I sometimes wonder what will happen when EAC, that has root access to millions of PCs, gets compromised or grunty employee and pushes malicious update
What's going on with Borderlands 2? Steam is giving it for free, but the game has 23% positive recent reviews.
Submitted 1 day ago by bimbimboy@lemm.ee to games@lemmy.world
https://lemm.ee/pictrs/image/0c3ece2a-9c09-42f1-90af-870146646174.png
Comments
REDACTED@infosec.pub 6 hours ago
seralth@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Same thing that happened to genshin when it’s anti cheats got compromised I would guess. Not a lot and everyone ends up not caring.
Because normal people do not give a single fuck about the technical aspect of data privacy.
UltraMasculine@sopuli.xyz 50 minutes ago
That’s right. I’m not lying at all when I say that none of my friends care about privacy. It’s actually quite frustrating.
SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
It probably spys on you already.
The company that makes the Overwolf game launcher is an Israli cyber security company that gets money from the US.
Jax@sh.itjust.works 2 hours ago
Holy fuck I did not know about Overwolf. That’s the last time I download something from my, apparently, dipshit friend (no, this is not the only stupid thing he’s done).
epicstove@lemmy.ca 4 hours ago
Crowdstrike 2.0
BigBananaDealer@lemm.ee 1 hour ago
lemmy yet again falls for the ragebait hook line and sinker
LemmyFeed@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 hours ago
Ok so that explains the bad reviews, but why is steam giving the game away for free? Also BL3 is heavily discounted
bimbimboy@lemm.ee 1 hour ago
I think it’s up to the publisher, and not steam, to give the game away for free.
Dagamant@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Goodeye8@piefed.social 1 day ago
I haven't read the new TOS but if this review is correct it looks like a GDPR nightmare for them. Good luck to them explaining why they need to collect all that personal data.
raltoid@lemmy.world 1 day ago
The “collected data types” in that comment seems to be copy/pasted from the actual one:
avattar@lemmy.sdf.org 1 day ago
That might be US only, where the companies have freedom to get all the customer’s data and do with it as they will.
Vanilla_PuddinFudge@infosec.pub 1 day ago
Most people don’t care about privacy.
Vinstaal0@feddit.nl 15 hours ago
Do we know this is a thing in the EU?
moon@lemmy.sdf.org 1 day ago
Due to Steam’s tos updates a few months ago, isn’t take-two opening itself up to a massive lawsuit?
SaharaMaleikuhm@feddit.org 18 hours ago
No idea, but I think it would be funny, so I’m all for it and hope you are right.
Nephalis@discuss.tchncs.de 1 day ago
Hm… Ok. Thats crazy. Someone wants to create a new branch of income ot seems.
Thats a ficking shame. Now I need to reconsider my plans to buy Borderlands4.
But how will they do it? Which information is gathered from which source? Most of my accounts only hold as little informations as possible. Also my Os know nothing about me. My MS account too.
On the other hand my steam 2FA need some mobile information.
Fiivemacs@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
Checkout Jump Ship? It’s some weird borderlands, Star citizen, (insert other generic shooter) type game. Pretty neat, was recommended to me by a shooter fanatic friend of mine. I trust his shooting game opinion
Dagamant@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Unless you use Linux, your OS knows a ton about you. On top of that, with root access to your computer they can do whatever they want and if their system gets hacked you become a member of a bot farm or crypto mine.
MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 12 hours ago
🏴☠️ is free and without shenanigans.
nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 hours ago
giving root level access to russian crackers instead
sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 minutes ago
Damn, its such a shame you can’t run a crack in a vm, or on linux via WINE and Proton, aw shucks.
RepleteLocum@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 hours ago
If you go to the right sites you won’t get any malicious code. Stop spreading corpo propaganda.
FauxLiving@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
Shh, the kids don’t want to hear about the dark side of free things (oh hey, a new Meta service!)
/s
MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 5 hours ago
Over wine?
BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz 1 day ago
Don’t just review bomb it
Report it to steam as SPYWARE, with the little flag icon on the product page
AcesFullOfKings@feddit.uk 14 hours ago
[deleted]BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz 14 hours ago
Steam has a history of removing things people don’t like (for example: banning ad-ridden games)
So if all these reports can bring them to add this to their TOS, it’s worth it
alanjaow@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
Fun fact, it’s called a parliament! I regret that I am not an owl.
Owlboi@lemm.ee 12 hours ago
absolutely. Steam is not to mess with and takes such matters quite seriously.
Lemjukes@lemm.ee 23 hours ago
- Did the EULA change? ✅
- Were all Take Two games automatically updated in secret and now hijack your machine with root access to spy? ❌
- Do Take Two games contain code to report telemetry and user information to a home server? ✅
- Is this EULA change extraordinary and particularly egregious in comparison to others that most people have probably already agreed to? ✅(IMO)
- Are people riled up because e a YouTube video went a little viral and now they’re all playing telephone to the point where it’s now gotten to the point of random dumdums are review booming a 13 year old game claiming it’s turned into literal spyware? ✅(again, IMO)
- Should you be surprised by any of this if you’ve been even remotely paying attention for any period of the last 30-40 years? ❌
sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 minutes ago
Pretty much nailed it, yep.
A youtuber named Hellfire has been on a spree, basically discovering how fucked up EULAs have been in games for the past 20ish years… well this is all brand new news to him and and his Zoomer / Gen A followers.
There is, as of right now, literally zero evidence that Borderlands 2 has been updated with a rootkit, with kernel level anti cheat, anything like that.
The last update to its game files was 2 years ago.
This is almost certainly them updating the EULA everywhere, for some specific arcane legal and business reasons… TakeTwo runs a whole bunch more games than juat Borderlands… namely GTA V…
…
Is this EULA bad? Yes.
Is it much worse than it was before, or what other large gaming companies EULAs have, and have had for… a decade+?
Maybe by a bit, but not really, no.
…
Is Randy Pitchford a dumb idiot asshole?
Oh absolutely yes, but that shouldn’t give people the liscense to make completely unevidenced claims about other things.
…
The game does not have a kernel level AC or some kind of rootkit DRM, as many, many people are currently saying it does.
I guess gamer attention span can really hold onto a few keywords and phrases at a time.
… I say this all as person who is vehemently against kernel level AC, who has been pointing out for 4 years, that almost all existing anti cheat systems currently have at least one game that implements their AC, on linux, without using kernel level anything… it is entirely possible to do AC without kernel level shit, even on linux, and has been for at least 4 years. EAC and BattleEye have supported linux for 4 years, but nearly no game that uses them has actually used this feature/available and offered support.
I am glad that this level of hate is finally being directed at shitty EULAs, but lets at least get our facts straight, or actually provide some hitherto unseen evidence that Borderlands has had some kind of sleeper malware in it for at least the past two years, just waiting to be activated by a TOS update to every single Take Two game.
Mustakrakish@lemmy.world 23 hours ago
BlindFrog@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
Precise location information? Wtf for?
Lemjukes@lemm.ee 20 hours ago
A bit more than what? I’ll say it again, if you think this is anything new you haven’t been paying attention. I’m all for calling this fuckery out and pushing for something better. But like where yall been?
JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 18 hours ago
So…if Steam is running in a Flatpak, and Borderlands is launched from Steam, how much can they even see…really?
RetroGoblet79@eviltoast.org 16 hours ago
They know I use Linux and that means they know too much
FauxLiving@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
So…if Steam is running in a Flatpak, and Borderlands is launched from Steam, how much can they even see…really?
Without using exploits to escape the container, not much. A very empty Windows environment with a single game installed, your network interfaces and any directories that the Flatpak has access to (usually just the SteamLibrary directories).
The TOS (www.take2games.com/legal/en-US/) changes are mostly related to data that they collect via their interfacing with Steam and through their website. This idea that they’re requiring you to agree to a root level access or installing a spyware rootkit are just nonsense.
MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 14 hours ago
Not a lot. Even when it isn’t a flatpak windows software running on linux won’t be able to interact with the system anywhere near as much as on windows.
They’ll be able to tell it’s linux, though.
domi@lemmy.secnd.me 11 hours ago
You can install an application like Flatseal (flathub.org/apps/com.github.tchx84.Flatseal) to inspect the permissions for a flatpak.
How locked down a flatpak is depends entirely on the developer and what permissions they request. By default, they can’t really see much. For example, they can’t even see the processes running on your host or your user and system files.
Flatpak does not do anything about network access though, it can only do no access or full access, no in between. The data they can collect on Linux in a Flatpak is very limited but it does not prevent them from calling home.
Squizzy@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
New to linux…are flatpaks like sandboxed?
CatsGoMOW@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Doesn’t the screenshot you posted explain what’s going on?
slaacaa@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 hours ago
Yikes. Is the review in the screenshot true? They got root anticheat? Or rootkit data harvesting?
Diurnambule@jlai.lu 10 hours ago
He said they added a kernel level anticheat in the TOS which is true. But they seem to have not included it in the game yet. But they and and by possedong the game you allow them to.
wetbeardhairs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 hours ago
possedong
I’d like to know how your autocorrect learned this word
FauxLiving@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
No, it’s misinformation and people who uncritically repeat things without verification.
I’ve had the game installed for years and have to manually apply updates, there hasn’t been one.
All they’ve done is make their TOS universal across all of their games.
Diurnambule@jlai.lu 10 hours ago
He said it, root access level in the TOS of BorderLand. Not that a root kit is included, but that they allowed them self to inclid it whenever they can. That not misinformation…
Onyxonblack@lemm.ee 1 day ago
I apparently love downvotes but here goes: All the Borderlands games (annoying childish cell-shaded skinner-box) and everything Gearbox is and has ever created it utter shit. The CEO is a garbage person, and thier dealings with Epic is Capitalist-Oink-Piggy shite! "“FUCK YOU 2K & GEARBOX, AND FUCK YOU BORDERLANDS!”
sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 minutes ago
Yep, I am jumping in with you on this one.
The cell-shaded art style? Not the problem, imo.
The problem is the just astoundingly terrible writing, immensely insufferable characters, and astonishingly brain dead gameplay.
Why have weapon balance of tactically interesting scenarios or any real sense of progression in gameplay when we can just procedurally generate guns and do everything we can to make everything into roughly the same level of bullet sponge with auto levelling?
They are the lowest common denominator of co-op shooter games.
red@sopuli.xyz 1 day ago
Apart from the politics, the Borderlands games themselves are hardly utter shit for the most part.
Vanilla_PuddinFudge@infosec.pub 1 day ago
The writing is garbage but,… it’s a game for edgy teenagers. It would.
The gameplay for me is Diablo with guns. It would suck for anyone not into that. If anyone isn’t into that, don’t buy Borderlands games.
propitiouspanda@lemmy.cafe 11 hours ago
I think they’re pretty terrible.
I’ve tried multiple times to get in to them and I’ve come to the conclusion they’re just for a gamer with lower standards than me.
This is also based off of the games that I see borderlands fans like that I think suck ass.
propitiouspanda@lemmy.cafe 11 hours ago
Hear hear!
Borderlands is a neat concept, but it’s ruined by an awful studio and reddit-tier ‘humor.’
It was nice to see Battleborn fail because honestly that’s what the studio deserves.
Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 11 hours ago
Yes, but it should still be illegal for a company to do this. Don’t let them blame the users for accepting this bullshit. As Louis Rossmann would say, they have the mentality of a rapist.
ms_lane@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
everything Gearbox is and has ever created it utter shit
OpFor was good, Blue Shift was alright too.
Everything since they stole the whole idea of Borderlands has been bad though.
psycho_driver@lemmy.world 23 hours ago
You’re definitely right about Pitchford or w/e dingleberry’s name is.
MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 13 hours ago
I’m sorry, but Battleborn was brilliant. Deadlock is the first game to re-capture (and expand on) the mix of mechanics Battleborn put together.
Didn’t stop Gearbox from shutting it down so that no-one who bought it could ever play again. Not even the story campaign.
dil@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
Except lawbreakers but he tainted it by supporting it and made ppl against it
propitiouspanda@lemmy.cafe 11 hours ago
Lawbreakers was made by Boss Key studios, headed by Cliff Blezsinski who was the guy behind Gears of War.
You may be thinking of Battleborn, which was made by Gearbox.
Ledivin@lemmy.world 1 day ago
That. The screenshot you posted. That is what’s going on.
Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
Pirates are winning over my empathy.
thermal_shock@lemmy.world 1 day ago
They’ve been my best friend for years
DrGrout@lemmynsfw.com 21 hours ago
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Owns Rockstar Games, Zynga and 2K. So if that’s all their games, it includes at least these: Bioshock series, Borderlands series, Civilization series, Grand Theft Auto series, Mafia series, Max Payne series, NBA 2K series, PGA Tour 2K series, Red Dead series, WWE 2K series and XCOM series.
Amazing stuff!
damdy@lemm.ee 14 hours ago
That’s just a list of games that used to be good and now suck.
TheObviousSolution@lemm.ee 9 hours ago
So 50% score loss because of a permissive EULA, got it …
I’ll just leave this in the “Pitchforks against Pitchford” and “Woke series, must downvote” folder. Call me back when they do actually include a rootkit in their games. If only there was some way to get statistics of the people getting outraged because of posts in a subreddit community and the people who don’t have a problem with rootkits installed by their favorite MMOs.
MonkRome@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
Let’s try this logic on other things. Their EULA says they can cut off a finger whenever they want. They haven’t cut off my finger for my purchase of this game, call me back when they cut it off.
If you’re someone that doesn’t want companies to have root level access to your computer, waiting until it happens, when they’re telling you it’s gonna happen, is every reason to complain and be concerned.
lowleekun@ani.social 6 hours ago
You should hold a class on how to insert “woke” into every conversation.
gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 hours ago
I’ll just leave this in the “Pitchforks against Pitchford” and “Woke, must hate” folder.
So you’re an idiot?
W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 18 hours ago
Is this because Embracer sold Borderlands to Take-Two last year?
DaddleDew@lemmy.world 1 day ago
A government that cares for is people would ban this shit and procecute any company trying to find ways around it.
L0rdMathias@sh.itjust.works 6 hours ago
Y’all really going to freak out over the new paralegal being told to update the EULAs and lazily hitting the update all button?
EnsignPacts@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I checked the Steam depots. It seems the game files haven’t been updated since 2022. All that seems to have changed is some license agreement in February. Seems to be a thing across take two games, and not specific to borderlands 2.
Basically nothing has changed in real terms for this game. Maybe borderlands 4 might have draconian DRM, who knows.
RadioFreeArabia@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
I didn’t enjoy the Handsome Collection but free is free. Thanks for sharing.
JoMiran@lemmy.ml 1 day ago
I only play AAA games on GeForce Now (cloud). If the game can’t run on my Linux system or on the cloud, I ain’t touching it. Also, there are so many wonderful games that do not require a colonoscopy into your personal data to be played.
solsangraal@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
the game’s store page doesn’t mention that it requires root access, like it does for some other games. am i missing something?
But_my_mom_says_im_cool@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
Don’t speak I’ll of steam and billionaire Gabe around here. The steam bros are gonna crucify you for daring to even think ill of THEIR corporation and THEIR billionaire who of course loves and cares for them all.
Darkcoffee@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
I noticed too.
NeryK@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
On one side of the ring, greedy corps which want to profile you better than the NSA does. On the other, drama-hungry and social networks-fueled outrage culture.
That’s how an old game giveaway backfires and becomes the scandal of the day.
vortexal@sopuli.xyz 1 day ago
Is that also applicable to the Linux version, assuming that Aspyr did actually port the game to Linux and not just use Wine or something?
KneeTitts@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Why isnt Steam banning them? Munny?
PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I’ll just stick to playing my console copy
red@sopuli.xyz 1 day ago
Got to argue, I’m a 39 year old gamer, started with PCs back in 90s.
The games are casual fun, they work great as co-op shooters. Story is what it is, but the games themselves are lighthearted and just pure entertaining fun.
Not masterpieces. Just good.
Omega_Jimes@lemmy.ca 8 hours ago
I just don’t understand anticheat or copy protection on PvE games. I can understand it if you don’t want to play against a cheater, but this is a cooperative shooter.
porous_grey_matter@lemmy.ml 7 hours ago
See you’re looking at it from the point of view that it would serve the player experience, but that’s not what it’s for, it’s to mine your data
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 4 hours ago
We haven’t gotten another Middle Earth game because it had an online requirement
Now look where we are
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 4 hours ago
anarchiddy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 hours ago
IIRC Borderlands 3 scales the value of loot to the game’s difficulty setting, with some mechanics aimed at encouraging players to join online coops at high difficulties in order to earn more valuable loot. I imagine cheats undermine that intent, and I also imagine borderlands 4 might be aiming at a pay to play scheme.
I’m guessing this EULA is being used for all their IP with the intent of taking advantage of it in the future.
thermal_shock@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
It’s for precedent on future games and to sneak in shit for later. Wittle down your expectations and privacy, make it “normal”.
Sabata11792@ani.social 6 hours ago
Need to protect those purchasing opportunities from cheaters.