forum.vdsworld.com

Mac · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 2:34 am Post subject:

It's a hacking tool Prakash - sure ya can change your own stuff
with it, but ya can also change anybody else's. Wink

Cheers, Mac Smile

PGWARE · **Web Host** Joined: 29 Dec 2001 Posts: 1565

Resource editors are not entirely a hacking tool, sure they are used by alot of software crackers but there are many legit purposes. Both symantec and borland create two of the best resource editors available Smile

Alphonse · VDS Pirate Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 11

I don't think Resource Hacker is a cracker's tool.

Only the name is suspicious, but as you said, PGWARE, Borland gives a Resource Editor demo source with delphi.

Many other resources editor exist on the net.

Resource hacker is present on many Shareware/Freeware sites.

I don't think those sites accepts cracker's tool.

Mac · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 4:24 am Post subject:

Sorry, just my opinion. Anytime ya can edit/change EXEs and
DLLs (and not just icons), it looks kinda suspicious to me... Confused

Cheers, Mac Smile

jules · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 9:29 am Post subject:

Hmm. To some of us old timers, the word "hacker" is just a slang name for programmer. "To hack code" is just another way of saying "to write code." The popular press may think the term only applies to people who gain illegal access to stuff, but we ought to know better.

If you're talking about the same Resource Hacker I have on my hard disk, then it is a perfectly legitimate freeware tool written in Delphi by an Aussie guy (developed from the Resource Explorer example that comes with Delphi) that is used to examine or modify the resources of an executable. The fact that it could be used in ways that contravene someone's license agreement doesn't make it illegitimate. If you have Windows NT/2K/XP then there's a set of APIs in there that can used to modify resources, so perhaps any references to http://www.microsoft.com/ should also be deleted. Smile

Mac · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 9:34 am Post subject:

Good thinkin'. So why don't we post a link to a VDS decompiler,
since it can be used to retrieve lost source code from programs
we write... Rolling Eyes

Cheers, Mac Smile

Skit3000 · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 9:55 am Post subject:

I have used that program before, and I don't think it can harm any VDS made programs, whereever they are your own or others. Most people use this tool to change little things in programs, like changing the background and icons in MSN Messenger. Or removing a button in IE, for example... You can't make big changes with it.

Mac · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 10:32 am Post subject:

Hmmmm... so even though ya can change the internal file info
(CompanyName, FileDescription, FileVersion, LegalCopyright,
OriginalFilename, ProductName, and ProductVersion), not to
mention icons, menu items and controls - this can't be classified
as a hacking (or whatever) tool...

Here's a couple of excerpts from the program's help file (yeah I
read a lot Razz

):
"changing a control's caption is usually safe, as is modifying their
position, size and visibility. Adding a new control is unlikey to cause
problems"
"Dialog, menu, stringtable, messagetable, accelerators and
Borland form resources can all be easily edited and recompiled"

Most all hacking (or whatever) tools could be used for ethical
purposes, so perhaps we should allow links to all of 'em...

Cheers, Mac Smile

Garrett · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 10:43 am Post subject:

Do we blame the gun for the killing the person, or do we blame the
person who used the gun to kill the person?

-Garrett

ShinobiSoft · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 10:44 am Post subject:

Mac · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 10:44 am Post subject:

We don't give away free guns on the internet though, do we? Razz

Cheers, Mac Smile

GeoTrail · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 1:54 pm Post subject:

He he he good one Mac. I have to agree with Mac on this one.

If you need to change your program, just change it and recompile it. I can't see the need for a resource editor other then for cracking others work.

Anyways, that's my oppinnion on this matter.

FreezingFire · **Admin Team** Joined: 23 Jun 2002 Posts: 3508

The link was probably removed just as a precaution so that the subject of
hacking/cracking didn't come up. That's what a moderator is most likely
for -- to make sure that issues that shouldn't be discussed aren't discussed.

Everyone has their own opinion. However, I think this is getting a bit off-topic
since the original post was about multi-resolution icons. Wink

There's really no sense in arguing about this because some people are
always going to see it a different way than others. Let's just forget this
and move on. Smile

PGWARE · **Web Host** Joined: 29 Dec 2001 Posts: 1565

With VDS it's not necessary to use a resource compiler, but with C, Delphi and many other languages it becomes very useful when you want to create small slim applications built entirely with resources rather then bulky MFC or Delphi Units. You can also add in other resource types that the compiler in C, or Delphi otherwise can't handle correctly. There are many legit uses for a resource compiler, I agree editing another companies software is more then likely violating their end user agreement as well as copyright laws if a person chooses to distribute that modified executable.
Any tool in the wrong person's hands can be used for malicious intentions. VDS in a skript kiddies hands can wreck havoc throughout the internet by sending out compact but destructive payload trojans. Anyone with an email program can send out thousands of spam emails, people can use MSN/ICQ/AIM to harass other people. etc etc.

Skit3000 · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 4:35 pm Post subject:

Notepad can be used to harm people too... Rolling Eyes