StarForce Technologies: Difference between revisions

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|Description=StarForce Technologies develops copy protection and digital rights management (DRM) software for games and applications.

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StarForce Technologies is a Russia software company that specializes in the development of copy protection and [[digital rights management]] (DRM) systems. Founded in 2000, the company is known for its protection technologies used primarily on video games and software applications to prevent unauthorized copying and distributing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=News |url=https://www.star-force.com/about/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=StarForce}}</ref> The company operates under the legal name Protection Technology, LLC and is a resident of the Skolkovo Foundation, a Russian high-tech business center.

==Consumer-impact summary==

~~{{Ph~~-~~C-CIS}}~~

Starforce has been widely criticized for its conduct towards users, particularly regarding its intrusive nature and the potential for system damage. The most significant concerns revolve around user freedom and privacy, as the software installs a [[Kernel Level Drivers|kernel-level driver]] on a user's computer as a part without explicit, easy to understand consent, a practice similar to a rootkit.

==Incidents==

~~{{Ph-C~~-~~Inc}}~~

In the 2000's, there were numerous users who alleged that StarForce damaged their optical drives. The kernel-level driver was accused of interfering with CD and DVD drive firmware, causing the drives to constantly spin discs at high speeds, which led to excessive wear, overheating, and eventual failure for some users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Loughrey |first=Paul |date=2006-04-18 |title=Ubisoft no longer using Starforce protection |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-no-longer-using-starforce-protection |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref>

~~This is a list~~ of ~~all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in~~. ~~Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:~~{{~~FULLPAGENAME}}~~|~~{{PAGENAME}} category]].~~

==~~=Example incident one (''~~date~~'')~~===

~~{{Main~~|~~link to the main article}}~~

~~Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).~~

=~~==Example incident two (''date'')===~~

...

==~~Products==~~

~~{{Ph~~-C-P}}

==See also==

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 |Description=StarForce Technologies develops copy protection and digital rights management (DRM) software for games and applications.
 }}
-{{Ph-C-Int}}
+StarForce Technologies is a Russia software company that specializes in the development of copy protection and [[digital rights management]] (DRM) systems. Founded in 2000, the company is known for its protection technologies used primarily on video games and software applications to prevent unauthorized copying and distributing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=News |url=https://www.star-force.com/about/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=StarForce}}</ref> The company operates under the legal name Protection Technology, LLC and is a resident of the Skolkovo Foundation, a Russian high-tech business center.
 ==Consumer-impact summary==
-{{Ph-C-CIS}}
+Starforce has been widely criticized for its conduct towards users, particularly regarding its intrusive nature and the potential for system damage. The most significant concerns revolve around user freedom and privacy, as the software installs a [[Kernel Level Drivers|kernel-level driver]] on a user's computer as a part without explicit, easy to understand consent, a practice similar to a rootkit.
 ==Incidents==
-{{Ph-C-Inc}}
+In the 2000's, there were numerous users who alleged that StarForce damaged their optical drives. The kernel-level driver was accused of interfering with CD and DVD drive firmware, causing the drives to constantly spin discs at high speeds, which led to excessive wear, overheating, and eventual failure for some users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Loughrey |first=Paul |date=2006-04-18 |title=Ubisoft no longer using Starforce protection |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-no-longer-using-starforce-protection |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref>
-This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
-===Example incident one (''date'')===
-{{Main|link to the main article}}
-Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).
-===Example incident two (''date'')===
-...
-==Products==
-{{Ph-C-P}}
 ==See also==