D2CA.ORG - Dan's 20th Century Abandonware

Just Say NO To "Warez"

I Do Not Partake Of Illegal "Archive" Or "Warez" Sites.

I will never acquire any software for my legacy software collection from illegal download sites.

This archive is "clean," original, complete, legal software.

As everyone should know, it is illegal to download copyright-protected software that has not been granted this access by the author. It is also illegal for websites to provide download links to copyright-protected software that has not been granted this access by the author.

I am not talking about free copyrighted works such as OpenOffice, free versions of Linux, etc. -- I am referring to commercial software such as Microsoft Windows, AutoCAD, Corel WordPerfect Office, Norton Internet Security, The Print Shop, and other for-profit commercial software the authors do not allow to be freely distributed.

A lesson about illegal "warez" and "serialz" sites -- what Dan's 20th Century Abandonware is NOT.
Many illegal abandonware "archive" and "warez" sites take pride in violating copyright laws and providing pirated, illegal software through download links and other means.

Many of these sites force you to sign up for a paid "account" before granting access to their sites. These, and other illegal sites, force you to "vote" for their site. This is nothing more than a deception to force you to click a link that pays these sites for these "votes." Many have pornographic advertisements and some even redirect you to adult sites. Most of these sites also attempt to deliver "spyware" and viruses to your computer, without your knowledge, by way of pop-up ads and pop-up access to their "products." Some sites force you to download "toolbars," laden with spyware, before allowing access to download areas.

Most of these sites do not have the "older" software in its original setup format. Their offerings are usually ZIP, RAR, TAR, GZ, SIT, SEA and other types of archives of previously installed programs or the install files of several disks dumped into a single archive. Some contain viruses, spyware, adware or other malware. The archives of previously installed programs, "ripped" from computer hard drives, often are customized from their default state and in many cases cannot be returned to their default installation state. Many of these "ripped" programs do not contain their sample, graphics, and other included files. A lot of these pirated programs have added "nfo" or other "document" files, often containing vulgar language, with instructions on how to run these undocumented, illegal copies of software.

Serialz
There are also sites that offer "serialz" -- lists of serial and registration numbers for commercial and shareware software. These serial numbers allow people to "register" or activate many shareware, trialware, and commercial software titles without having to purchase the software. While it is not illegal to acquire serial numbers from these types of websites, it is illegal to use serial numbers to activate or fully enable software titles that have not been legally purchased.

That being said, let's pose this question: If you legally purchase a software title at a yard sale or thrift store which requires a serial or registration number for the title to be installed or function fully, and this number is not provided with the software, and you acquire a serial/registration number from a serialz site which activates this software title and you use it to activate the software, is this act illegal?

There are also programs that generate serial and activation numbers for software titles. These are called "keygens," or key generators. They allow you to input a name and/or other information and from this information they generate a code that completes a software title's activation/registration process. These are designed primarily for the full use of software titles without having to purchase the titles legally. For example, if you have a keygen program for AutoCAD 2000, and you acquire an illegal copy of the installation CD along with a valid serial number, you could use the keygen to generate a valid activation code and thus bypass AutoCAD's 30-day trial period and use the software indefinitely. You save yourself US$3,400, but also cause Autodesk, Inc. to lose that same amount by running an unpaid, illegal copy. This forces them, and other software companies, to increase their prices to try to recoup that lost revenue.

People around the world seek out serialz and keygens to run illegal copies of software they would otherwise have to purchase. But, seeker of free illegal software activation beware -- there are some Internet sites that are fighting back. Some sites posing as repositories of serialz and keygens that, instead of offering what software pirates are seeking, are offering what appear to be serial number and keygen downloads as executable files. But, the executables are, in fact, viruses and spyware packages that cripple or incapacitate computer systems to the point of having to be wiped and all operating system and other software reinstalled. These "gotcha" sites are indistinguishable from the actual serialz sites. And not all serialz sites are beyond trying to introduce spyware, viruses, and pornography into your computer. You take your computer's health into your hands every time you visit a serialz or warez site.

Is it worth all this risk just to try to get free, illegal software? I hope you like reloading your system after being inundated with adware, spyware, and viruses during your visits to these sites.

Don't take chances on having your computer compromised. Just say no to illegal software sites.

I hope you will join me in both avoiding these sites and telling others of the risks of visiting illegal download sites.

Is abandonware legal? Please read this.