{"id":42479,"date":"2024-03-13T19:26:27","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T23:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=42479"},"modified":"2024-03-13T19:26:27","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T23:26:27","slug":"downies-anti-piracy-scare-tactic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/13\/downies-anti-piracy-scare-tactic\/","title":{"rendered":"Downie’s Anti-Piracy Scare Tactic"},"content":{"rendered":"

dario<\/a> (Reddit<\/a>):<\/p>\n

It is being reported on Reddit that Downie 4 (a video downloader app developed by Charlie Monroe Software) contains code for a popup that claims to have deleted random files on the computer as a ‘punishment’ for allegedly using a pirated\/cracked version.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

Here’s what it looked like<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Charlie Monroe<\/a> (tweet<\/a>):<\/p>\n

\n

During this time, I was receiving reports from people running cracked versions of my apps and it was hurtful to me and my efforts. I’ve always tried to contact those users and try to convince them to use a genuine version. Many of such users do not see the effort behind the development and that it is (in the early years) matter of survival for the company.<\/p>\n

There were, however, users running cracked versions of Downie that used fake email addresses for their reports and even included insults in their messages. Unfortunately, my mind came up with the idea that Downie would include a list these email addresses and would show a message to these users. In what you can call lack of judgement, I’ve included a message that suggested that Downie may have<\/em> deleted random files, appended with a “Or am I kidding?” question. It was meant in jest (though it was very irresponsible of me) – I would never dare touch the user’s files, no matter whether genuine or cracked version. This is a line I would never cross, whether you believe it or not.<\/p>\n

Years have gone by and I haven’t touched this code with this message in many many years now. It was a mistake ever adding it, but it was there and I simply did not think about it anymore. If a thief keeps passing your house and you set up a booby trap and the thief stops coming around, it is entirely possible that you just forget to remove the booby trap until a visiting friend falls in.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, one user entered the email address 1@1.com into Downie as their email address. This email address was used in one such fake-email report. This user, however, was using a genuine version, but unfortunately, the booby trap was triggered.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Piracy is a real problem. Not only do you lose revenue (some would never<\/em> pay, but some would), but part of your limited time is spent troubleshooting with users who will not pay and whose support issue may in fact have been caused<\/em> by whatever was done to crack the app. On the other hand, any kind of countermeasure could accidentally ensnare a genuine customer. I believe Downie’s developer that no actual harm was ever intended, but obviously even empty threats (or jokes that might be interpreted as such) are a mistake.<\/p>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n