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curtcool
Registered: Feb 2011
Posts: 25 |
Packer (software) or Cracker (person)
Hello!
Was wondering something: During recent endeavours with the (an?) Argentinian collection, I have come across several cracks (1983-86 or so) all signed like this release: Aqua Racer ... Now, I also noticed a crack which was definitely cracked by someone else (as spotted in the game) signed the same way. Now, I'm beginning to wonder if all the stuff signed is in fact packed or linked or whatever with a tool coded or hacked by Mr. Fiend - would make sense, though this tool is - so far - not found on csdb. In that case, I would imagine these additions should be deleted.
I am aware that this topic has been touched on several occasions, but Hedning suggested that I posted about it (so that you experts can investigate or delve into the backrooms of your memory, way back to the 80s).
Cheers
Frank / Curt Cool |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11416 |
Never rely on SYS lines. Because very often it is just what you said - a tool made by someone else, used by someone totally unrelated. |
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Count Zero
Registered: Jan 2003
Posts: 1943 |
That not yet found tool (at least for Aqua Racer) is an incarnation of Mc.Cracken Compressor. iAN's Unp64 V2.35 nicely identifies it as such.
Additionally not JUST looking at the SYS-line but at the complete header often reveals unused space the original author (of the packer) surely would have avoided. Here a few spaces after the "AND FCS" in memory.
So, never rely on SYS lines indeed :) |
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curtcool
Registered: Feb 2011
Posts: 25 |
Thank you very much. I will keep that in mind - now, noob question, should I delete the releases I already added featuring this sysline (and credited to Mr. Fiend/FCS)? |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11416 |
If there is no other indication of who might have created it, i'd say yes |
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Count Zero
Registered: Jan 2003
Posts: 1943 |
Without in-file indication of the cracker there is not much use for these indeed.
BUT especially very old stuff from 83-85 sometimes has just the sys line and nothing else. Up to you for the moment - I wouldnt trust Fiend+FCS things here :) |
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oldskool
Registered: Apr 2006
Posts: 26 |
Antiprotect did a version of MC Cracken Compressor with editable Sys-Line in December 1985 so everybody could "build" his own version |
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Count Zero
Registered: Jan 2003
Posts: 1943 |
File? :) |
