Hello,

I do not want to go into to much detail about what Punk
Buster is but it is something that a few very popular
games are starting to use. It is supposed to prevent
people from cheating in online games. A lot of online
game servers require Punk Buster in order to play the
game.

My problem:
In order for Punk Buster to work you must be logged in as
an administrator or grant some extra privileges to the
user account. I really do not want to log in as an
administrator so I am left with the second option of
modifying privileges. Punk Buster has provided a
solution to the problem and I have listed it below. My
concern is that the solution might compromise the
security of my machine.

My Question:
In there anyone out there who understands what Punk
Buster is suggesting below and can you tell me if it is
alright to change the privileges suggested?

Best Regards and Thanks,
Shawn


Punk Buster Solution from FAQ:

Is there some way to modify my system configuration to be
an administrator equivalent from Punk Buster's
perspective in Win2k/XP Pro?

Yes (under Win XP Pro or Win 2K). This can be
accomplished by setting certain privileges for the user
that will run the game. To do this, first temporarily log
in as an Administrator. Then go to Control Panel =>
Administrative Tools => Local Security Policy. This will
open up the Local Security setting window. Expand the
Local Policies folder and select User Rights Assignment.
This will bring up a list of security settings for the
computer. You will need to add the user that will be
launching the game to have the following privileges. If
the user is logged in while making changes, the user must
be logged out and back in for the changes to take effect.


Debug Programs
Load and unload device drivers
Manage auditing and security log
Modify Firmware environment values
Profile Single Process

This is done by double clicking on the setting and then
the "Add User or Group" button. You can either type the
user or group name into the field or click on advanced to
select from a list. If you select advanced, you may need
to click on the "Object Types" button and make sure all 3
boxes are checked. Then click "OK". Click on the "Find
Now" button to generate a full list of all users and
groups on the system. Highlight the user you want to add
the rights to and click "OK". Keep clicking "OK" until
you are back at the Local Security Settings window.
Repeat this process for the rest of the list. That user
will now be able to play on PB servers without getting
kicked for "Inadequate O/S Privileges".

Re: Punk Buster Anti-Cheat Software for online gaming by *Vanguard*

*Vanguard*
Mon Jul 12 20:07:21 CDT 2004

Shawn said in news:2b8e501c46863$4cc7f3c0$a401280a@phx.gbl:
> Hello,
>=20
> I do not want to go into to much detail about what Punk
> Buster is but it is something that a few very popular
> games are starting to use. It is supposed to prevent
> people from cheating in online games. A lot of online
> game servers require Punk Buster in order to play the
> game.
>=20
> My problem:
> In order for Punk Buster to work you must be logged in as
> an administrator or grant some extra privileges to the
> user account. I really do not want to log in as an
> administrator so I am left with the second option of
> modifying privileges. Punk Buster has provided a
> solution to the problem and I have listed it below. My
> concern is that the solution might compromise the
> security of my machine.
>=20
> My Question:
> In there anyone out there who understands what Punk
> Buster is suggesting below and can you tell me if it is
> alright to change the privileges suggested?
>=20
> Best Regards and Thanks,
> Shawn
>=20
>=20
> Punk Buster Solution from FAQ:
>=20
> Is there some way to modify my system configuration to be
> an administrator equivalent from Punk Buster's
> perspective in Win2k/XP Pro?
>=20
> Yes (under Win XP Pro or Win 2K). This can be
> accomplished by setting certain privileges for the user
> that will run the game. To do this, first temporarily log
> in as an Administrator. Then go to Control Panel =3D>
> Administrative Tools =3D> Local Security Policy. This will
> open up the Local Security setting window. Expand the
> Local Policies folder and select User Rights Assignment.
> This will bring up a list of security settings for the
> computer. You will need to add the user that will be
> launching the game to have the following privileges. If
> the user is logged in while making changes, the user must
> be logged out and back in for the changes to take effect.
>=20
>=20
> Debug Programs
> Load and unload device drivers
> Manage auditing and security log
> Modify Firmware environment values
> Profile Single Process
>=20
> This is done by double clicking on the setting and then
> the "Add User or Group" button. You can either type the
> user or group name into the field or click on advanced to
> select from a list. If you select advanced, you may need
> to click on the "Object Types" button and make sure all 3
> boxes are checked. Then click "OK". Click on the "Find
> Now" button to generate a full list of all users and
> groups on the system. Highlight the user you want to add
> the rights to and click "OK". Keep clicking "OK" until
> you are back at the Local Security Settings window.
> Repeat this process for the rest of the list. That user
> will now be able to play on PB servers without getting
> kicked for "Inadequate O/S Privileges".

They want privileges to install drivers, it is NOT a safe program. =
Basically they want to install software (i.e., drivers) that can then =
get kernel-mode privileges to do ANYTHING they want on your computer. =
Any gambling site that requires the use of PunkBuster (gee, I wonder =
where the "Buster" portion of the name came from) are more concerned =
with stealing away your computer. Find another means of satisfying your =
gambling addiction. Or consider that your gambling online with this =
crap means you will donate your computer to them to use however they =
please.

You can get more "marketing" info (i.e., only what they want to reveal) =
at http://www.evenbalance.com/. Their goal is NOT to help you! It is =
to help those stealing your money away already. =20

Don't confuse Punkbuster, the invader tool, with Punkbuster, the remote =
screenshot access utility (http://sourceforge.net/projects/pbdb/). The =
former is malware as far as I'm concerned. The later is helpware.


--=20
____________________________________________________________
*** Post replies to newsgroup. Share with others.
*** Email domain =3D ".com" AND append "=3DNEWS=3D" to Subject.
____________________________________________________________


Re: Punk Buster Anti-Cheat Software for online gaming by Shawn

Shawn
Tue Jul 13 01:36:28 CDT 2004


>-----Original Message-----
>Shawn said in news:2b8e501c46863$4cc7f3c0
$a401280a@phx.gbl:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I do not want to go into to much detail about what Punk
>> Buster is but it is something that a few very popular
>> games are starting to use. It is supposed to prevent
>> people from cheating in online games. A lot of online
>> game servers require Punk Buster in order to play the
>> game.
>>
>> My problem:
>> In order for Punk Buster to work you must be logged in
as
>> an administrator or grant some extra privileges to the
>> user account. I really do not want to log in as an
>> administrator so I am left with the second option of
>> modifying privileges. Punk Buster has provided a
>> solution to the problem and I have listed it below. My
>> concern is that the solution might compromise the
>> security of my machine.
>>
>> My Question:
>> In there anyone out there who understands what Punk
>> Buster is suggesting below and can you tell me if it is
>> alright to change the privileges suggested?
>>
>> Best Regards and Thanks,
>> Shawn
>>
>>
>> Punk Buster Solution from FAQ:
>>
>> Is there some way to modify my system configuration to
be
>> an administrator equivalent from Punk Buster's
>> perspective in Win2k/XP Pro?
>>
>> Yes (under Win XP Pro or Win 2K). This can be
>> accomplished by setting certain privileges for the user
>> that will run the game. To do this, first temporarily
log
>> in as an Administrator. Then go to Control Panel =>
>> Administrative Tools => Local Security Policy. This
will
>> open up the Local Security setting window. Expand the
>> Local Policies folder and select User Rights
Assignment.
>> This will bring up a list of security settings for the
>> computer. You will need to add the user that will be
>> launching the game to have the following privileges. If
>> the user is logged in while making changes, the user
must
>> be logged out and back in for the changes to take
effect.
>>
>>
>> Debug Programs
>> Load and unload device drivers
>> Manage auditing and security log
>> Modify Firmware environment values
>> Profile Single Process
>>
>> This is done by double clicking on the setting and then
>> the "Add User or Group" button. You can either type the
>> user or group name into the field or click on advanced
to
>> select from a list. If you select advanced, you may
need
>> to click on the "Object Types" button and make sure
all 3
>> boxes are checked. Then click "OK". Click on the "Find
>> Now" button to generate a full list of all users and
>> groups on the system. Highlight the user you want to
add
>> the rights to and click "OK". Keep clicking "OK" until
>> you are back at the Local Security Settings window.
>> Repeat this process for the rest of the list. That user
>> will now be able to play on PB servers without getting
>> kicked for "Inadequate O/S Privileges".
>
>They want privileges to install drivers, it is NOT a
safe program. Basically they want to install software
(i.e., drivers) that can then get kernel-mode privileges
to do ANYTHING they want on your computer. Any gambling
site that requires the use of PunkBuster (gee, I wonder
where the "Buster" portion of the name came from) are
more concerned with stealing away your computer. Find
another means of satisfying your gambling addiction. Or
consider that your gambling online with this crap means
you will donate your computer to them to use however they
please.
>
>You can get more "marketing" info (i.e., only what they
want to reveal) at http://www.evenbalance.com/. Their
goal is NOT to help you! It is to help those stealing
your money away already.
>
>Don't confuse Punkbuster, the invader tool, with
Punkbuster, the remote screenshot access utility
(http://sourceforge.net/projects/pbdb/). The former is
malware as far as I'm concerned. The later is helpware.
>
>
>--
>_________________________________________________________
___
>*** Post replies to newsgroup. Share with others.
>*** Email domain = ".com" AND append "=NEWS=" to Subject.
>_________________________________________________________
___
>
>.
>
Thanks for your help. Actually the game I'm referring to
is Battlefield Vietnam. I don't gamble online.

Regards,
Shawn

Re: Punk Buster Anti-Cheat Software for online gaming by Robert

Robert
Tue Jul 13 03:48:42 CDT 2004

*Vanguard* wrote:
>
> They want privileges to install drivers, it is NOT a safe program.
> Basically they want to install software (i.e., drivers) that can then
> get kernel-mode privileges to do ANYTHING they want on your computer.
> Any gambling site that requires the use of PunkBuster (gee, I wonder
> where the "Buster" portion of the name came from) are more concerned
> with stealing away your computer. Find another means of satisfying
> your gambling addiction. Or consider that your gambling online with
> this crap means you will donate your computer to them to use however
> they please.

You're confused. He's talking about something _very_ different.



Re: Punk Buster Anti-Cheat Software for online gaming by Robert

Robert
Tue Jul 13 03:52:21 CDT 2004

Shawn wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I do not want to go into to much detail about what Punk
> Buster is but it is something that a few very popular
> games are starting to use. It is supposed to prevent
> people from cheating in online games. A lot of online
> game servers require Punk Buster in order to play the
> game.
>
> My problem:
> In order for Punk Buster to work you must be logged in as
> an administrator or grant some extra privileges to the
> user account. I really do not want to log in as an
> administrator so I am left with the second option of
> modifying privileges. Punk Buster has provided a
> solution to the problem and I have listed it below. My
> concern is that the solution might compromise the
> security of my machine.
>
> My Question:
> In there anyone out there who understands what Punk
> Buster is suggesting below and can you tell me if it is
> alright to change the privileges suggested?

I know the punkbuster you are talking about. It's also part of Athena Sword
& Joint Ops.

Define "alright". Your computer won't catch fire if you use punkbuster this
way, but giving your account these rights makes it close to pointless that
you don't want to run as admin... by the time you've done this I'd suggest
just run these games under a seperate admin account and save yourself a lot
of bother with non-standard permissions on your daily use account..

Too many gamers aren't interested, but really this needs a strong body of
people to compain to the companies using punkbuster, and of course the
company that make it, and tell them that having to have admin rights or some
bodged set of permissions that might as well be admin, is not acceptable for
running a few games.


--
--
Rob Moir, Microsoft MVP for servers & security
Website - http://www.robertmoir.co.uk
Virtual PC 2004 FAQ - http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/VirtualPC2004FAQ.html

Kazaa - Software update services for your Viruses and Spyware.



Re: Punk Buster Anti-Cheat Software for online gaming by anonymous

anonymous
Tue Jul 13 09:52:27 CDT 2004


>-----Original Message-----
>Shawn wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I do not want to go into to much detail about what Punk
>> Buster is but it is something that a few very popular
>> games are starting to use. It is supposed to prevent
>> people from cheating in online games. A lot of online
>> game servers require Punk Buster in order to play the
>> game.
>>
>> My problem:
>> In order for Punk Buster to work you must be logged in
as
>> an administrator or grant some extra privileges to the
>> user account. I really do not want to log in as an
>> administrator so I am left with the second option of
>> modifying privileges. Punk Buster has provided a
>> solution to the problem and I have listed it below. My
>> concern is that the solution might compromise the
>> security of my machine.
>>
>> My Question:
>> In there anyone out there who understands what Punk
>> Buster is suggesting below and can you tell me if it is
>> alright to change the privileges suggested?
>
>I know the punkbuster you are talking about. It's also
part of Athena Sword
>& Joint Ops.
>
>Define "alright". Your computer won't catch fire if you
use punkbuster this
>way, but giving your account these rights makes it close
to pointless that
>you don't want to run as admin... by the time you've
done this I'd suggest
>just run these games under a seperate admin account and
save yourself a lot
>of bother with non-standard permissions on your daily
use account..
>
>Too many gamers aren't interested, but really this needs
a strong body of
>people to compain to the companies using punkbuster, and
of course the
>company that make it, and tell them that having to have
admin rights or some
>bodged set of permissions that might as well be admin,
is not acceptable for
>running a few games.
>
>
>--
>--
>Rob Moir, Microsoft MVP for servers & security
>Website - http://www.robertmoir.co.uk
>Virtual PC 2004 FAQ -
http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/VirtualPC2004FAQ.html
>
>Kazaa - Software update services for your Viruses and
Spyware.
>
>
>.
>

Thank you for your help Rob. I'm not sure what "Alright"
is myself but I guess I'm asking what do these privileges
actually grant to the user and if someone was to hack
into my computer via a user account which has these
privileges what would they be able to do?

Best Regards and Thanks,
Shawn

Re: Punk Buster Anti-Cheat Software for online gaming by Robert

Robert
Tue Jul 13 13:32:30 CDT 2004

anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com wrote:

> Thank you for your help Rob. I'm not sure what "Alright"
> is myself but I guess I'm asking what do these privileges
> actually grant to the user and if someone was to hack
> into my computer via a user account which has these
> privileges what would they be able to do?

Whatever they wanted to do. Those are part of the set of permissions which i
would class as "game over" if i saw them in the hands of a hacker.