Program to detect/stop Starforce installation?

[Nakor]

Since the demos of games that use Starforce also install starforce (for whatever reason..), I'm now hesitant to install any demos. Is there a program that can detect/stop Starforce installation? Would a standard spyware prevention program do that? Any recommendations?

Note that I'm not wanting to bypass this insidious protection, I just want to stop a program from installing it without my knowledge. I realize the program won't work without it. That's fine; I won't buy those games.

Thanks

[warning]

I don't believe there is any way to detect Starforce prior to its installation.  Once installed there are ways to detect and/or remove it.

[Nakor]

Since it uses a device driver, I was hoping that maybe there was some program (like, maybe, an anti-spyware type program or something of that ilk) that could detect when a device driver was being installed and stop it.

But, the only spyware programs I'm familiar with are ones that scan for programs, not actively monitor the system.

So, I'm still looking for suggestions.

[Jeff]

I *think* this little tool will scan for it:

http://www.aray-software.com/

You can have it scan a directory, rather than just a disc drive. Actually, I'd like to test this, anyone know a demo known to install Starforce? I've had one before, but now I've forgotten what it was.

[Beer Goggles]

I *think* this little tool will scan for it:

http://www.aray-software.com/

You can have it scan a directory, rather than just a disc drive. Actually, I'd like to test this, anyone know a demo known to install Starforce? I've had one before, but now I've forgotten what it was.

Try the Chaos League demo.

[Nakor]

Wouldn't you have to install the demo first before scanning? Wouldn't that mean that Starforce had already been installed?

I have read that this program will detect Starforce as it is being installed and prevent it. I'll try it out and let you know.

http://www.prevx.com/prevxhome.asp

[Beer Goggles]

Nope, you cannot detect Starforce on demos before installation.  I guess you have to wait until other people report about it.

[Nakor]

Prevx seems to successfully detect Starforce. I installed Prevx home and the Chaos League demo. After installing, I launched it. Prevx detected that the application was trying to install Starforce! Here's the popup from prevx:



When I clicked on deny, I got this from Starforce:



Nah-nah!

I uninstalled the demo (which removed the sfhlp01.sys file mentioned above), rebooted twice (I've heard that SF only shows up after two reboots) and there is no trace of SF on the system.

Spread the word; http://www.prevx.com/prevxhome.asp will protect you against Starforce! It seems sad to me that we, as honest consumers, have to protect ourselves against threats from game companies now...

[-Lord Ebonstone-]

This is kind of a duct tape solution, and it's as of yet untested, but:

If you were to get the exact filenames and locations of what and where Starforce installs, couldn't you create zero-length dummy files of the same filenames and write-protect them?  Wouldn't that stop Starforce dead in its tracks?

It might require dummy registry keys too, but as long as you deny any auto-editing of those keys and as long as you write-protect the files, wouldn't that at very least make Starforce pitch a hissy fit and give up when it tries to install?

[Beer Goggles]

"Prevx Home will protect your PC against the worms, trojans, malicious spyware, malware and hacker attacks that bypass traditional security technology."

Sounds like Starforce.  Thanks for the link.

[Freezer-TPF-]

"Prevx Home will protect your PC against the worms, trojans, malicious spyware, malware and hacker attacks that bypass traditional security technology."

Sounds like Starforce.  Thanks for the link.

And the home version is free.  Very cool.  

[Bullwinkle]

What is the best Starforce uninstall utility?

[TheMissingLink]

What is the best Starforce uninstall utility?

Would like to know also since about a week ago I uninstalled the Soldiers demo (which has starforce, apparently) and my computer went wonky as shit.

[disarm]

What is the best Starforce uninstall utility?

Would like to know also since about a week ago I uninstalled the Soldiers demo (which has starforce, apparently) and my computer went wonky as shit.

the "official" removal tool provided by the makers of Starforce seems to do a pretty good job.  you can download it here.