Bit like Best Policeman is an Ex Criminal

I'm looking at your forums because my code is so easy to crack it's laughable.

Your discussions are so over my head I feel I shouldnt be writing programes any more - beacuse I feel a right noob.

I'm not alowed to ask for assistnace here - so I'll post that question in another section - at the risk of being accused of message popping to get at the FTP hehe

Soo what motivates you guys - discuss......

I don't think that discussions here about the details of reversing methods, internals of X protection system or Y system component are "theoritically" that important as you may think. These are details that after a while anyone can learn. Sure, having good knowledge of low-level codes, reversing and internal structure of the programs; knowing how the code generated by each compiler looks like and other low-level things can help a top-level developer making better programs. However, I don't think that this knowledge is that important comparing to all other things a guru programmer should now. I have a background in computer architecture and have been programming in C and then C++ for the last 14 years. I have reversed many programs and have seen lots and lots of hex codes with my eyes. Also I have designed lots and lots of hardware down to gates over this period of time. When I code a matrix operation using templates in C++, I can feel how exactly it will be executed downto the logic gates inside the microprocessor. But what can and does help me most to become a better programmer, frankly, is a better understanding of theoritical things like theory of algorithms. Writting the best super optimized code with best super stylish code can never beat a better algorithm. So, if you are only seeking to become a better programmer I think learning reversing is not the best investment you can make.

In a weird sort of way, you can think of us a "program psychologists". The software WANTS to run, it's only happy when it does what it was designed to do. It usually has inperfections that restrict it from doing this, we remove those inhebitions... Happy software is running software.

OK, enough...

There's the obvious challenge, "because it's there". Cracking's fun and relaxing, with the occasional pulling out of ones own hair. It's gratifing to see a program run the way it should, without all the nasty protection.

But I'm not in it for the "cracking", but rather the reversing. Sometimes the most challenging code to reverse is the protection. If you think about it, these routines are usually written to be hard to understand. By becoming apt at dealing with code that is intentionally convoluted, regular routines become childs play. It's a bit of "practice makes perfect".

My motivation is knowledge and experiance. I become a better reverser by cracking, and I become a better programmer by reversing. I nearly always pay for the software I use, I don't release "cracks". My trophies are the algorythims, and I never use them until I understand them well enough to come up with my own.

I doubt you'll find any "thiefs" on this or Woodmans forum. No one here is out to hurt software developers, most of us ARE software developers.

Cracking improves your debugging skills. Reversing improves your coding skills. These skills would be nearly imposible to pick up any other way.

So, dump the VB, get a C++ compiler and Olly, and come over to the Dark Side. You won't regret it...

There's the obvious challenge, "because it's there". Cracking's fun and relaxing, with the occasional pulling out of ones own hair. It's gratifing to see a program run the way it should, without all the nasty protection.

Have to agree with that. I'm hardly the worlds best reverser, but I do it for/to gain the knowledge. I'd rate myself as a good coder, and reversing helps me to code better. You see certain things in the deadlist that aren't .... "apparent" .... in the higher level code (C++ etc). But most of all, I do it because I have a personal interest in security, and it's all related.

Well - Ive been in IT for near on 14 years now - and one thing that never ceases to surprise me is how little I know!!.

I'm just starting to get the idea of API and I see all this.

My proper job is business analays and mainly database automation. Never touched C or C++ skimmed Java (totally useless at it - only did it for 2 days), ASP n stuff - I'm most comfortable in VB / VBA.

Cut my teeth on DataEase (you youngsters wont remember that hehe) and pretty much a guru at that - but its outdated - now doing mostly VBA, it delivers up open-source for the company, VB source gets lost....


So your challenges are on a different scale to mine - I like the delivery of automating manual processes and interfacing and finding solutions to buisness needs - I suppose I'm miles away from reversing - but I understand the theory behind the pleasure you get.

Originally Posted by macrowriter

Soo what motivates you guys - discuss......

seems you want the FTP password real bad with all these "brain-picking" threads which obviously are instigating discussion and hence more replies for you I sound like JMI .. sorry JMI

But I don't mind replying..

Motivation... simple..
1. A new program you like is released
2. It has nags or limitations
3. There is no crack or keygen available yet
4. You decide to do it yourself
5. You find that you have to DO a LOT of learning first!
6. It takes a lot of persistence and time and maybe you succeed
7. The challenge was enjoyable and most importantly, satisfying!
8. You decide if it was worth all the effort
9. If YES goto Step 1.
10. If NO, buy it

LOL its all a sly attempt at getting access to the FTP by contributing nothing except discussion and pulling knowledge from you.

Really - I am interested in what you guys are doing and saying. If I did get access to FTP - I wouldnt know what to do with it anyway!! - nit yet anyway - I'm learing!

I'm here to get knowledge - and to chat. If the admin wants to block me from FTP - thats fine I wont complain.

If he blocks me from the boards - I'll cry

Spent most of the night hunting down a packer - found one now (its pretty old) and will post my rubbishy code for you guys to have a laugh at my attempts - if you want!

If you would like me to clear off because I'm bugging you - let me know - dont want to cause offense!

What I'm most impressed about is that this board is full of like minded people not angry 14yr olds gleefully taking advantage.

[JMI]

Although in this one case, it certainly isn't obvious he has any interest in the FTP password to download, even if he did, no one get access to the FTP until they have been a member to 30 days or more. So I have plenty of time to review the history and pattern of the user's post before that would happen.

And besides, we old guys have to stick together.

[EDIT: macrowriter, I've moved your other thread to the "Requests" forum, since I finally paid attention to where you had posted it. You weren't "Releasing Software," so it didn't go there. I also added the [REQ: prefix which should be there and added the category as "Protection]. No response to that move or title correction is needed. ]

Regards,