Starforce is a copy protection software tool designed to prevent illegal copying of CD/DVDs, primarily games. This program is installed as a hidden IDE drive during the game installation process.
Users are completely unaware of its existence, have no choice to opt-out of the installation, and cannot remove Starforce using Windows’ Add/Remove Software tool.
Starforce has proven to be a fairly effective anti-piracy tool that limits cracking. Many game developers, including Ubisoft and Egosoft, have used it to protect their products, unaware of the serious issues it could cause. Initially, Starforce was criticized for automatically installing without any user consent. Later, it was discovered that it was also linked to numerous malfunctions, leaving users oblivious to the potential risks until a “mishap” occurred.
One of the most common issues with Starforce occurs when reading or writing to a disc. If any data packet is lost, Windows XP will interpret this as an error, reducing the IDE speed and switching to 16-bit compatibility mode, causing the CD/DVD drive to become inoperable. In some cases, the drive may not be compatible with 16-bit mode, leading to hardware failures, particularly in multi-format CD/DVD drives. The most noticeable “symptom” is a drastic drop in disc writing speed, even when burning at the drive’s maximum speed. More seriously, Starforce can “turn rogue,” becoming a backdoor that allows viruses to easily infiltrate and take control of the entire system.
Due to these issues, many gaming enthusiasts around the world have joined the “Crusade” against Starforce. The slogan “Boycott Starforce” quickly gained traction on the website www.boycottstarforce.org (which is currently down for unknown reasons), attracting a large number of gamers to participate. They rallied together to campaign against Starforce and pledged not to purchase any game discs protected by it. Simultaneously, hackers were frantically searching for ways to “take down” this “troublesome entity” (though results were yet to be seen). Some even suggested… removing the CD/DVD drive altogether.
Ultimately, the “Crusade” achieved its first victories. On April 13, 2006, Ubisoft officially announced its abandonment of Starforce. The company’s games, starting with Heroes of Might and Magic V (scheduled for release on May 19), would switch to using other anti-piracy programs. Even the Starforce development team recommended that game producers provide a patch to help players eliminate the program.
However, many producers will continue to maintain Starforce. The “opposition” still calls on gamers to “not lay down arms” as long as Starforce remains in existence, establishing a new website at www.glop.org/starforce/ to “continue the unfinished struggle” of www.boycottstarforce.org.
NGUYEN HOANG MINH
