This FAQ is a modified version of Alt.binaries.cracks FAQ (Since I do not
have the time to write one this will have to suffice until such time) if
you think it's missing something or you can do better, by all means PLEASE
post this group could use it.. I would help review, and post..
Gumbo
=WARNINGS===================================================================
===
This is not the group for F.O.S.I. questions, read their FAQ at their site.
Use any search engine like http://www.metacrawler.com/ to find their URL.
If you are GREEDY or IMPATIENT - you WON'T get help
NO REPLIES BY EMAIL - WATCH FOR THE ANSWER HERE
If you post it - IT WON'T BE CRACKED
TESTS belong in alt.binaries.test
CHALLENGES WILL NOT BE WORKED ON
AOL ADDONS WILL NOT BE WORKED ON
THERE IS NO LIST - WE DO NOT TRADE HERE
We don't fix warez releases - contact the release group.
We don't know why [website] is not working. DON'T ASK.
SPAM IS NOT WELCOME NOR ARE ANY OTHER ADVERTISEMENTS.
============================================================================
===
Get inctrl5.zip and USE IT:
http://ftpsearch.lycos.com/cgi-bin/search?form=medium&query=inctrl5.zip
Get Forte's Agent and USE IT:
ftp://ftp.forteinc.com/pub/agent/a32-18.exe
Buy it (recommended) or http://us.box.sk/cgi-bin/robot.cgi?srch=forte+agent
============================================================================
===
New to Usenet? Please read the general Usenet FAQs
http://www.faqs.org/usenet/
============================================================================
===
Most Frequently Requested Cracks:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Adobe - there are none for their save disabled trials
Microsoft product serials
Try 111-1111111 or 1112-1111111 or http://kickme.to/winblowz98 by Nitallica
Winzip
http://us.box.sk/cgi-bin/robot.cgi?srch=winzip
Zip Password Crackers
http://us.box.sk/cgi-bin/robot.cgi?srch=zipcrack
Paintshop Pro
http://us.box.sk/cgi-bin/robot.cgi?srch=paintshop
Macromedia Flash, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Director and deprotectors
http://us.box.sk/cgi-bin/robot.cgi?srch=macromedia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Did you check http://astalavista.box.sk/ ? Try both the author and app
names.
Did you check http://www.elitetoplist.com/ for a retail version of the app?
What are (ISO/RAR/etc.) files? http://www.wotsit.org/
Looking for a specific file? Go to http://www.filesearch.ru/en/advanced/
Looking for programs (aka warez)? Go to http://www.warezfaq.org/
Looking for TV Card descramblers? Try alt.binaries.multimedia.utilities
Looking for audiowarez? Try alt.binaries.sounds.utilities
Looking for non-ratio ftp sites? Try http://alt2600.com/faqs
Need help copying a CDROM? Try alt.comp.periphs.cdr
Need help with a game? Try http://www.gamecopyworld.com/
Need help with Sony Playstation games? Try alt.games.video.sony-playstation
Need help with privacy/anonymity? Try alt.privacy or
alt.privacy.anon-server
Need help with passwords? Try
http://www.hackers-supply.com/hack/psw/crack.html
Need porn site passwords? Look in alt.sex.passwords - we don't have them
AVP Virus Software is not AVX -> http://www.avp.ch/E/products.htm
Need a better newsfeed, ISP, search engine, etc.?
Check alt.binaries.news-server-comparison and
>
http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Business_to_Business/Communication
s_and_Networking/Internet_and_World_Wide_Web/Usenet_Servers/
Confused by FWIW, HTH, RTFM? http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall/abbrev.html
****************************************************************************
***
BEFORE You complain about others please read:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
The SPAM FAQ: http://www.killfile.org/~tskirvin/faqs/spam.html
NetAbuse FAQ: http://www.cybernothing.org/faqs/net-abuse-faq.html
and the appropriate Acceptable Use Policy for their News Server.
If they are complying with the 3 documents above - there is not much you
can do except learn how to use a killfilter
****************************************************************************
***
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Discussion
on cracking related topics is also welcome. Anything else should be posted
to
another group.
Please, CRACKS ONLY - NOT APPLICATIONS (cracked or uncracked) here.
Post applications to alt.binaries.misc or a warez group [you can post an
"alert message" that says the app was posted somewhere else].
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
What's a crack? It is an unauthorized modification to software (similar
to putting a high performance exhaust system on your car), a serial number,
registration code, or some other means of removing software limitations.
Who are these crackers? Crackers are software engineers who work on
programs
without the benefit of the original source code. Most are hobbyists. All
post their work for free. THEY OWE YOU NOTHING. All they ask is that you
follow the guidelines below.
Cracks are designed to overcome "performance limitations" in software to
allow
you to more accurately assess the usefulness of the product. Timebombs,
menu
disabling, and Nag Screens are all hinderances to "high performance
computing".
Icon modification and cosmetic fixes (splash screen killing) are also
on-topic,
as is the removal of dongle (hardlock) code.
Do a web search for "software reverse engineering" for more details.
DO NOT CROSSPOST your requests outside of alt.cracks, alt.binaries.cracks
and Viwa.Crack.and.hack,
alt.binaries.cracks.phrozen-crew - these are the core cracks groups.
Excessive
cross-posting will bring you nothing but trouble.
The alt.2600.* groups HAVE NOTHING TO DO with alt.binaries.cracks
Please also read:
LeoGetz's Booby-Trapped Shareware list - http://LGbts.cjb.net/
Nitallica's "How To Search" - http://learn2search.cjb.net/
and other messages about the application you seek.
____________________________________________________________________________
___
2. What subjects are ON-TOPIC? What are common OFF-TOPIC posts?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
ON-TOPIC: (Requests for) Cracks, serial numbers, and special modifications
to
SOFTWARE. 99% of current activity is for Win32 programs. Please
confine non-binary posts to cracking related discussion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
OFF-TOPIC: PSX, Hardware discussions, CDROM copy questions, "What's the
best?"
questions, Porn/Adultcheck Passwords, Trading, Full applications,
"how do I use this app?", uncracked "Crack this" programs,
Viruses,
Mailbombers, Autoposters, Nukers, ICQ, Hotmail/etc.,
descramblers,
Game cracks, cheats and patches, FTP sites, WWW sites, hacking,
General software or warez support questions ("how do I...?")
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
GRAY-AREA: Jokes. Occasional humor is welcome, especially at the expense of
lamers. Just don't get carried away.
PGP messages are also discouraged - use other means when possible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
There are over 60,000 newsgroups - find the one with the title
closest to your question and ask it there. You will get more
help
faster.
____________________________________________________________________________
__
3. Which programs are good candidates for cracking?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
a. Timebombs: The program operates with all features for a set number of
days.
One form of timebomb is Timelock or VBox by Preview Software.
b. Registration Codes: The software requires a serial number to turn on all
of its features.
c. Dongles: The program checks for the presence of a hardware device and
goes
into demo mode if the dongle is not present.
d. Smear/Watermark: The program alters all saved images by overprinting an X
or text on them.
____________________________________________________________________________
__
4. What are poor candidates for cracking?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
a. Crippled: Often saving, copying to the clipboard, or printing are
disabled.
The code for those functions may not be present in the demo. If that is the
case, then the application cannot be fixed. Don't expect crippled
applications
to be fixed at the same rate as the good candidate applications.
b. Large or limited distribution: Crackers cannot work on programs by
telepathy
- they need to get their hands on the program. If there isn't a download
URL,
it's probably not a good candidate.
c. SPAMMING tools: email extractors, autoposters, mass mailers and the like
are a pox on the internet. No one likes SPAM, and we're not going to make
their job any easier.
d. If the author mentions getting a registered version in the mail or via a
secret URL, the demo is probably too crippled to fix.
e. Visual Basic applications - be certain to note the VB version number.
VB4 is nearly uncrackable, and interpreted VB5 and VB6 apps (as opposed to
compiled) are just as bad.
f. AOL addons - a cracker needs to subscribe to AOL to test the crack.
g. Java app - programs like Anfy Java and other web fluff are rarely
cracked.
h. Non-Win32 apps - most crackers are using Win9x or WinNT
i. Games - game demos are crippled and the game crackers don't read a.b.c
____________________________________________________________________________
__
5. How do I get my request filled? (or Why am I being ignored?)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Ignorance is tolerated by most crackers and posters, but laziness is not.
Following this procedure should prove to be a real time-saver for you.
Regular visitors to this group know and use these sites first, prior to
making
a request. Why wait days to see if someone responds to your post?
Check this URLs first and odds are you'll find what you are looking for:
http://astalavista.box.sk/
Couldn't locate it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
Visit Nitallica's http://learn2search.cjb.net/ to discover new ways of
finding
things on the web and ftp sites.
Then go back the message headers for Viwa.crack.and.hack and use the FIND
function in your news reader. Type in a few characters pertaining to the
program you want and press "Find", followed by "Find Next" to browse through
all the related messages.
If you still have no success, proceed as follows:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
You MUST supply the EXACT version number with your request to make certain
that
you get the right crack. You MUST provide a download URL for the same
reason.
NOTE: Requests must be labelled 'REQ', 're' is for followups to previous
posts.
For best results, post a request using this:
============================================================================
===
Subject : REQ: Crack for SuperNeato 2.0.3 by NeatoSoft
: (many crackers filter on "REQ:" - use "Re:" ONLY for
REPLIES)
===================================================================>8[cut
here]
Application : Put *FULL* name of application here with version number
: Should be the same as the subject line.
Author(s) : Company name, etc (it may make a difference, especially
: if they use the same protection on all their apps!)
Website URL : http://www.information page of app
: i.e. http://www.neato.com/neato203.htm
Download URL : http://www.full url to download (http: or ftp:)
: i.e. http://www.neato.com/downloads/ndemo203.zip
Download Size : 1.8 MB (this is _important_ - many crackers have slow
modems)
Description : What kind of program is it? Util, PS Plugin, etc?
: i.e. 3D Graphics Program
OS Info : what OS is it available on? which one are you asking to
crack?
: i.e. Windows NT ONLY
File Size : name of the program and file size (so crackers know they're
: working on the RIGHT version and file you're asking for!!)
: i.e. Neato.exe 1,234,098 bytes
File Version : self explanatory (FULL VERSION NUMBER)
: i.e. My Neato Program 2.0.3[tip - right click on file, look
at
: Properties -> Version Tab]
Language : ditto! (ENGLISH, FRENCH, ETC.)
Protection : Is it time bombed, crippled (describe HOW and WHAT features)
: passworded, file save disabled, etc. BE DETAILED, THE MORE
: INFO YOU GIVE THE EASIER IT IS TO FIND AND DISABLE.
Comments : Description and any other comments you think might help.
: This is a sales pitch - you want to sell a cracker on it!
Contact : SECURE email address, or VIA newsgroup (ATTN: WHOMEVER) so
: that if a cracker needs more info from you or wants to test
: it before posting. Consider using alt.anonymous.messages.
: Supply your RSA public PGP key in your first message.
===================================================================>8[cut
here]
No download URL? Ask first using the template and explain that in the
comments. Usually a cracker asks that the app be posted to
alt.binaries.misc
Remember - it's impossible for a cracker to modify a program if she can't
get her hands on it. CDROM size programs are usually out of the question.
Much of the success of an effective crack will depend on the amount of
detail
YOU provide about the program. Just waiting around to install the app
_after_
the crack is made is considered laziness. The cracker has to put that work
in
and so should you.
____________________________________________________________________________
___
6. Is this legal?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
That question is OFF-TOPIC here. If you are worried, don't use any of the
patches or serial numbers posted here. You can ask in a *.legal or *.law
group, but you won't like the answer. Just like modifications to
automobiles,
the answers vary by country, state, or city.
If the product meets your needs and you continue to use it, you ought to
reward
the authors for their work. You want them to improve the program, don't
you?
BE DISCREET. Don't brag about this group, or draw unwanted attention here.
Specifically, don't harass or taunt the author.
____________________________________________________________________________
___
7. Other Frequently Asked Questions:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. How do I use a crack?
A. All good quality cracks come with instructions in the [i]NFO file. Use
any
text editor to read the NFO file. If you still do not understand, ask for
help
AND tell us which crack you are trying to use.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. How do I know if a cracker is working on my request?
A. Crackers rarely advertise what they are working on. Be patient.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. I've asked 3 times now, what do I have to do to get you to post the
crack?
A. Be patient. Fill in the request form and post it weekly until you get
an answer or a crack.
Getting impatient or complaining about the wait will DELAY the crack.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. How do I unzip/unrar/unace/decode/etc.?
A. Do a web search and visit http://www.winzip.com/ http://www.rarsoft.com/
etc
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. How do I learn how to crack?
A. The answers are on the web - learn how to search it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. I think a crack has a virus! What do I do?
A. Scan it with at least 3 up to date virus checkers. If 2 or more agree,
then delete it. Post an announcement with the subject line:
Possible VIRUS >> [filename] posted by [poster name] on [date]
Explain which scanners you used, and which virus was found.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. How does software know that it was already installed?
A. We commonly call the markers "turds". You need to use PC Magazine's free
In Control utility (see URL in section 0) to track the install. Many times
the markers are left when you uninstall, those are the turds that are
detected
the next time you install. Run the app ONCE before finishing InControl,
many
apps plant the turd on the first time you run it.
Get Regmon and Filemon to "post-mortem" turd busting at
http://www.sysinternals.com/
Even better - use both ConfigSafe and a drive imaging tools such as Ghost to
make periodic safe copies of your critical system files, especially prior to
installing new shareware. ConfigSafe and Ghost can be found in warez
groups.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. How do I piss off the crackers?
A. Use words like "CHALLENGE", "DON'T WORK", or show impatience in you
posts.
ALL CAPS really annoys people too.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. But the crack really DOESN'T WORK, how do I get ONE THAT DOES WORK?
A. Occasionally a cracker misses something. More often, a new version is
released. In either case, MAKE A NEW REQUEST USING THE FORM ABOVE. Any
other
response is probably going to piss the original cracker off, and she's the
person best qualified to fix or update the crack. EXPLAIN IN DETAIL in the
comments section which cracks you tried, and what limits still remain after
using the crack. (Most crackers do not touch apps that other crackers have
worked on, so you're stuck with the original cracker in most cases).
Some authors monitor Viwa.Crack.and.hackand change their app to defeat the
crack. DO NOT GET IN A FRENZY! Those updates rarely add new features, just
stick with the older version.
Use http://ftpsearch.lycos.com/?form=medium to look for an older version.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. My cracked version of SuperNeato connected to the author's website, and
the
web page says I'm BUSTED - what do I do?
A. Most of the time the author is just trying to scare you. Sometimes the
app
will trash your system. BE CAREFUL using cracks on NEWER versions of the
app,
always maintain a backup of your system, and uninstall the app that gave you
the message.
Be sure to make a post to LeoGetz's attention for the Booby-Trapped
Shareware
List.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. What words should I avoid?
A. "ME TOO", URGENT, DESPERATE, TIA, "add me to your list", and anything
that
indicates impatience or anger. Be nice to the crackers and they will be
nice
to you. YOUR "VOTES" are meaningless. We don't care.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q. Why are there at least two requests for Paint Shop Pro every day?
A. Because they didn't check astalavista first.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Q: What's the gibberish?
A: http://www.rahul.net/falk/glossary.html#sporgery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Many thanks to all who have contributed in some way
-----------------------
The Leecher's Creed
I can't crack, therefor I leech.
I leech, therefor I post.
I post, therefor I am.
----
"Trust us; we're Honorable men. We're here to help you."
(paraphrase of the late William Colby, former head of C.I.A.)
http://www.ipgpp.com/ (Imad's PGP page)
----
The Arthur H. Schwartz And "Perfect-Shareware" Handbook
http://www.themidden.co.uk/artie
http://www.themidden.co.uk/artie/1.html
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