SecuROM

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SecuROM is a DRM solution with copy protection for CD / DVD from Sony DADC for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS . The current version is SecuROM v8 (first used in Medal of Honor (2010) ). CDs and DVDs with SecuROM can usually be recognized by the inscription "Sony DADC" on the inner edge of the disc . However, this does not have to be present. In addition, SecuROM creates the key "HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ SecuROM" in the Windows registry .

Versions and technology

SecuROM (v1.x – v3.x)

The following files should exist in the table of contents of the protected CD-ROM or in the installation directory of the software:

  • CMS16.DLL
  • CMS_95.DLL
  • CMS_NT.DLL

However, these files are missing on some CDs.

SecuROM v7

SecuROM 7.40 is the current version, which is mainly used for games and also for some applications. SecuROM is one of the market leaders in this area.

The way SecuROM works is basically always the same, but Sony offers publishers the opportunity to use various options. For example, the storage medium (CD / DVD) is no longer required for some games to start the game (for example Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 ), other games (such as Bioshock ) still require the original medium to be able to start the game .

With older versions of SecuROM, a service UA7Service.exe was installed under Windows. This enables several user accounts to use the same license data. This service is no longer used with current SecuROM versions.

SecuROM-protected CDs / DVDs have physical characteristics in the arrangement of the data which are searched for when the protected program is started and which cannot be duplicated by conventional CD / DVD burners.

In addition to the SecuROM version, which is based on a CD / DVD check there for some time SecuROM as Digital Rights Management (Engl. Digital Rights Management, DRM), in which it is no longer necessary in most cases that the CD / DVD is in the drive when the software starts. Since the publisher decides whether and how DRM is used for the program, not every protected program behaves in the same way. Many of these programs can only be authenticated over the Internet. Furthermore, the number of authentications is limited with some programs, others can be authenticated as often as required. With some programs protected with SecuROM ( Sacred 2 ) there is also the possibility to authenticate the game by e-mail. A revoke tool can be used to reset authentications that have already been used, but this option is not offered in all programs either, as some publishers do not integrate this feature into the software.

During the authentication of the game, a serial number and an inquiry code are sent to the SecuROM product activation server . The serial number is provided by the software manufacturer. The request code is a unique identification code made up of the application itself and hash values from hardware components of the computer used. This ensures that the activation is tied to the computer. It should not be possible to calculate this code back from the hash values.

This article or the following section is not adequately provided with supporting documents ( e.g. individual evidence ). Information without sufficient evidence could be removed soon. Please help Wikipedia by researching the information and including good evidence.

SecuROM also prevents the software from being installed in a virtual environment, such as B. under VMware and VirtualBox would be possible. Now that more and more virtualization technologies are being used in companies and users mostly only work with thin clients , this is a problem because a separate computer has to be purchased for the software. This fact is only apparent after purchasing the software. With a labeling obligation including a notification obligation, it would be possible in advance to only consider software providers whose software can be operated in the company's infrastructure without problems and hurdles.

criticism

SecuROM hides registry entries in order to protect them against accidental deletion, as license information is also stored in them. As a result, it is classified as a rootkit by the Microsoft RootkitRevealer program (formerly SysInternals) . Criticism is also mainly leveled at the game manufacturers who use copy protection. These do not, for example, indicate that the copy protection remains on the PC even after the game has been uninstalled. Since SecuROM intervenes in the kernel , the PC can crash, which has already led to a lawsuit against EA. This SecuROM driver can be uninstalled with an appropriate tool. However, if a protected game is started again later, the SecuROM driver will also be reinstalled.

Since the SecuROM copy protection is tailored to the needs of the customer - in this case mostly the publisher, for example Electronic Arts  - there are many different types of copy protection. Electronic Arts uses a relatively aggressive version of SecuROM and, despite protests, originally announced that it would equip all of its games with the DRM version of SecuROM copy protection in the future. However, EA changed its policy in early 2009 and announced for The Sims 3 that the game would be released without DRM. The company also offers a program that enables users to manage their rights themselves.

For security reasons, some libraries that are essential for SecuROM have been removed from Windows 7 , 8 and 10 , as computer viruses have also misused them. Microsoft itself advises to buy old games again from Steam or GOG.com without copy protection.

Limited number of authorizations

The mandatory online authorization, which is carried out when starting for the first time, is limited to five processes in the case of current Electronic Arts games. Here the computer is authenticated online and you can later uninstall and reinstall the game on this computer. A new activation is required if more than one important component of the computer changes. This also applies to the operating system. For example, anyone upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista will have to re-authorize their games. Games also have to be re-authorized if the computer can no longer be started, for example due to a virus attack, and the system has to be reinstalled.

Electronic Arts has released a deauthorization program that allows customers to re-authorize their used activation if the game was released after May 2008. This process, known as revoking , is already used in other SecuROM games such as Sacred 2 .

If the available installations are used up, you can call Electronic Arts for a further activation, even for older games. However, you have to justify why you need further activation. Electronic Arts will decide individually in each case whether a further activation will be made available or not.

Resalability of DRM-protected games

Another criticism of DRM-protected games is that they are often harder to sell used. Since one cannot see from the outside whether all activations are available or whether the authorizations have been correctly reset, it is virtually impossible for dealers of used software to determine whether the game can be authorized again at all and is therefore resalable.

Critics assume that this effect is wanted by the publishers and accuse them of deliberately hindering the used games market.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ SecuROM - All the facts about the hotly debated copy protection. In: PCFreunde.de. November 28, 2008, accessed January 28, 2009 .
  2. ^ Criticism by Marc Russinovich (formerly SysInternals) of the copy protection mechanisms from Sony
  3. ↑ Sims-3.net "copy protection SecuRom
  4. ↑ Markus Pytlik: Copy protection: EA again sued for SecuROM. In: WinFuture. November 10, 2008, accessed December 4, 2019 .
  5. ↑ “SecuROM Removal Tutorial” Revised. In: Reclaim Your Game! Archived from the original on March 23, 2010 ; accessed on December 4, 2019 .
  6. ↑ Peter Steinlechner: EA continues to rely on SecuRom - despite protests. In: Golem.de . September 9, 2008, accessed December 4, 2019 .
  7. ↑ Sasan Abdi: EA defuses SecuROM problem. In: ComputerBase . April 2, 2009, Retrieved April 4, 2009 .
  8. ↑ Dennis Ziesecke: Windows and SafeDisc / SecuROM copy protection - Old games no longer walk. In: GameStar . October 28, 2015, accessed December 4, 2019 .
  9. ↑ Everything about copy protection ( Memento from July 17, 2015 in the Internet Archive ). Electronic Arts information brochure (PDF; 333 kB)
  10. ^ EA Game Authorization Management
  11. ↑ Interview: DRM shouldn't put the customer off
  12. ↑ Jared Spurbeck: The Real Reason Why EA's Spore Uses Securom Copy Protection. In: associatedcontent.com. October 15, 2008, archived from the original on April 16, 2009 ; accessed on December 4, 2019 .

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