I was just curious as to if there's a way the editor/custum maps could be used to infect a computer with a virus. I've been playing alot of "fun or not" lately to check out new maps and one inparticular creeps me out.
It might just be me but one of the Micro Arena's or something like that seems to be suspicious. Both times I've "played" it, something weird happens. Does anyone know what map I'm refering to?
Good question. I kind of doubt you could put a full blown virus or such in a sc2map file, but on the other hand, I've no idea about the exact protections Blizzard and Battle.net work with. And even if a virus would become known, Blizz would majorly go out of their way to fix it.
I know there is a haunted map on the Fun or Not list, you can only play it by selecting FoN. They say if you get it on the rotation the spirits haunting the map will play tricks with your computer, this is the first sign you've been possessed.
R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-reall-l-l-l-l-l-l-ly????? W-w-w-w-w-w-w-w-wha-a-a-a-a-ats the second sign????
I'm scared now... I'm afraid of ghosts, and so is my computer...
(Referring to the original post, no, it is not a virus. I don't know what map you are talking about, but I can safely say that it is not a virus. There are some bugs in the editor, in fact one of mine had one, that will cause the game to freeze and then you have to close the game. As far as I can tell these bugs only will affect your SC2, not your computer. Nothing to worry about, I would say)
Probably not. The only way to save something onto a user's computer is via banks. And I dont think you do anything malicious with them. Unless you wrote a virus code or something, saved it via a bank, and then the person was dumb enough to convert the bank to an .exe and run it.... I'm sure blizz made it safe. They go out of their way for those kinds of things.
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You probably could, in fact it is very well possible. It'd just require use of a custom built third party program to add data to the SC2map file. It's pretty possible if your a dang good programmer. Sorta like the ones that brought down the Playstation Network. :]
Oh, I didn't know he was referring to uploading it on BattleNet. I was thinking he was talking about making a map and putting it on sc2mapster. My bad. :)
Yeah, but a really good programmer could disguise it as some data or something. Perhaps saving it as a file with no extension, then somehow converting it to a .exe and running it.
I know for a fact that in WC3 TFT it was possible to get infected by playing certain custom maps.
Blizz patched it few days after it was discovered though.
I'm still left wondering. Most people say "probably not", but I'd really like a reply here from one of the big coders who know what they're talking a bout (xhatix or such). More depth would be appreciated, if anyone can provide.
It's like the weed hash debate:
will these substances change/hurt my brain or body..? duhhh it's what we are after...
i hate coding :(
like for "maps/banks protection" it's always the same answer:
cost of time spend doing an application that could be implemented unto your computer via sc2, versus the "interest" said person would gain from it...
there is always a way (as long as there is a will)... however,
you might get bugs or jokes, but i don't see it likely... wow would be a more prominent platform for "terror and chaos"
Downloading a map on your desktop is clearly not enough, but launching it (to play/use it of course) off or online, adding an asset or some "other" requirement to get ZE latest in your own preferred game
will do it (players are inclined to open anything (?) if it means they'll get the "x" special latest "whatchoumoucall" it?)
Bnet does not allow entry to suspect maps (i wonder how long it will take for that one to be untrue, potentially it's already possible) ,
once it's been granted access it should always be blizz kosher ... but opening a map is in itself an exe function (allowing all sorts of things...)
if blizz has/had such shit happen, i'm not sure they'd advertise (they'd probably patch ;p )
Coding is a universe in unto itself..
YES it's possible for something you downloaded via 3rd party to be able to spread "viruses" once the editor or the game is launched with it,
but look at it this way: so is playing starcraft always on line on bnet (there i'm particularly thinking of the playstation thingee and agree with iSaintx)
As stated in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: "the procedure is .. technically, brain damage")
I was just curious as to if there's a way the editor/custum maps could be used to infect a computer with a virus. I've been playing alot of "fun or not" lately to check out new maps and one inparticular creeps me out.
It might just be me but one of the Micro Arena's or something like that seems to be suspicious. Both times I've "played" it, something weird happens. Does anyone know what map I'm refering to?
Good question. I kind of doubt you could put a full blown virus or such in a sc2map file, but on the other hand, I've no idea about the exact protections Blizzard and Battle.net work with. And even if a virus would become known, Blizz would majorly go out of their way to fix it.
@Mozared: Go
I know there is a haunted map on the Fun or Not list, you can only play it by selecting FoN. They say if you get it on the rotation the spirits haunting the map will play tricks with your computer, this is the first sign you've been possessed.
@Mephs: Go
R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-reall-l-l-l-l-l-l-ly????? W-w-w-w-w-w-w-w-wha-a-a-a-a-ats the second sign????
I'm scared now... I'm afraid of ghosts, and so is my computer...
(Referring to the original post, no, it is not a virus. I don't know what map you are talking about, but I can safely say that it is not a virus. There are some bugs in the editor, in fact one of mine had one, that will cause the game to freeze and then you have to close the game. As far as I can tell these bugs only will affect your SC2, not your computer. Nothing to worry about, I would say)
Great to be back and part of the community again!
Probably not. The only way to save something onto a user's computer is via banks. And I dont think you do anything malicious with them. Unless you wrote a virus code or something, saved it via a bank, and then the person was dumb enough to convert the bank to an .exe and run it.... I'm sure blizz made it safe. They go out of their way for those kinds of things.
@REDlandry: Go
by viewing this post you now have a virus OP.
jk but really the only way to get a virus is if you run it in some way or another.
You probably could, in fact it is very well possible. It'd just require use of a custom built third party program to add data to the SC2map file. It's pretty possible if your a dang good programmer. Sorta like the ones that brought down the Playstation Network. :]
You don't think blizzard scans the files we upload directly to their server? O.o
@zeldarules28: Go
Oh, I didn't know he was referring to uploading it on BattleNet. I was thinking he was talking about making a map and putting it on sc2mapster. My bad. :)
@zeldarules28: Go
Yeah, but a really good programmer could disguise it as some data or something. Perhaps saving it as a file with no extension, then somehow converting it to a .exe and running it.
I know for a fact that in WC3 TFT it was possible to get infected by playing certain custom maps. Blizz patched it few days after it was discovered though.
I'm still left wondering. Most people say "probably not", but I'd really like a reply here from one of the big coders who know what they're talking a bout (xhatix or such). More depth would be appreciated, if anyone can provide.
It's like the weed hash debate:
will these substances change/hurt my brain or body..? duhhh it's what we are after...
i hate coding :(
like for "maps/banks protection" it's always the same answer:
cost of time spend doing an application that could be implemented unto your computer via sc2, versus the "interest" said person would gain from it...
there is always a way (as long as there is a will)... however,
you might get bugs or jokes, but i don't see it likely... wow would be a more prominent platform for "terror and chaos"
Downloading a map on your desktop is clearly not enough, but launching it (to play/use it of course) off or online, adding an asset or some "other" requirement to get ZE latest in your own preferred game
will do it (players are inclined to open anything (?) if it means they'll get the "x" special latest "whatchoumoucall" it?)
Bnet does not allow entry to suspect maps (i wonder how long it will take for that one to be untrue, potentially it's already possible) ,
once it's been granted access it should always be blizz kosher ... but opening a map is in itself an exe function (allowing all sorts of things...)
if blizz has/had such shit happen, i'm not sure they'd advertise (they'd probably patch ;p )
Coding is a universe in unto itself..
YES it's possible for something you downloaded via 3rd party to be able to spread "viruses" once the editor or the game is launched with it,
but look at it this way: so is playing starcraft always on line on bnet (there i'm particularly thinking of the playstation thingee and agree with iSaintx)
As stated in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: "the procedure is .. technically, brain damage")
@REDlandry: Go
Exactly what map?
I have a "Micro Arena" that I was testing yesterday :)