HL2 Source Leak

TheBlueRaja

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19 Apr 2002
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Here's an update on the Half-Life 2 source leak from Gabe Newell (thanks to Shacknews for confirming this):

1) We've taken our network connection down to pretty much a minimum. We're still finding machines internally that have been compromised.

2) The suite of tools that the attacker was using included the modified version of RemotelyAnywhere (basically a Remote Desktop-style remote admin tool), Haxker Defender (a process, registry key and file hiding tool), the key logger, and various networking utilities that allowed them to transfer files (compressors, NetCat, and FTP). We also are pretty sure they were sniffing our network to gather passwords and other information. Haxker Defender includes a file system driver that allows an attacker to have stuff on your machine that is invisible, unless you do something like mount the drive under another OS that has NTFS support.

We have determined one way of detecting some infected machines, which is using a connection viewer to detect connections to anomalous hosts external to our network.

We still don't know their entry method.

3) In general, the community has been remarkably swift at tracking down the sources of the leak. What would be most helpful now are IP addresses of the people who were responsible for the intrusion or for the denial of service attacks.

4) Also, please continue to send in URLs of websites hosting the source code. We've been contacting people and asking them to take it down.

5) There's anecdotal evidence that other game developers have been targeted by whoever attacked us. This hasn't been confirmed. We've been providing other game developers with more detailed information about the exploits and evidence of infiltration.

6) We're running a little bit blind with our network shut down, but it seems like some of the press has picked up the story. I've been fielding calls from the mainstream non-games, non-technical press.all day. Hopefully they will get to report shortly what a mistake it is to piss off a whole bunch of gamers and get them hunting you around the Internet.

For any information related to this, please send it to helpvalve@valvesoftware.com, or you can always send to gaben@valvesoftware.com as well.

Now, more bad news: it's possible that more than just the source code leaked, although this is just unsubstantiated rumor at this point. Do not support the distribution of any such files, do not download any of these files yourself (unless you want to expose yourself to horrible viruses and possible legal prosecution), and contact Valve immediately if you come across people or organizations circulating anything suspicious.

UPDATE: While there are numerous examples, two files in particular are circulating that claim to be builds of Half-Life 2, both are over a gig: one contains no HL2 content and is really just a front for a key-logging program, and the other contains gay porn. Don't be stupid, and don't download anything HL2 related that isn't official or from a reputable site. It's either illegal, fake, or filled with viruses, so no matter what, you lose.
 
Moved this to it's own thread as it's actually informative/interesting, and have closed the other thread.

I suppose it was only a matter of time before people started claiming that they have HL2 for download, instead are just offering a package of dud files and virii.
 
I think it was Gabe downloading trying to download the finished version off Kazaa to save himself some work, instead all he got was Gay Porn and keyloggers installed everywhere.

Dirty F*****
 
hahah :D
I think it will be quite interesting to find out the exact method of entry to the network, as people are blaming Microsoft at the moment (I must say I agree though, goin only on the info from his initial statement which we had on the front page here) but it's far too easy to jump to conclusions without all the facts.
 
microsoft release patches so surely its the system admin who didnt do his job and apply them?
 
Not being a Valve employee (..yet, one day!!! harhar ... mebbe not :p) I don't know how their network is set up, the network may well be internal only and the hacker managed to get in via a router/firewall and/or various machines, allowing access to the network internally, then copying files to an externally accessible location ready to steal them. The machines may be the responsability of each user (doubtfull) or as you say, it may just be that the main network admin is inept.

We don't know how these people gained access or how the Valve offices/network/whatever is setup, and I doubt they're going to release a full spec on the network for people to examine, esspecially not now, so we'll probably never know. The only info we have are press releases and gabes forum ramblings. :)
 
Oooh the irony.
A microsoft exploit could mean that while the pc version has to be edited, the x-box version will be complete and ready for release.
 
Originally posted by Electronic Punk
Oooh the irony.
A microsoft exploit could mean that while the pc version has to be edited, the x-box version will be complete and ready for release.
I wont even comment on that EP;) :rolleyes:

Wait a f%$#& minute..you mean to tell me (from reading the ign forum post) the whole game could have been taken. Guys I dont want to point fingers but this is not just some hacker. Big people are behind this and Im talking on comapny lvl here. This game is revolutionary and it really came out of no where and handed many people there asses. The truth will come to light and watch the heads roll.
 
Yes the "whole game" (which would currenly amount to being a beta when compiled, but the factor that it's in raw source form is definately not good) could have been taken.
It's not 100% confirmed, but there are people who claim to have it, but this could also be a case of chinese whispers, as there are fake images/files out there. According to the link I posted, (if I understand right) there is a group that has it, which has been confirmed, but they aren't going to release it to the public.

Who knows, there aren't any absolute solid facts at the moment. As with most big events on the internet, rumours will spread much faster than facts because it's usually what people want to hear, rather than what's actually going on.
 
Nice link SPeedY_B,
I was loving the chat last week when Nvidia and ATi were getting stroppy over benchmarking and cheating - but this blows all that out the water. Its all gone a bit crazy, but to quote the matrix (seems appropriate at a time like this), how deep does the rabbit hole go?

It was hinted in my first post that this is possibly not just limited to affecting valve either, and that other software houses could have been comprimised also. This could well turn out to be one of the biggest corporate espionage stories ever.

Im glad that no group has released this "beta" yet - but i suspect thats more due to the fact that it could be very risky indeed to do so rather that any gesture of goodwill on their part.

As for the XBox version - give them it - there is only one platform where you will get the best experience of this game.
 
Originally posted by TheBlueRaja
This could well turn out to be one of the biggest corporate espionage stories ever.

My thoughts exactly.
 
IMO I think it would make the most sense for the graph card companiess to get their hands on it because they could work drivers and technology towards the source code to get better results...I don't mean to throw a rumor out there because I'm not I jsut think that in this situation it would make sense...again I DON'T MEAN TO START A RUMOR
 
Graphics card companies (mainly Ati though) already have the game... And probably Nvidia does too. Its quite common, and beneficial to both the developers and the main card companies to get games before release to ensure it all works well with what people have in their machines. Its both in the developers and the card companies interests to do so, the difference is that they get the game rather than the souce of the game.

ATi have already stated that they have been working real close with valve in order to get the most out of it, and even had one of their programmers working on the source with Valve. This may be a special case though because of the deal ATi and valve have regarding this game.

Its no biggie for this to happen, and there is nothing backhanded about it, the only people who could possibly benefit from the source being leaked are Nvidia, but only becuase it may delay the game and that would be a good thing for them because it was being used by ATi to promote the new XT range of cards. But to be honest - that would be rediculous for them to take that much of a risk for such a small return and i dont believe for a minute that Nvidia had anything to do with it.
 
Why not Blue? [graphic card A] has been caught cheating and excuses upon excuses have been piled up on their performance issues. [graphic card B] benchmarks in HL2 trounces [graphic card A]. I really hope your right but like you said quoting your matrix comment..."lets see how deep the rabbit hole goes". Oh yeah its deep with lots of backdoors and tunnels. Someone was paid or promised something for this. We may never find out but God does this stink bad.
 
Sorry Terrahertz, I just dont see it - Like I say, there's not enough payback for it - i mean theres one thing tweaking your drivers to improve scores (and thats as nice as i can be about it), but there's a whole other world of pain for someone who hacks into a company/companies to steal and more importantly release the sorce code for a game.

What do they get fom it? Another developer i can see stealing the code, but a GFX card company - nope - not in my opinion.

This is why i think its a hacker group - nobody else would be dumb enough to release the souce. It only benefits another developer to borrow elements of another game or ideas, that they then implement into their game and keep quiet, real quiet - and no one batts an eyelid. And anyhoo - this just reeks of a hacker group trying to score Kudos.
 
Originally posted by TheBlueRaja
Graphics card companies (mainly Ati though) already have the game... And probably Nvidia does too. Its quite common, and beneficial to both the developers and the main card companies to get games before release to ensure it all works well with what people have in their machines. Its both in the developers and the card companies interests to do so, the difference is that they get the game rather than the souce of the game.

ATi have already stated that they have been working real close with valve in order to get the most out of it, and even had one of their programmers working on the source with Valve. This may be a special case though because of the deal ATi and valve have regarding this game.

Its no biggie for this to happen, and there is nothing backhanded about it, the only people who could possibly benefit from the source being leaked are Nvidia, but only becuase it may delay the game and that would be a good thing for them because it was being used by ATi to promote the new XT range of cards. But to be honest - that would be rediculous for them to take that much of a risk for such a small return and i dont believe for a minute that Nvidia had anything to do with it.

not sure if I agree with your assesment...

I agree about the beta testers and beyond... this happens for every game... but they are under nda so they will not discuss the product..

ati has one guy who is in charge of shaders and he is the one who liases with any company that needs information or wants to work in collabaration... it has nothing to do with ati's marketing arrangement with valve... that is a common misconception...

the leaking of the source code is not beneficial to anyone... and though the delays do help nvidia it is not an implication of that ihv....

the only people who benefit from a leak such as this are small game makers not willing to pay license fees for use of valve's tweaked havok engine and also the code to utilise it for their development... and also hackers for mp games utilising hl2's source code...

ati's xt range will sell itself.. the hl2 agreement is a bonus... people will still get vouchers that are fully redeemable...

I agree with you that it is a little silly to blame nvidia for this...
 
as an fyi.. the entire source code was not leaked...

:)
 
HAHAHA gay porn think your gonna play a game and u get a big ***** in your face! thats great :)
 

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Also Hi EP and people. I found this place again while looking through a oooollllllldddd backup. I have filled over 10TB and was looking at my collection of antiques. Any bids on the 500Mhz Win 95 fix?
Any of the SP crew still out there?
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Just did some crude math and I apparently joined almost 18yrs ago, how is that possible???
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