Hacking How can anyone be okay with Gateway's behavior?

[spinner09]

It's downright despicable that a company installed a trojan to try and screw over its competitors, and people are actually defending it. Even more despicable that they went after end-users who didn't even do anything wrong, yet get screwed with a bricked console. Most average "Joe Shmoes" don't know that 3DSLink/r4i Gold are clones of Gateway, so why should they suffer? Why would Gateway want to go after users? If Gateway has a beef against anyone, it should be the r4 team themselves, not the consumers.

Just imagine if Sony or Dell started installing trojans in their laptops that would automatically destroy your computer if you tried to use any "unorthorized" parts (like cheaper third-party batteries). There would be an uproar, and people would be crying for Sony's head. I really believe the only people defending Gateway are diehard fanboys who don't like the idea of choice.

And as for the nonsense "b-but r4/3dslink are just clones/thieves" argument, that's par for the course in the modding/cracking world. Everyone copies everyone else, especially in China. In the end of the day, it's actually better for the consumer, since more choice means better prices. It's not a big deal. And $85 is an absurd price point to begin with.
But back to my point; Gateway's mantra from day 1 (months ago) has been "clones use cheaper parts and might brick your console", which turned out to be utterly false and a blatant lie. So, they attempted to make their lies come true by programming in a trojan that does just that. Shame on them, and shame on anyone who defends that shit.

 

[GregoryRasputin]

How can anyone be okay with Gateway's behavior?

Because sheep will always be ok as long as they are being led

 

[Kupie]

Because we're not a bunch of whiny bitches?

 

[WiiUBricker]

Because we're not a bunch of whiny bitches?

We or you pretending to speak for everyone?

 

[Deleted User]

all is fair in love and war, lol

 

[Kupie]

If you buy piracy devices or hack your stuff, you don't deserve to whine when it breaks stuff. If you do whine, you're a whiny bitch.

This is with everything in the hacking and piracy scene.

 

[tbgtbg]

Just imagine if Sony or Dell started installing trojans in their laptops that would automatically destroy your computer if you tried to use any "unorthorized" parts (like cheaper third-party batteries). There would be an uproar, and people would be crying for Sony's head.

Remember when some manufacturers actually did do this with printer ink cartridges with a chip in them to keep you from being able to refill them and a few people got impotently pissed off about but most people were like meh? I guess not.

 

[RHOPKINS13]

Why don't you stop placing the blame on Gateway and blame the clone-makers for using stolen code to begin with? Gateway's code works perfectly fine if you're following the instructions (which includes running it on THEIR cart!) It's their code, why should they be forced to allow other cart manufacturers to use it for free?

I'll agree that it's not very nice to brick consumer 3DS's, but at the same time, it's not their consumer, it's their competition's consumer. So why should they be concerned?

 

[Kupie]

We or you pretending to speak for everyone?

*You* are the one that said "how can *anyone* be okay..". I'm speaking on behalf of the not-a-whiny-bitch club.

If I woke up in the morning and I had my official GW brick my 3DS, well tough luck. Time to find a new one.

Edit: And, you know, not shitpost all over GBATEMP about it

 

[cearp]

It's downright despicable that a company installed a trojan

it's not a trojan...

 

[Huntereb]

spinner09 I was about to start a thread similar to this one, but in fear that it would simply turn into another circle-jerk, I did not.

I agree with you OP, but good luck convincing anyone here.

 

[someonewhodied]

Gateway has done nothing wrong. They simply put the code there. Along with a warning to not modify it.
Its not their fault that some other company decided to modify it, despite warnings, and activate some anti-copying code.

Think about it this way. If no one modified GW3ds launchers, there would be no bricks.

 

[Nobunaga]

They didn't targeted users they targeted clone development.
Why should they suffer? It isn't Gateway's fault for everything that is happening.
The one to blame is the clone companies.
The original is always the best.

 

[sonic2756]

*You* are the one that said "how can *anyone* be okay..". I'm speaking on behalf of the not-a-whiny-bitch club.

If I woke up in the morning and I had my official GW brick my 3DS, well tough luck. Time to find a new one.

Edit: And, you know, not shitpost all over GBATEMP about it

Cannot agree more. It's not like everyone is just going to stop buying their stuff. Pirates gonna pirate.

Me personally, I could care less. As long as I can keep playing games and GW is willing to supply updates, all is well in my book.

Besides, it's not like there was a mass bricking of consoles all at once, it was 30 or so.

 

[Kupie]

Gateway has done nothing wrong. They simply put the code there. Along with a warning to not modify it.
Its not their fault that some other company decided to modify it, despite warnings, and activate some anti-copying code.

Think about it this way. If no one modified GW3ds launchers, there would be no bricks.

And if everyone did their research and bought the quality product that isn't obviously a clone, well... there also wouldn't be bricks.

 

[cearp]

the only thing bad about this is if GATEWAY users gets bricked.
sure, the clone users do not deserve to get bricked, but the clone teams should check the files they copy better... really...
it's like someone booby trapping their house, and when a burglar comes in and get hurt, the homeowner gets sued. or when some thief hit his head on the top of the stairs and sued the owner... it's ridiculous.

sure it was not good of gateway to put such a harsh 'anti clone' system in, but it is the clone maker fault because they did not check what they were dealing with.
that Normmatt guy patched the bricking code, didn't he? if the clone teams can't do it then too bad.

if the clones did their job right this would be ok. i agree that bricking the console should not have been done, but, it doesn't make me want to not buy gateway.
if you want to boycott them etc, then don't use the multi rom, and nand saving stuff they release later on... ha

 

[FAST6191]

I am drawn to wonder how many will observe the distinction between bricking a device that is not designed to use your software (dick move but you at least have a tissue thin veneer with which you can justify it) and seemingly intentionally bricking an unrelated device when your software is used outside your remit (definite dick move, your only shield there being unforeseen consequences but that would be a hard sell here).

I am trying to think if I have observed it before for anything, I have certainly not seen it in flash cart circles yet. There were some rumblings about similar things to happen in car automotive diagnostics circles (various types of IDS if memory serves) but even there that would be closer to the first type.

 

[gamesquest1]

It's a shady business, anyone expecting a clean fight must of been delusional

 

[phanteon]

i have GW and don't defend their behavior at all.

Im actually scared of getting my console bricked due to corrupted launcher of SD.
hopefully this will call the attention of a lot of homebrewers that could do this right in this situation.

EDIT: and bricking consoles is not ok. There may be some people that received the console and/or card as a gift who dont deserve to fall in this discussion.

 

[sonic2756]

i have GW and don't defend their behavior at all.

Im actually scared of getting my console bricked due to corrupted launcher of SD.
hopefully this will call the atenttion of a lot of homebrewers that could do this right in this situation

Can someone PLEASE sticky a thread about how GW's "bricking code" actually works? Everyone is so uninformed and quick to jump to assumptions on this topic it's cringe worthy.

 

[someonewhodied]

spinner09 I was about to start a thread similar to this one, but in fear that it would simply turn into another circle-jerk, I did not.

I agree with you OP, but good luck convincing anyone here.

If a few people disagree with an opinion, its probably right.
If almost everyone disagrees with an opinion, there is a 99% chance its wrong. The 1% being things like "the world is not flat"

If you realize that a majority disagrees with your opinion, its time to re-evaulate the situation, the people, and your own beliefs.

 

[spinner09]

it's not a trojan...

Any program that pretends to do one thing, but actually contains a hidden maliciously written piece of code for a secret agenda, is a Trojan. This was a Trojan.