Adobe has presented hackers with yet another challenge thanks to their new breed of Creative Suite 4 (CS4) applications that were released less than two weeks ago. They try do everything they can to stop software pirates from stealing their programs, but it’s inevitable that someone somewhere will find a workaround.
Unfortunately for Adobe that time came way too soon with CS4. It didn’t take long for the bulky downloads to get transformed into torrents, and then shared across networks worldwide. The Windows version of the Adobe CS4 Master Suite weighs in at 5.6GB, while the Mac version is nearly 7GB. It’s not exactly something you’d want to download via dial-up.
The catch… most downloads being posted merely contain trial versions of each Adobe CS4 application. Working cracks and key generators are available separately though. Some cracks are designed to actually patch the executable files for various programs (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc…), while others take a more interesting approach. In fact one version doesn’t have to modify any of the files.
The first workaround that was found uses a key generator that spits out keys for both Windows and Mac versions of the Master Suite. Once the software tries to contact Adobe, however, the keys will get deactivated and you’ll have until the end of the year before Photoshop and the other apps will stop working. Ingeniously someone came up with a way to get around this by modifying the operating system’s HOSTS file (available on both Mac and Windows) so that any requests to Adobe’s server’s never leave the comfort of your machine. If it can’t contact Adobe then it can’t deactivate the software.
Your activation system was a valiant effort Adobe, but it looks like it will be another 18-months (or whenever CS5 is released) before you’ll get another shot at stopping the pirates.
I am rather surprised that this site would ‘advertise’ the fact that Adobe software has been cracked and is available for download on torrent websites. Had there been some sort of condemnation of the cracking of Photoshop etc., it might have been more acceptable. However, I am sure that many will thank you for the service. As far as I am concerned, I grabbed it by torrent download as soon as it was available
@apex2000: It’s not like Ryan posted links to the torrents and keygens. It’s just an article. A little knowledge never killed anyone.
They seem to be two steps ahead of Adobe.
We like these kind of news
Are you the anonymous that never pays for anything and just takes takes takes, driving business models to change and artists and creators to have to give up their dreams or starve?
Adobe has enough money, and as for starving artists, well then they should take there starving asses to Google and search up words like ‘open source’ and ‘Gimp’
proving that photoshop can be completely free
Pirates can’t be stopped, it is a waste of time. But hey, if Adobe wants to waste time I say let ‘em!
I believe this Master Collection crack came out on Oct. 17th or 18th, only two or three days after the official CS4 release.
seems that it is from a Chinese website named x-force
Like apex2000, I’m rather surprised by this article. Somehow I had a different impression of this site.
I am. But seriously… starve? LoL.
Nice post. Not everyone talk about this, but thousands use to get the cracked version the first day is out! (not me of course
)
We’ve actually written about this type of stuff before… especially when Windows releases get leaked. It’s always a bit amusing to see just how fast this sort of stuff comes about, and what ways hackers find around the activation.
Judging by upload dates on some torrent sites the complete crack wasn’t discovered until later. The key generator was out before then, but the keys it produces will be set to expire as soon as Adobe is contacted the first time.
We wrote the article not from the standpoint that everyone should go download it illegally, but more from the fact that it’s interesting the types of workarounds people find. If I was really trying to promote piracy I would have provided links to the torrents. Some people find reading about hacking interesting despite the fact that they never engage in it.
Maybe apex2000 and Leonid Mamchenkov can blame The New York Times or CBS or CNN by the Nine Eleven too…
@Ryan: I should have clarified that I was seeing it pop up on Usenet rather than a torrent directory. Agreed, the shite version came out first, on the 17th according to Newzleech, then the fixed version came out a week or so later.
@Anyone disappointed about the nature of this article: I’d like to remind you that no download information links were provided, it does not promote the use of pirates software in any way and the fact remains that a HUGE percentage of people DO use pirated software…so it’s actually relevant news. Take, for instance, [blog.epicedits.com] I interpret those results to mean that Ryan, the author of this post, succeeded in producing a fact-based piece that speaks to the majority of his audience who are Adobe users. Nice work ‘drilling in’, Ryan.
@Michael Dobrofsky: My good sir, it seems that your idealistic view of this topic is a bit too black and white to reflect reality. Truth be told, ‘free’ access to creative software ALLOWS artists to produce their unique works…it doesn’t stymie that process. In addition, Adobe sure doesn’t seem to be hurting much either…they’ve basically been at the top of the industry for two decades, have swallowed everything in their path (including Macromedia) and, aside from the current global economic woes, their stock is trading near all-time highs. What they’ve learned is that a certain amount of prevention is necessary, but that the majority of people who start out using pirated software become paying users as they both mature personally and become established professionally.
@Everyone: I’d like to take this opportunity to remind folks about ‘the’ [gimp.org] and [getpaint.net] two of the numerous open source alternatives to corporate software products.
@The Future: Be seein’ you soon!
LOL
And what about people like us working for the company? How do you stop us?
LOL go xforce…
and keygens are not intended for the ‘end user’ only for other persons in the cracking scene….
they are leaked from ftp sites known as ‘dumps’ that are set so the cracker can only log in to his account through his ip and usually are ssl secured.
i should know i used to be in CRUDE
i need software runs photoshop cs4
i hope works
Honestly. If Adobe wouldn’t charge $1,000 + for their software, then people wouldn’t go out of their way to screw Adobe and crack the software. If they would put it out for a reasonable price that everyone can afford, they would probably find that their sales will increase due to the fact that since it’s affordable, people will go out and purchase a legal copy of the software instead of spending countless hours finding an illegal cracked copy. It’s Adobe’s own fault really.
Matt, that’s retarded. It’s their fault they’re wanting you to pay them for incredibly advanced software? I guess if you want a Hummer and don’t want to pay for it, you can just blame the company and then go steal one. “They shouldn’t be selling them for so much if they don’t want it to be stolen!” How idiotic to justify theft because you don’t want to pay that much. I guess if you ever sell your used car, and someone doesn’t want to pay that price, don’t whine like a little baby when someone jacks it and blames YOU.
If someone could just “download” a Hummer and use a keygen to make it’s keys…
I understand that Adobe needs to get hes money to develope some of the best software in the world, but that doesnt mean people who have poor parents must play in dogshit with a stick. People have to realise that not all people including students have thousands of dollars to spend, so that they could learn some fancy programs. Its not like im stealing the car because car is reality and program is bunch of 1 and 0-s in hard disk?? Im just making a copy to my hard disk? . Its not even like im stealing a cd from store because im not!! End of story I am Not! Because when i would have a magic stick that would double the hummer in front of the store then it wouldnt be a steal! Im just arrogantly doubleing it for my own use! Actually im just doing commercial to Adobe just by using it , because when i just dont have money to pay for it, then adobe cant lose money he didnt get from me. God damet i dont have money whatafuck can he get???? Pirate software rules!!But if you are wealthy and dont buy software then youre a wuzzy. Because somebody has to support them and i bet they could be the people who physically can.
This really serves Adobe right. The cost of a legal copy of this software is worth over my annual income. Do I just fold my hands an work away from using it. It’s not possible. All the same lets start by using the illegal to purchase the legal.
ive got the cracked version running just fine on my comp, i got around it real easy, its a little more complicated than just the keygen and not allowing it to contact adobe, altuogh it only took me 30 mins to crack it, it does take a long time to download. long live piracy, right up until these giant software company’s give us a reasonable price,then i will stop.
About the high price of Adobe products, what about a “light” version for the home user. I have registered versions of Acrobat 7.0 Professional, Photoshop 6.0 and In Design 2.0, and get the job done. What about a “light version” of Audition, In-Design, Photoshop and Dreamweaver?
Yea there is Soundbooth and Photoshops Essentials, but they are still quite pricey. As for the person who speaks of the pirated user eventually buying the product that is true, and Adobe can determine the loss/gain ratio.
Finally, as a systems engineer we do an initial technical risk prediction as the program managers do their business risk prediction. They are potential cost over-runs manpower shortage, lack of expertise, operating system incompatability (Vista) and performance on a legacy PC’s (P4-HT) and so on.
This is why Microsoft releases BETA version and freely distributes it. Nowadays they shut it off around the time the official relase is made available, and this is getting the public to be testers without having paying them. Notice how the BTA user agrees to report any problems and accept automated BETA upgrades/fixed to be downloaded .
I used to be a Microsoft BETA tester until they discontinued their policy of providing their registered BETA tester with a free license of the released version.
There you go Adobe, put together a BETA tester questionaire, and if they have the technical skills and motivation to use the BETA version go ahead and make them a BETA tester.
And in return give them a licensed copy upon release
I completely agree with you, im a student, i have debt but i was able to afford Adobe photoshop CS3. My parents are in debt helping me pay for school so no im not rich. Even if your parents are poor try saving money a little at a time, you know, like a dollar or two a day, and you’ll have enough in about a year and a half to buy the newest version at the time. Stop whining about wanting it but not being able to afford it, and if you go into debt to get it, practice a lot and get people to commission you for drawings and earn money to pay the debt off. If you want professional software, you better be dam good or at least be able to make money with it.
Blah blah, I bet these same people riding along on their high horses have downloaded songs and watched a bali dvd. But what’s the bet they’ll never admit it! I would love the real version of CS4, but Adobe has royally screwed themself in my opinion because I already bought the original CS. And then what, upgrade EVERY 2 weeks when they decide they can add another filter? nuh uh. I might buy every fifth version thanks!
well there’s a valid point!
The cracked version does the not-enough-money-in-me-pockets people some good. As for the ones who are willing to pay for it, good for them!
@Ryan: *thumbs up* Nice article. Useful. Informative. And not at all hack-it oriented ^_^
i think its ok to download and crack the software if you only use it for private like learning and pimping up your family pics. i am a student for media design and photography and already have to pay 400 bucks a month to the university. but also i need these programs so i can be “up to date”. in the future when i have make my own money with my work i will use only legal software. but for now i just cant affort it.
greets from germany
and i forgot to say. the marked i will be working in is forcing me to buy and fully learn all aspects of this software. cause its the standard. i need premiere, after effects, dreamweaver, illustrator, flash, photoshop, lightrooms and thats only adobe. also i have to pay my appartment and living costs with nearly no income. do you expect someone like me to spare the money for a year instead of studying??