Staredit Network

Staredit Network -> Concepts -> Hide CHK from WinMPQ!
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Deathknight on 2006-01-09 at 16:01:29
Following these instructions will prevent the extraction of your CHK(map data) file from the SCM or SCX using WinMPQ, so hex editing to alter your name commonly used for map stealing, would become more improbable.

NOTE: As far as I know, only one file will work.
"mapname" is your map name.

Ultimate protection:

Requirements:
1. uBeR@TiOn
2. WinMPQ
3. A listfile with "staredit\scenario.chk" and "(listfile)" in it.

Instructions:
1. Protect your map regularly with uBeR@TiOn and save.
2. Open "mapname.scx" or "mapname.scm" with WinMPQ and extract "staredit\scenario.chk".
3. Go to OPTIONS.
4. Set the maximum files for new archives to "1".
5. Create a new archive and save it as "mapname.mpq".
6. Import "staredit\scenario.chk".
7. Click "Compact", and "staredit\scenario.chk" will disappear.

Your chk can no longer be seen with WinMPQ, but it will be playable in Starcraft.

Happy mapping.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Urmom(U) on 2006-01-09 at 17:47:35
You rule, nice find.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by LegacyWeapon on 2006-01-09 at 18:13:31
Lovely. Now to see if it'll work without WinMPQ wink.gif
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Carlsagan43 on 2006-01-12 at 08:26:18
Is there any chance that MPQ2k will see it?
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Deathknight on 2006-01-12 at 15:53:59
I downloaded MPQ2k, but apparently it doesn't work for me.

Try it on this: [attachmentid=16821]
Report, edit, etc...Posted by n0b0dy- on 2006-01-12 at 18:58:59
Awesome, just awesome.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Syphon on 2006-01-12 at 22:44:52
Now we really need to open the shop tongue.gif
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Carlsagan43 on 2006-01-12 at 23:21:10
I was able to extract it.... I think. Perhaps if the theieves are lazy this will hold up but it worked for me.


EDIT

For some crazy reason SEn doesnt support the upload of CHK so I had to zip it.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by IanMM on 2006-01-13 at 14:08:15
I got it with mpq2k, but I'm on a mac it may be different. don't start cursing macs!!!
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Joshgt2 on 2006-01-13 at 18:21:54
QUOTE(LegacyWeapon @ Jan 9 2006, 06:13 PM)
Lovely. Now to see if it'll work without WinMPQ wink.gif
[right][snapback]402940[/snapback][/right]

That could be an idea for Uberation 3!!! I am going to keep this in mind though...
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Carlsagan43 on 2006-01-13 at 21:55:49
QUOTE
That could be an idea for Uberation 3!!! I am going to keep this in mind though...


Were you not here but 2 posts ago? I was able to extract the CHK and I posted it here.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by LegacyWeapon on 2006-01-13 at 22:02:11
Hiding it just makes it so you need to do more work (or do it a different way). Some people are lazy or don't know other ways. Nobody said you can't extract it ever.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Deathknight on 2006-01-13 at 22:44:14
Actually I made a mistake in my first post, which claimed that maps would not be able to be extracted, which was not what I meant.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Carlsagan43 on 2006-01-13 at 23:58:00
QUOTE
Following these instructions will prevent the extraction of your CHK(map data) file from the SCM or SCX using WinMPQ, so hex editing to alter your name commonly used for map stealing, would become more improbable.


Well, most people dont use command line programs anymore (mapstealers anyways) so you should be safe with this method. Or, at least a little more safe than you were in the first place.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Alkemist on 2006-01-14 at 00:06:50
QUOTE(xXIanXx @ Jan 13 2006, 02:08 PM)
I got it with mpq2k, but I'm on a mac it may be different. don't start cursing macs!!!
[right][snapback]404672[/snapback][/right]


You just did "e staredit\scenario.chk", right? Anyone who uses a program without a GUI that lists the MPQ's contents (e.g. windows console MPQ2K) would be able to go and pull the file out. I don't use a PC so I dunno what MPQ program is preferred by PC users; In the short time I spent using one I was unable to get an MPQ program with a GUI working.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Carlsagan43 on 2006-01-14 at 00:16:25
I did just that. PC's use WinMPQ to do most of their dirty MPQ work. But, since one of its flaws is that it won't see it, most people will stop at that.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Alkemist on 2006-01-14 at 00:40:33
QUOTE(carlsagan43 @ Jan 14 2006, 12:16 AM)
most people will stop at that
[right][snapback]405236[/snapback][/right]


Right now I'm feeling ashamed of most people and at the same time wondering if I should be feeling ashamed.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Carlsagan43 on 2006-01-14 at 15:26:31
You ashamed of the map stealers stopping at that? You should be ashamed.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tuxedo Templar on 2006-01-16 at 09:35:13
Nice job. Does it also prevent sounds (and all other files added to the mpq archive) from showing in the list?
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Doodle77(MM) on 2006-01-16 at 11:44:26
I got it out too, I used DumbExtractor.
im attaching it simply because i have never seen 91% compression before. (30.8kb chk to 2.1 kb zip).
Still is awesome becauase you can change the name of your sound to something random to prevent them from extracting it. I only got the chk out because i knew the filename.
QUOTE(LW)
Hiding it just makes it so you need to do more work (or do it a different way). Some people are lazy or don't know other ways. Nobody said you can't extract it ever.
Its still another layer of protection, i say add it.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Carlsagan43 on 2006-01-16 at 12:24:36
QUOTE
Nice job. Does it also prevent sounds (and all other files added to the mpq archive) from showing in the list?


Even if you could, the sound names could be determined by looking at the CHK.4
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Red2Blue on 2006-01-16 at 16:32:51
When there's a will there's a way for sc to read it and when theres a way for sc to read it, there's a way to read the chk.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Deathknight on 2006-01-16 at 21:19:09
Regardless of extraction possibilities, it would be hidden from the most popular MPQ archiver, which is an increase in protection.

Tux: I havn't worked on extensive research for determining the cause of hiding., I had just posted an observation.

Hey, could I get a list and link to all MPQ extractors available? I think I might work on protection techniques sometime later.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Carlsagan43 on 2006-01-16 at 21:21:51
Regardless, this is a good technique to do everything to stop theives. Even if they can extract it, most people arent bright enough to figure out how. Editing the CHk is very easy. For example, has anyone played Tarpit defense 3.2 or 3.3? I made 3.2 from 3.1.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Red2Blue on 2006-01-16 at 21:22:28
That would be a nice thing to have, a list of every mpq extractor available... then again... I doubt they should be discussed here openly... you never know what might happen. *wink*.

Lets just leave it at: the only mpq viewer is the one we have in the dldb tongue.gif.


QUOTE
Regardless, this is a good technique to do everything to stop theives. Even if they can extract it, most people arent bright enough to figure out how. Editing the CHk is very easy. For example, has anyone played Tarpit defense 3.2 or 3.3? I made 3.2 from 3.1


You do know thats frowned upon... you aren't supposed to unprotect maps and talk about that kind of thing here... for shame...
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