If there ever was a case for dedicated servers for Modern Warfare 2 its now, steam has gone on some maintenence update but so what you say well the problem is Call of Duty Modern Warfare on the PC needs the Steam “cloud” to work and so now its imposable to play the game. Now if Modern Warfare 2 was working on Dedicated servers this would never happen.
So FUCK Infinty Ward,Steam and Activison for fucking up what was a a great game and turning it into a pile of steam shit.
After having my World of Warcraft Account hacked i set about searching for how to remove any viruses and other crap that had made there way on to my PC so a quick google came up with these two great tips.
1) A program called KeyScrambler — it is free for your web browser.
2) An addon for Firefox called “NoScript” — this defaults to denying scripts to run on pages you view. But, if you are absolutely certain that the site is safe, you can quite easily allow scripts.
3) A program called “SnoopFree Privacy Shield 1.0.7″ — which alerts you to any program trying to attach itself to your computers keystrokes.
Magekíd’s guide: How to CLEAN your PC from keyloggers.
Hi all, this guide will help you on how to clean your pc from keyloggers.
Please take a look.Screenshots have now been added!!!
Please also take a look at the Unofficial Helper’s Forum (with IRC!)
> http://forum.anayra.info/ < (Thanks to Anayra for running this!)English is not my mother tongue, so some things are hard for me to explain, but I think i’m doing a good job, in general ^^
First of all, a note: Hijackthis is a tool, used for finding infections in your computer. Please note: THIS IS NOT A SCANNER. It shows both malicous rules, but also LEGIT rules. Do not fix rules in Hijackthis yourself!
You can find a list of forums that are qualified to look at your Hijackthis log here: http://asap.maddoktor2.com
In addition, here’s a list of forums where you can post your hijackthis logfile. – If you know any others, please let me know in a comment/reply!
Dutch/Belgium:
www.hijackthis.nl/forum
www.minatica.be/forum.php
http://www.antispywareoffensief.nl/forum/English:
http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/
http://forums.techguy.org/
http://www.techsupportforum.com/Before posting a Hijackthis log, please do the following steps upfront. I know this is alot of work, but that way most malware is already deleted and your logfile can be looked at faster.
Please remember: Follow ALL steps, including step 7Note: Vista Users must run installations and the downloaded programs as Administrator. You can do this by right-clicking the program and select Run as Administrator (The screenshot shows it for Hijackthis, You must use this for every program we use here)
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6665/guide1bb5.jpg <– Screenshot1. Download ATF Cleaner here: http://www.atribune.org/ccount/click.php?id=1 – and save it somewhere (Desktop for example)
– Start ATF Cleaner and check everything except “Prefetch” at the tab “Main“. Then press “Empty Selected”
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5641/guide2xo7.jpg <– screenshot– If you use Firefox as your browser, go to the Firefox tab and check everything except “Firefox Saved passwords”. Then press “Empty Selected”
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9761/guide2qu7.jpg <– Screenshot– If you use Opera as your browser, go to the Opera tab and check everything except “Saved Passwords“. Then press Empty Selected.
2. Download Ad-aware 2008 Free here: http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2008/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5&cdlPid=10903602 – and install it. If you get an license note during the installation, press Use Free After the installation, start Ad-Aware and press Update.
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/3198/guide3po0.jpg <– screenshot
When Ad-Aware is finished updating, press Scan and do a Full system scan
When the scanning is completed, You’ll see two tabs with infected objects. The first tab contains Critical Objects and the second tab Privacy Objects Check everything at both tabs and press Remove At the top of both tabs you see a number which says the amount of infections found. Please wait until both numbers say “0” and then press Complete.
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2029/guide4pg7.jpg <– screenshot
Close Ad-Aware3. Download Spybot Search & Destroy here: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html – and install it. During the installation, uncheck “Use Internet Explorer protection (SDHelper)” and “Use system settings Protection (TeaTimer)”
When the installation is completed, start Spybot S&D and press OK at the notice you get about Ad-Aware. It may also notify you about deleting temporary files. Just select yes Follow the Wizard, and when the wizard is done press Update in Spybot. Search for updates, check all available updates and install the updates. After that press the Immunize tab and Immunize your system. When the Immunization is done, press the Search & Destroy tab and start scanning your computer.
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/7301/guide5br0.jpg <– screenshotWhen Spybot S&D is done scanning. Check all found objects and press Fix Selected Problems.
If Spybot S&D cannot delete all found objects, it will ask if it can scan at the next reboot to fix the problems. Press Yes.
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/439/guide6uc1.gif <– screenshot
Now close Spybot S&D.4. Download MBAM (MalwareBytes’ Anti-Malware) here: http://www.besttechie.net/tools/mbam-setup.exe – and install it. Make sure that at the end of the installation, Update MalwareBytes’ Anti-Malware and Start MalwareBytes’ Anti-Malware is checked.
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9350/guide7bi9.jpg <– screenshot
When MBAM is started. Go to the Scanner tab and do a Full scan
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/9767/guide8iv5.jpg <– screenshot
Once MBAM is done scanning, press Show Results and make sure all found objects are selected. After that press Remove Selected
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5509/guide9sm1.jpg <– screenshot
When MBAM is done deleting objects a logfile will open. You can close this logfile.
The Logfile will automatically be saved at the Logs tab in MBAM.If MBAM found objects that can’t be deleted, it will ask to reboot your computer. Allow this and restart your computer.
4. If you didn’t restart your computer after running MBAM, restart it now anyway.
5. Do a full system scan with your virusscanner and remove all found infections.
If you do not have a virusscanner, you can scan online with one of these scanners. (Use Internet Explorer to scan)BitDefender: http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
Panda: http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm
Kaspersky: http://www.kaspersky.nl/scannerRemove all infections found.
6. Restart your computer.
7. Download Hijackthis here: http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/hijackthis/HJTInstall.exe – and install it. After the installation Hijackthis will open. Press Do a systemscan and save a logfile.
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/4533/guide10pz1.jpg <– screenshot
A notepad file will open. In the Notepad file, press CTRL + A to select everything, CTRL + C to Copy everything. Then press CTRL + V in a new topic at the forum you want to post the log.Also paste the MBAM log on the forum you place the Hijackthis logfile.
Many thanks for reading, if you have questions or problems, please ask
Also: Please note: Doing this all, is NOT A GUARANTEE your computer is not infected. There is no scanner that has a 100% detection rate.
– Magekid
I got an email this morning before i headed to college saying that wow account password had been changed, well guess what i didnt change it in fact i havnt played since early septemeber and my account is inactive. I merged my account with battle.net months ago and it worked fine when i logged in.
When i did try to login today i tried evey password combination i can remember and no luck. I tried to reset my password and it wont let me so it seems my account is either hacked or its something else.
Heres the email i got;
Hello xxx,
This is an automated notification regarding the recent change(s) made to your Battle.net account: [email protected]
Your password has recently been modified through the Account Management website.
*** If you made this password change, please disregard this notification.
However, if you did NOT make any changes to your password, we recommend you contact Blizzard Billing & Account Services for assistance keeping your account as secure as possible.
For more information, click here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions or to contact the Blizzard Billing & Account Services team.
Account security is solely the responsibility of the accountholder. Please be advised that in the event of a compromised account, Blizzard representatives typically must lock the account. In these cases the Account Administration team will require faxed receipt of ID materials before releasing the account for play.
Sincerely,
The Battle.net Account Team
Online Privacy Policy
The email looks real with the email headers looking correct. Unfortunetly the information you need to fill out to even get help with this from Blizzard support is insane, you need the original game CD key and all sorts off other stuff which i didnt have time to get this morning.
The email header;
Received: from ew1-web-10-blade02.wowadmin.net (ew1-web-10-blade02.wowadmin.net [10.50.53.42])
by smtp06.eu.worldofwarcraft.com (8.13.8/8.13.8) with ESMTP id nAA6Odc5027774
for <myemail>; Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:24:40 GMT
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:24:39 GMT
Message-ID: <29437094.1257834279963.JavaMail.tomcat@ew1-admin-smtp-vip.wowadmin.net>
From: Blizzard Entertainment <[email protected]>
It seems my account has been hacked after all as Blizzard have sent this email to me;
Greetings,
We are writing to inform you that we have, unfortunately, had to cancel your World of Warcraft account:
Account Name: ********
Type of Violation: Involvement in online trading activities
Investigation Concluded: 10/11/2009
Consequences for Account: Account CancellationIt is with regret that we take this type of action, however, it is in the best interest of the World of Warcraft community as a whole, and for the integrity of the game, that your access to the World of Warcraft servers be cancelled.
Online trading refers to the exchange of in-game content for real world money, and includes, but is not limited to, the sale or purchase of gold, the sale or purchase of experience in the form of powerlevelling, and the sale or purchase of honor points, reputation or items.
Account access is the responsibility of the account owner and account sharing is against our Terms of Use (http://www.wow-europe.com/en/legal/termsofuse.html). Therefore, should you believe someone other than yourself (the account owner) has committed this violation of the Terms of Use with your account, these sanctions would still apply, as our action is taken against the account, not the individual.
If you wish to review our current Rules and Polices, they can be found at:
http://www.wow-europe.com/en/policy/Regards,
Account Administration Team
Blizzard Entertainment Europe
Edit Update 13-nov-09:
I still dont know how i was hacked as ive all windows updates, Anti virus and a firewall. Avast said my Windows installation was clean, so did Spybot Search and Destroy. Howeve Lavasofts Adaware came up with a load of different viruses but didnt tell where they were. So in order to be sure i changed passwords to all my email accounts.
Ever since i was aware that Wow accounts would be hacked and cleaned out like this ive been very aware of my wow password and had Anti-Virus and firewall software installed. Bu i never thought this would matter if your wernt playing anymore. Since my account was inactive i dont know how it was hacked and im stilll waiting on Blizzard to contact me. I cant get even get though to them by using there UK number when they have an office in ireland in cork, so thats bloody great.
Edit: 20 – Nov Source of Virus Found – my College
Im after putting in the memory stick that i use for college in the DKIT and my new Anti Virus ESET Security (AVAST didnt even detect it) has picked up the virus on it something called;
“N:\9g86.exe – Win32/PSW.OnLineGames.NNU trojan”
So its clear even from the name that this is the nasty bastard virus that let somebody hack my account, whats even worse is that weeks ago at college the Anti-virus up there reported that some file on the memory stick had a virus but it didnt remove it and i thought nothing of it. Window then must have run the file when i put the Memory stick in. Ill never use Avast Anti-virus again even though ive used it for 5 years.
While searching for info about steams rip-off pricing i found this script that you can use to show just how much Steam is ripping you off. It turns out that steam is pricing some/all games at the rate of 1€ = 1$.
In late 2008 Valve’s Steam online games store implemented a new regional pricing system. Prices had formerly been the same across all regions, and USD was the only currency accepted for payments. After the change, prices were presented in USD, GBP or EUR depending on the user’s geographical region. Steam employed an exchange rate of 1€ = 1$ when setting the new European prices, which compared to the formed USD-only sytem made prices go up by more than 40% in Europe. Many games were now significantly more expensive on Steam than in European retail stores. Wasn’t the whole point of using download stores like Steam that they should be cheaper and more convenient to use?
This script is meant as a shopping tool for European customers to help avoid being cheated by Steam’s new European prices. It is installed as a user script in the Firefox or Opera web browsers. When visiting Steam’s webshop, prices will be displayed in all three currencies (USD, GBP and EUR), you can also see the percent difference from the North American price. This will enable you to make an informed decision on whether or not the Steam price is acceptable.
While looking on steam at the price of the new Call of Duty Game Modern Warfare 2 game and being shocked at the price their charging i got an email from play.com telling about how you can pre-order the game and have it on the day of release. When i checked out the two prices it turned out there a huge €15 difference.
Ive posted before about how games on steam are more expensive and its generally known. But how can they justify the charge of €60 for a PC Game? Most PC Games never are more than about €45 in a retail shop on steam however they normally hit €50 or more. So after a little searching i found out that theres are website about this very topic.
So i checked out the prices of 3 new upcoming PC Games and heres the results below;
Call of duty: Modern Warfare 2
Dragons Age of Origin:
Left for Dead 2
(prices correct as of 6-nov-09)
Average difference in price is about €12 and this is for a digital download with no DVD, case or manual how on earth can this be justified? Im going to post the prices of the same against Directtodrive which is another digital download service later.
Heres a site i found exposing the problems with steams service;
Even if after all that if you still dont believe it check out this artivle from the theinquirer.net which lists even more games and the price rip-off;
Company of Heros: Tales of Valor [Steam = £29.99 / Play.com =£17.99]
Football Manager 2009 [Steam = £29.99 / Play.com =£14.99]
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II [Steam = £34.99 / Play.com =£22.99]
Empire: Total War [Steam = £39.99 / Play.com =£29.99]
Half-Life 2: Orange Box [Steam = £16.99 / Play.com =£14.99]
Call of Duty: World at War [Steam = £29.99 / Play.com =£29.99]
Bioshock [Steam = £13.99 / Play.com =£9.99]
Ton clancy’s: End War [Steam = £34.99 / Play.com =£14.99]
Drakensang [Steam = £29.99 / Play.com =£17.99]
X3: Terran Conflict [Steam = £22.99 / Play.com =£14.99]
Grand Theft Auto IV [Steam = £26.99 / Play.com =£24.99]
Vin Diesel: Wheelman [Steam = £29.99 / Play.com =£17.99]
Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.K. [Steam = £34.99 / Play.com =£17.99]
Fear 2 [Steam = £24.99 / Play.com =£24.99]
Crysis: Maximum Edition [Steam = £32.99 / Play.com =£26.99]
Its been confirmed that the PC Version of MW2 will not get dedicated servers instead some crappy matchmaking service. This sounds crap and indeed its caused a huge fuss with us picky PC Gamers leading to a petition against this move which is at 130,000 signatures so far. Not only this but the amount of people who are not going to buy the game and have cancled there pre-order is quite large.
I signed the petition but i doubt it will have any effect lets hope it will as playing on a dedicated server is what PC gaming is all about and the addition of mods is also a great extra us PC Gamers get.
You can sign the petition here;
http://www.petitiononline.com/dedis4mw/
More discussion about this below;
http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=60933
Hitler cancels his MW2 Order, this is quite funny and very true;
Arma 2 seems to me to be the only PC Game at the moment that really pushes a PC’s gaming performance to the max.The game is amazing when its in full detail but is a total nightmare to get any kind of decent performance from. I still have yet to finish the game as i just cant play it on the normal settings as it looks terrable however cranking up the detail slows the framerate down and your left chasing the Frame Rate Vs Visual Quality.
Its not been since Crysis or maybe Flight Sim 10 that its been hard to get a game running right and look its best. In Arma 2’s case it seems that im not alone in getting bad performance from the game. I was reading many posts on the Bohemia Arma 2 forums about Arma 2 and most people have the same issues i have.
The game seems to have huge problems loading textures and other stuff on the screen when you play, which leaves you looking a trees suddenly apearing and grass just loading before your eyes which totaly ruins any emersion or reailty when your playing the game. There is general theory that Arma 2 is just not optimised properly for the PC which seems to be true from what ive read.
I read a post on the BIS forums from somebody who had a brand new ATI 5870 (Best GFX Card you can buy at the moment) and the game was still running poorly.
Which is just shocking, however there seems to be a theory going round the Arma2 forums that the game is having problems loading data from the hard disk and thus the “poping” or “slowdown” occuring.
My own PC Specs:
AMD Phenom 9850 BE quadcore
4 gig DDR 2 Ram
ATI Radeon 4870 512mb
Windows Vista 64 bit
Here’s how I got ARMA2 to perform smoothly (high fps, no stutter, no LOD trashing)
A thread discussing possable solutions to improve Arma 2’s performance.
ArmA 2 I/O analysis results
How Arma 2 manages loading and saving Data to the hard drive.
Heres a collection of TF2 Sprays ive made for myself aka “Fuzzy Dunlop” a name i heard on the TV Series “The Wire”. If you wish to use any of them you will need to save them as .BMP files (Bitmap Files) otherwise Steam wont let you use them as a spray paint. I think i have the Photoshop PSD somewhere which i can upload if you wish to edit the source file and add your own TF2 name.
Back in the days when World of Warcraft was great i.e The Burning Crusade when i was in a guild as a gnome warlock called “Chuckie” we were on the Boss “VoidReaver” which was a 25 player raid and reasonably easy.
However one of our shadow priests was having great problems with “Aggro” on this boss and i decided to make a “Comic” in photoshop about it. Bear in mind its 2 years old now (how time flies) and was funny at the time.
Since i got bored of World of Warcraft after the last huge patch, (well i logged in and seen there was nothing do really apart from one new confusing Battleground) ive been playing Valves Superb Team Fortress 2.
Its a lot of fun with great choice of classes and maps. Ive been mainly playing the one map however CTF_2FORT on the same server for the last couple of months. Now anyone that knows that map knows its a very small compact map that doest give a lot of room to hide or run around especially when the server is a 32 player server.
Ive had some great games on that server and met some great people and some complete assholes of course. Most of the time im an “Engineer” building up my sentry gun and fixing other peoples. Nowadays im anything but an “Engineer”, been playing “Spy” quite a bit at the moment which is great fun if you get lucky and do it right.
