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Hackers breach Electronic Arts, stealing game source code and tools

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Re: Hackers breach Electronic Arts, stealing game source code and tools

#72
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose. But, this has very little to do with piracy. The source code wasn't acquired in order to compile bootleg versions of the game, and thus leading to loss of sales. This is the illegal gain of someone else's intellectual property. "Stealing" is a reasonable word to use in this context.

But the wider point is that "intellectual property" cannot effectively be "stolen", only "unlawfully obtained or reproduced". Nobody is ever deprived of IP or even its legally-created exploitation rights; it's only the market value of such IP that is allegedly affected. I reckon we need a new word. "Pirating" has sort-of taken that space but it's not really good and it only covers distribution. It should be something…

Freebooting. https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Freebooting As coined in hello internet. (If the intent is indeed to re-package and profit)

Re: Hackers breach Electronic Arts, stealing game source code and tools

#74
post #4

> "Anytime source code gets leaked it's not good," said Ekram Ahmed, a spokesperson for the cybersecurity firm Check Point. "Hackers can comb through the code, identify deeper flaws for exploit, and sell that previous code on the dark web to malicious threat actors." This seems like a strong argument against using open source codes. Should I take this argument seriously and avoid them?

This is a typical free BBC advertisement for a cyber security firm to use this data breach and source code leak as an example to lure the fearful and confused to pay for their consultation fees.

His argument is also complete horsesh_t to prop up the firm and to also spread FUD. Just look at this sentence: 'identify deeper flaws for exploit', tells you they don't even understand that you find the vulnerabilities first and THEN you develop an exploit for it.

Another "death sentence" of journalistic quality at the BBC whilst also advertising for firms that have clueless spokespeople.

Re: Hackers breach Electronic Arts, stealing game source code and tools

#77

It reminds me of when unsuspecting thieves accidentally stole a container of Iridium-192 used for industrial radiography from a lab in Mexico, and were eventually arrested and taken to the hospital to be treated for radiation burns. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-32332271 The FBI should keep an eye on hospitals for anyone showing up with burning bleeding eyes and a swelling itching brains and melting fa…

How is this connected to stealing source code of a computer game?

Re: Hackers breach Electronic Arts, stealing game source code and tools

#79

I am an adept of the free code as we should own the source code of the products we buy. It might be too early for society to adopt something this radical but I believe Stallman was right. Mainly that's why I stick to open source technology only.

And extend it to Hardware, Cars and so on.

Re: Hackers breach Electronic Arts, stealing game source code and tools

#80
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a presumption that open source code has been looked at by independent researchers. "Many eyes". In contrast, source code of games is a trade secret. It is being worked at by famously overworked developers. And companies in the industry are known to sit on vulnerability reports for months or years. Don't ever install games on a machine you use for work or identity.

Could you clarify what you mean by identity please?

I never put on my gaming computer things that I use to identify myself with important entities:

- Banking.

- Insurance.

- Main Google account.

- SSH keys.

- GPG keys.

- Pictures of any important documents.

- Digital copies of any important documents.

Basically: the moment you start installing games on a computer, assume it makes its contents world read/writeable.

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