EA Spyware... Protect yourself.

[Ibonibo]

So some pointed me (bmxmitch) to the problem of the massive spyware EA sends us with Battlefield 3 and other games on PC named Origin.

I also first thought it was exagerated, but futher investigation buffeled me to say at least. Ea said they solved the problem, the hell they did

people all over the internet complain about origin search everything, people reporting account programs scanned and more...

To just show you a bit:

Why my samsung folder?

Why?

And those are just a few. It searches everything


one of the first things it does is check your amazon cache and/or cookie and checks the steam exe.

I find it a scandal to say at least. And Ea will not see any money from me apart BF3.

And for those wanting to be on the safe side. Google sandboxie. Follow the tuto and restrict Origin to do what it is supposed to do. Start Bf3 and nothing more.

And after all this time I though Kotick was the Devil.

It's sad to see such a nice product from DICE corrupted by the greedy suits from EA.

Well Activison gone, Ea gone, leaves Indies, Steam, Sony and MS for me.

 

[AOS-]

That's utterly disgusting to say the least.

 

[Terronium-12]

As I've said, EA can burn in hell with that Origin crap.

 

[Shaun]

Is just for PC versions guys?
Just got BF3 for the PS3 and had to create a EA/Origin account to play online.

Cheers Shaun.

 

[Akira AC]

Utterly repulsive to say the least.

I knew about this long before the BF3 release when the Terms of Service for Origin were released, there was a paragraph mentioning this, and it was edited form that disclaimer(well contract). I thought they wont pull that stuff up, but they did and that is even worst because they are lying on a contract, I wasn't one of the ones who bought the PC version, but this is ridiculous and actually illegal as they gain access to personal data.

Someone or something should regulate this kind of things from happening, and put a lawsuit to remove that spyware, I mean this is not even legal(me thinks).

 

[Ibonibo]

Yes to all except Gun. It doesn't affect the consoles.

Yes it is highly illegal. I don't know what monkeys they have in the legal departements but do they seriously think an agreement is above the law.

I think it will change soon with all the attention BF3 gets.

But that does not make it right.

In my case I just got my copy and I do want to play it. Therefor I start Origin in a sandbox and so limit it acces to only 5 folders including 4 origin and the internet explorer. And I recommand that to all you can't keep their hands off, but reading through the forums, there are a lot of people who just returned it or cancelled their preorders.
Especially do it if you got sensible data or warez on your PC. Mainly your personal sensitive data.

But they sure lost me again as customer and it will take them serious work to do get those lost customers back.


Want to laugh, go take a look at the recessions at amazon.


Also as it's not illegal to sandbox Origin or any other program, I can help you if it doesn't work or you have problems with it.

 

[bmxmitch]

I never really liked EA! They messed up servers and push puplisher to release games that aren't even finished yet, just that they can make their money.

but this is a whole new level! Disgusting in any kind of form!🤬


But a great thread ibo! 👍
Hope some PC users read this or at least the amazon comments. But I'm sure alot already did and maybe we get lucky and EA get sued for it. Or at least burn in hell!!!!

 

[Ibonibo]

No thank you mitch for bringing it up. Otherwise I would had never knew it.

 

[HKS racer]

I told you they are trolls, now they are hackers too.
Anyway that is an exiting news for lawyers and advocates.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Which folders does Origin need access to?

 

[ParkourVeyron]

And yet another reason why COD soars above Battlefield in every way...

 

[poolhaas]

And yet another reason why COD soars above Battlefield in every way...

I was about to start writing a long reply, but then I read your signature. So, nevermind.

 

[ParkourVeyron]

I was about to start writing a long reply, but then I read your signature. So, nevermind.

Dude, I'm joking, they're both great games, I was actually a little surprised to see that EA is doing this.

 

[poolhaas]

Dude, I'm joking, they're both great games, I was actually a little surprised to see that EA is doing this.

That's why I didn't respond extensively because you 'live to troll'

Don't know why EA would be doing this, doesn't it break any privacy rules?

 

[Ibonibo]

Which folders does Origin need access to?

Programdata/Origin
Programdata/Origin Games
User/YourName/AppLocal/Roaming/Origin

But after the update there are even more origin folders, now after playing it even did this:


Both those symboles folders are also Origin ones
But I have nothing on C except steam. i just restricted acces to all other partitions and HDD.

It needs some fiddling around, but most people got it to work with excluding the Origin folders from program data and Roaming.

Easy way is probably doing a partition, installing everything on the partition (origin, Bf) and then restriciting acces to all the others, though it needs the windows folder for the system32 and the internet explorer.

Poolhaas: It's even illegal. As it seems the UK eula even has/had a sentence that you could not sue them. But yes you can.

 

[alexleighton]

Digital distribution is so much better than going to the store, isn't it? At the store they don't even want to know my name! Anti-social losers.

Anyways, I hope EA gets it's hindquarters bitten very hard by this.

 

[HKS racer]

Little bump for our favourite trolls. People should know about them.

 

[NLxAROSA]

Digital distribution is so much better than going to the store, isn't it?

A physical copy bought at the store will require the Origin client as well...

 

[Dijital Majik]

There's a crack out there by Razor1911 which bypasses Origin. It only works on retail copies, not on pirated, so I hope it's okay within the AUP to post a link to it.

http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/6787655/Battlefield_3_Multiplayer_Without_Origin_Internal-Razor1911

Razor 1911 proudly presents:
Battlefield 3 Multiplayer Without Origin Internal
(C) Electronic Arts

Date: 2011-11-01 Game Type : Shooter
Size: small Protection: EA Origin

Game Notes

As bullets whiz by, walls crumble, and explosions throw you to the ground,
the battlefield feels more alive and interactive than ever before. In
Battlefield 3, players step into the role of the elite U.S. Marines where
they will experience heart-pounding single player missions and competitive
multiplayer actions ranging across diverse locations from around the globe
including Europe, Middle-East and North America

Notes

Razor1911 doesn't accept and support the online DRM "Origin" from EA

This release is dedicated to our fans worldwide who bought this game on
legal way and don't want to install the trojan from Electronic Arts to play
online

Install Notes

1. Unpack
2. Copy bf3.exe to your install folder
3. Have fun

Razor 1911 Greetings

EA Trojan - It's in the game...ehm...It was in the game

Razor 1911 / Since 1985
/

SUPPORT THE COMPANIES THAT PRODUCE QUALITY SOFTWARE

Haven't tried it myself as I don't have the game yet, but it seems to be working.

 

[Ibonibo]

^Lol. That's cool.

Though I would be very careful with it. Maybe wait a few days to see if bans follow if you use it.

If EA doesn't ban users who use it, I will take it. But I will wait a few days until then Origin can play in its sandbox

Also it seems to be clever to use a different account on every game so if you get banned you only loose one game not your whole liberary, which I didn't.

I will look out how this will play out though

 

[alexleighton]

A physical copy bought at the store will require the Origin client as well...

Well, if people hadn't bought into digital distribution we wouldn't be at this point.

Good to see there's a crack though.

 

[Caz]

Forwarded this thread to a buddy who has been pc battlefield since the start with the same group of guys.

Thanks for the heads up, tho im pn ps3.


OT: BMXMITCH...... pbnation?

 

[bmxmitch]

OT: BMXMITCH...... pbnation?

pbnation? Excuse me if I don't get it......germans

 

[NLxAROSA]

Well, if people hadn't bought into digital distribution we wouldn't be at this point.

Again: the method of distribution has nothing to do with a game requiring an online client that may or may not spy on the contents of your computer.

Turns out this whole 'spying' thing is a load of BS anyway, as (according to EA) the client just checks which files are open (much like Punkbuster or any other anti-cheat tool will do). I'll give EA the benefit of the doubt on this one.

 

[Ibonibo]

Again: the method of distribution has nothing to do with a game requiring an online client that may or may not spy on the contents of your computer.

Turns out this whole 'spying' thing is a load of BS anyway, as (according to EA) the client just checks which files are open (much like Punkbuster or any other anti-cheat tool will do). I'll give EA the benefit of the doubt on this one.

He probably meant that if you bought it via origin, they even have your credit card number, which has proven over several occassions isn't the best kept secrect for companies.

Also EA would be dumb as popo if they would admit that it's spyware, because that would open juridistical steps, which would be lost by EA as theya publicly admitted would be spyware. Just look at what it opened on my PC. Also people were checking the network connection from origin, and it transmits data directly to 3rd parties via your Pc.

Also why would EA need to check the accounting files of a user. If it's the guys company accounting, that would be considered industrie spyonage

Believing a big greedy company first is not a wise decision, history has shown.

I can't wait till anonymous gets wind of this. Popo will be flying skyhigh

 

[Caz]

pbnation? Excuse me if I don't get it......germans

Its another forum i frequent, i thought i recognized your psn id from over there.as there is a frequent poster in the gaming forum whos forum name is bmxmitch.

 

[bmxmitch]

Its another forum i frequent, i thought i recognized your psn id from over there.as there is a frequent poster in the gaming forum whos forum name is bmxmitch.

another bmxmitch? I have to find him!

 

[rocko100]

You know what the best part is? EA don't care. You downloaded their spyware already. You bought their game. You agreed to that fine text. They got what they wanted and they really don't care that you blew $60.

 

[LogiForce]

Ever since EA bought Westwood and Maxis they went from bad to worse in their behavior.

Let's just hope EA goes down at some point. =/

 

[Ibonibo]

You know what the best part is? EA don't care. You downloaded their spyware already. You bought their game. You agreed to that fine text. They got what they wanted and they really don't care that you blew $60.

Well German retrailers aar taking the game back, even with an used code.
And alot are still waiting to buy it.
and Germany is a massive market.

PR wise this is a massive hit for EA who tried to be the good guy over the last years, after the outage 5 years ago