Pocket Mechanic contains malicious code - update!

Alexander Turcic · 02-02-2005, 03:26 AM

TadW revealed the quite shocking news that Pocket Mechanic, a famous storage card utility for Pocket PC, contains code that could hard-reset your handheld without warning if a pirated serial code was detected.

Tad now posted the technical evidence (scroll down to post #11) leaving no room for doubt that Pocket Mechanic is indeed a dangerous (and illegal?) piece of software!

jkendrick · 02-02-2005, 10:28 AM

Has anyone spoken directly with Tomov about this?

Colin Dunstan · 02-02-2005, 10:37 AM

It would surprise me if he isn't aware of these discussions. The news have been posted over various places, plus he was present in the original Aximsite thread where users were first complaining about the hard resets.

Alexander Turcic · 02-02-2005, 12:10 PM

I contacted Mr Tomov and am awaiting his answer.

gadgetguru · 02-02-2005, 03:52 PM

I read it somewhere. The big Q is whether it is legal to auto-erase someone's data for using stolen serial number. It's unethical for sure, but so is using pirated software...now which is a graver offense?

CopperTrail · 02-02-2005, 06:16 PM

His boards are down, but, I do remember the thread about this behavior over on his forums. Anton requested a user's registration info, and then he said he was still waiting. The user would never send the registration info. Also, his boards are currently down, they're being upgraded . . .

Chaos · 02-02-2005, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadgetguru

I read it somewhere. The big Q is whether it is legal to auto-erase someone's data for using stolen serial number. It's unethical for sure, but so is using pirated software...now which is a graver offense?

And a simple mis-typing of your valid code, or even a small bug in the program, could cause the same result.

climax510 · 09-10-2005, 04:29 AM

Can anybody with extensive experience tell detailed differences between these two products. From what I can see SKtools offer the same (or like functionality) and much more at a cheaper price. I just purchased Pocket Mechanic & wonder if I need or should at the least consider Sktools as an additional matainence utility. If both are not necessary than which product would be best recommended for power users?

In addition to any replys, Please e-mail me for faster communications.
Climax510@hotmail.com

Thanks a-million

Colin Dunstan · 09-10-2005, 04:49 AM

Pocket Mechanic has a few more options to test the integrity of your external memory (e.g. SD Card). On the other hand, SKtools has a lot more features to tune Windows Mobile. I would 100% go for SKtools; nicer developer, more updates, better product.

yellowspace · 11-07-2005, 01:47 PM

I've had the same problem with a game called Soduku Master, it installs ok, lives in the games folder and on loading wipes the PDA with a hard reset so be warned if you get a copy of this software don't install it.

That'll teach me!!

ecschultz · 05-18-2006, 01:36 AM

If we dont use this software what other software we can use to manager de sd memory card. I have one iPAQ 3850 with 2Gb SD memory. I look on internet to find another software, but I could find it.
Can you help me?

Thanks,

Alexander Turcic · 05-18-2006, 03:49 AM

You should probably use an external card reader and manage (format, defrag, etc.) your SD card on your PC. It's definitely more reliable and faster, and a card reader isn't more expensive than buying a software product such as this one.

ecschultz · 05-19-2006, 08:32 AM

Thanks Alex! I'm dummy, it's easy like that? Format again, then the iPAQ could work with my 2GB? Thanks for your help!!!

Alexander Turcic · 05-19-2006, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecschultz

Thanks Alex! I'm dummy, it's easy like that? Format again, then the iPAQ could work with my 2GB? Thanks for your help!!!

Yup that should work

Try to format in FAT32 with a copy of the FAT table, which worked best for me.

ecschultz · 05-23-2006, 09:25 PM

Hi Alex! I did the format using FAT32 but my PDA still doesn't fit the 2Gb only 1Gb. The comand I used fomat volume /FS:FAT32.

09-10-2005, 04:29 AM	#8
climax510 Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2005 Device: Samsung i730 & Audvox6600	Pocket Mechanic VERSUS Sktools 2.11 Can anybody with extensive experience tell detailed differences between these two products. From what I can see SKtools offer the same (or like functionality) and much more at a cheaper price. I just purchased Pocket Mechanic & wonder if I need or should at the least consider Sktools as an additional matainence utility. If both are not necessary than which product would be best recommended for power users? In addition to any replys, Please e-mail me for faster communications. Climax510@hotmail.com Thanks a-million

11-07-2005, 01:47 PM	#10
yellowspace Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Device: Toshiba E400	hard resets I've had the same problem with a game called Soduku Master, it installs ok, lives in the games folder and on loading wipes the PDA with a hard reset so be warned if you get a copy of this software don't install it. That'll teach me!!

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02-02-2005, 03:26 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Pocket Mechanic contains malicious code - update! TadW revealed the quite shocking news that Pocket Mechanic, a famous storage card utility for Pocket PC, contains code that could hard-reset your handheld without warning if a pirated serial code was detected. Tad now posted the technical evidence (scroll down to post #11) leaving no room for doubt that Pocket Mechanic is indeed a dangerous (and illegal?) piece of software!

02-02-2005, 10:28 AM	#2
jkendrick Member Posts: 14 Karma: 55 Join Date: Aug 2004 Device: Sony U-70 /Toshiba e805	Has anyone spoken directly with Tomov about this?

02-02-2005, 10:37 AM	#3
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	It would surprise me if he isn't aware of these discussions. The news have been posted over various places, plus he was present in the original Aximsite thread where users were first complaining about the hard resets.

02-02-2005, 12:10 PM	#4
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	I contacted Mr Tomov and am awaiting his answer.

02-02-2005, 03:52 PM	#5
gadgetguru Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 6370 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Asia Device: Tungsten T5	I read it somewhere. The big Q is whether it is legal to auto-erase someone's data for using stolen serial number. It's unethical for sure, but so is using pirated software...now which is a graver offense?

02-02-2005, 06:16 PM	#6
CopperTrail Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 57 Join Date: Feb 2005 Device: Dell Axim X3i	His boards are down, but, I do remember the thread about this behavior over on his forums. Anton requested a user's registration info, and then he said he was still waiting. The user would never send the registration info. Also, his boards are currently down, they're being upgraded . . .

09-10-2005, 04:49 AM	#9
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	Pocket Mechanic has a few more options to test the integrity of your external memory (e.g. SD Card). On the other hand, SKtools has a lot more features to tune Windows Mobile. I would 100% go for SKtools; nicer developer, more updates, better product.

05-18-2006, 01:36 AM	#11
ecschultz Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2006 Device: iPAQ 3850	Pocket mechanic If we dont use this software what other software we can use to manager de sd memory card. I have one iPAQ 3850 with 2Gb SD memory. I look on internet to find another software, but I could find it. Can you help me? Thanks,

05-18-2006, 03:49 AM	#12
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	You should probably use an external card reader and manage (format, defrag, etc.) your SD card on your PC. It's definitely more reliable and faster, and a card reader isn't more expensive than buying a software product such as this one.

05-19-2006, 08:32 AM	#13
ecschultz Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2006 Device: iPAQ 3850	Thanks Alex! I'm dummy, it's easy like that? Format again, then the iPAQ could work with my 2GB? Thanks for your help!!!

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05-23-2006, 09:25 PM	#15
ecschultz Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2006 Device: iPAQ 3850	Hi Alex! I did the format using FAT32 but my PDA still doesn't fit the 2Gb only 1Gb. The comand I used fomat volume /FS:FAT32.