find Kazaa usernames in the file also.. your username, and the username of the guy u downloaded from heres some straight pictures of all of this: http://members.lycos.nl/elx/steam/ and http://home.no/coax/steam/ __________________ R.I.P 8/8/04 4/21/08 Last edited by Ev!L-aLphA; Sep 23, 2003 at 06:19 AM.*

Sep 23, 2003, 09:14 AM	#4
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Steam isn't spyware - that cache stuff is because it expands and allocates the cache but doesn't initialize it, so what happens is whatever old files were in the sectors of the hard drive that got allocated to the cache.gcf file are still readable if you go through cache.gcf. This is only an issue in FAT32, and will not happen in NTFS to the best of my knowledge. The cache stuff isn't spyware, but that doesn't mean the software doesn't have anything else in there o_O __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Sep 24, 2003, 12:10 AM	#8
tek DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, US Posts: 2,103 Rep Power: 0	Forget CS 1.6, that Steam bullcrap I dont trust, and I wont have anything to do with it. __________________ [COLOR=White][/COLOR]

Sep 24, 2003, 02:43 AM	#10
@/2ct!< HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Not Vegas, anymore :( Posts: 1,391 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, and all mods too. I havent DLed steam yet, but looks like I have to If I want to keep playin Dod. I heard it was buggy, and if so they shouldnt shut down WON so soon. __________________

Sep 28, 2003, 12:27 AM	#11
Raider1 There is always next year Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 601 Rep Power: 0	Yeah it's slow but that will get fixed, just like CS did when it frist came out buggie as hell severs crashing all the time. JUST REAMEMBER IT"S STILL CS 1.6 BETA. __________________ The Autumn Wind is a pirate. Blustering in from sea With a rollicking song he sweeps along swaggering boisterously. His face is weather beaten. He wears a hooded sash. With his silver hat about his head And a bristly black moustache. He growls as he storms the country. A villain big and bold. And the trees all shake and quiver and quake. As he robs them of their gold. The Autumn wind is a Raider. Pillaging just for fun. He'll knock you 'round and upside down. And laugh when he's conquered and won. My Rig

Sep 23, 2003, 06:21 AM	#2
Rayder Mostly lurking lately.... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 2,161 Rep Power: 73	Well, with names like "Steam" and "Valve", somebody's bound to get shafted or burned somewhere. Could this be the humble beginnings of "Windows Rights Management" type of stuff? It certainly sounds like it to me.

Sep 23, 2003, 08:47 AM	#3
MSX Burning the frozen... Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,201 Rep Power: 0	Yeah its the same reason I haven't played CS 1.6... Well, aside from how they've been ruining it since 6.5. I fear I'm going to have to play HL2 with my modem unplugged...

Sep 23, 2003, 07:43 PM	#5
pww2250 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	I think its little more than an attempt to reinvigorate interest in HL and its mods. I personally find it annoying and unrefined more than anything else. Whats up Joe!

Sep 23, 2003, 11:15 PM	#6
brc64 Zeeky H. Bomb Join Date: May 2002 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 826 Rep Power: 0	I've played Counter-Strike 3 times today via Steam, and I don't have a gcache.gcf file anywhere. The only GCF files I have are for my games.. that's it. I even peeked into those with a hex editor and didn't find anything "scary". Unless you've got a reason to be paranoid (H4x0r!!), I don't see any problem with running Steam (aside from the fact that it has a horrid interface and it can be slow as hell). - Me

Sep 28, 2003, 06:54 AM	#12
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Besides, even if it is spyware, if Valve doesn't have a warrant for my computer they can expect some serious legal problems from me if I ever get in trouble because of their program o_O __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Sep 28, 2003, 07:38 AM	#13
Vampyromaniac confutatis maledictis Join Date: May 2002 Location: somewhere dark Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	now what on earth would you get in trouble for? __________________ *Digitalis 3.3* Athlon 64 3000 // ASUS K8V SE Deluxe // 1024MB PC3200 (2-2-2-10 1T) ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro // 20" Dell 2005FPW (DVI) M-Audio Revo 7.1 + Philips Acoustic Edge // Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 320/16 Western Digital WD3200KS + 120/8 Seagate 7200.7 NEC ND-3550A 16x DVD±RW + Lite-On 52x24x CD-RW Antec Sonata case // 480W Antec TruePower personal bests \|\| Aq'3: 46796 \| 3D'01: 20461 \| 3D'03: 6336 \| 3D'05: 2677 \| PC'04: 4605 \| PC'02: 7691,9092,1250

Sep 28, 2003, 08:14 AM	#14
toddsmack2k It Never..... Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,173 Rep Power: 0	It might be in the folder that you have Vamp C:\My Document\Downloaded Files\pron,music,warez!! __________________ [color=blue]*Bleeding From the Inside Pouring Out, The* *DriverHeaven* Spiral, We Shall Never Let Go Of.[/color]

Sep 28, 2003, 08:18 AM	#15
Vampyromaniac confutatis maledictis Join Date: May 2002 Location: somewhere dark Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	Um I was asking Tosh, thank you very much EDIT: I have no such folder, I just checked now! __________________ *Digitalis 3.3* Athlon 64 3000 // ASUS K8V SE Deluxe // 1024MB PC3200 (2-2-2-10 1T) ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro // 20" Dell 2005FPW (DVI) M-Audio Revo 7.1 + Philips Acoustic Edge // Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 320/16 Western Digital WD3200KS + 120/8 Seagate 7200.7 NEC ND-3550A 16x DVD±RW + Lite-On 52x24x CD-RW Antec Sonata case // 480W Antec TruePower personal bests \|\| Aq'3: 46796 \| 3D'01: 20461 \| 3D'03: 6336 \| 3D'05: 2677 \| PC'04: 4605 \| PC'02: 7691,9092,1250

Sep 30, 2003, 12:31 AM	#19
Sharkims Seen my brain? Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WA,USA Posts: 760 Rep Power: 0	There is a little note about it in the steam faq. http://www.steampowered.com/faq.htm#technical0 __________________ System-1: MSI K8N Neo Platinum \|\| A64 3200+(200x11) - Zalman 7000A-AlCu \|\| 1x1gb OCZ PC3200@400(3-3-3-7) \|\| 9800XT \|\| WD Raptors 2x36 RAID0 System-2: MSI 875P Neo-FIS2R \|\| P4 2.4c(FSB:200) - Intel Cooler \|\| 2x256 GEIL PC3200@400(2-3-3-6) \|\| AIW9000 \|\| WD SE 120x2 RAID0 System-3: DELL Inspiron 9100 \|\| P4 3.0c(mobile) \|\| 2x256mb PC3200(3-3-3-8) \|\| Mobility Radeon 9700 - 128mb \|\| WSXGA+ 15.4" \|\| 60gb 5400RPM 8mb

Sep 30, 2003, 01:02 AM	#20
Raider1 There is always next year Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 601 Rep Power: 0	Sure __________________ The Autumn Wind is a pirate. Blustering in from sea With a rollicking song he sweeps along swaggering boisterously. His face is weather beaten. He wears a hooded sash. With his silver hat about his head And a bristly black moustache. He growls as he storms the country. A villain big and bold. And the trees all shake and quiver and quake. As he robs them of their gold. The Autumn wind is a Raider. Pillaging just for fun. He'll knock you 'round and upside down. And laugh when he's conquered and won. My Rig

Sep 30, 2003, 01:38 AM	#21
*craig5320* HH Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 8,565 Rep Power: 445 System Specs	convieniant answer :\| __________________ HardwareHeaven on Facebook

Sep 30, 2003, 02:30 AM	#22
brc64 Zeeky H. Bomb Join Date: May 2002 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 826 Rep Power: 0	I have no reason not to believe this response. I'm told that Bit Torrent use to do the exact same thing on FAT32 drives. Unfortunately, people just tend to believe whatever they want to believe. As for me, I don't even have that file, and none of my other cache files contain any recognizable information (using NTFS here). - Me

Sep 30, 2003, 03:10 AM	#23
Sharkims Seen my brain? Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WA,USA Posts: 760 Rep Power: 0	I am also running NTFS, it does not have that information inside it. __________________ System-1: MSI K8N Neo Platinum \|\| A64 3200+(200x11) - Zalman 7000A-AlCu \|\| 1x1gb OCZ PC3200@400(3-3-3-7) \|\| 9800XT \|\| WD Raptors 2x36 RAID0 System-2: MSI 875P Neo-FIS2R \|\| P4 2.4c(FSB:200) - Intel Cooler \|\| 2x256 GEIL PC3200@400(2-3-3-6) \|\| AIW9000 \|\| WD SE 120x2 RAID0 System-3: DELL Inspiron 9100 \|\| P4 3.0c(mobile) \|\| 2x256mb PC3200(3-3-3-8) \|\| Mobility Radeon 9700 - 128mb \|\| WSXGA+ 15.4" \|\| 60gb 5400RPM 8mb

Sep 30, 2003, 03:16 AM	#24
tek DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, US Posts: 2,103 Rep Power: 0	Ehm, I'd have life in jail if they ever found out whats on my magic 60gb 8mb buffer HD. OMG, dont even get me started on the CD case, thats why 60gb is enough for me, everything goes on CD and in the CD case, oh jesus... over $100,000 in there. shhh __________________ [COLOR=White][/COLOR]

Sep 30, 2003, 03:30 AM	#25
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	You lock it and the cd case in a safe and you bury it, get a good one too, not some crap one from sears. This is for informational and entertainment purpouses only, it is not a reccomendation or guide.

Sep 30, 2003, 10:45 AM	#28
Vampyromaniac confutatis maledictis Join Date: May 2002 Location: somewhere dark Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	Thanks. __________________ *Digitalis 3.3* Athlon 64 3000 // ASUS K8V SE Deluxe // 1024MB PC3200 (2-2-2-10 1T) ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro // 20" Dell 2005FPW (DVI) M-Audio Revo 7.1 + Philips Acoustic Edge // Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 320/16 Western Digital WD3200KS + 120/8 Seagate 7200.7 NEC ND-3550A 16x DVD±RW + Lite-On 52x24x CD-RW Antec Sonata case // 480W Antec TruePower personal bests \|\| Aq'3: 46796 \| 3D'01: 20461 \| 3D'03: 6336 \| 3D'05: 2677 \| PC'04: 4605 \| PC'02: 7691,9092,1250

Sep 30, 2003, 10:04 PM	#29
EcPercy HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Iraq Posts: 1,535 Rep Power: 0	lol @ tek.. its not worth keeping that much software around... honestly do you ever use even 1/3 of it? my bet is no... lol get rid of about $95,000 worth... besides.. if you got caught with that... its like $10,000 fine for each version of software pirated... so what.. you would be out about 1mil ... thats not worth the risk...

Sep 30, 2003, 10:41 PM	#30
@/2ct!< HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Not Vegas, anymore :( Posts: 1,391 Rep Power: 0	is steam forced yet? I just tried to play DoD but authentication failed on my normal server !!?$!?#$!@%? __________________