Resident Evil and Crimson Desert Pirated in Just Few Hours: Denuvo Responds to New Threat

Key Takeaways

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The Hypervisor method, a new approach used by hackers, allows for the piracy of major games on their release day, bypassing Irdetos Denuvo protection system.
This method operates at Ring 1, a security level beneath standard system visibility, granting unauthorized access to locked games without the need for custom drivers or code injections.
Disabling critical system protections such as Windows Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) and Hardware-Based Code Integrity (HVCI), and turning off driver signature verification, leaves PCs vulnerable to low-level threats like rootkits and ransomware when using the Hypervisor method.
Irdeto is actively developing solutions to combat the Hypervisor bypass, aiming to release updated security versions for affected games that will not compromise player performance or operate at the Ring 1 level.

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Irdeto’s Denuvo protection system is facing a critical challenge: a new “Hypervisor” method enables hackers to bypass its security, allowing the piracy of major games on their release day. This marks a significant shift in PC piracy, prompting Irdeto to announce upcoming updates to counter the threat. The Hypervisor method circumvents Denuvo by operating at Ring 1, a security level beneath standard system visibility. This grants unauthorized access to locked games without custom drivers or code injections. At this level, the method intercepts processor instructions (CPU) and sends false data to Denuvo, which is tricked into believing the original game protection remains intact. This technique has reportedly compromised games such as Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, Life is Strange: Reunion, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, enabling piracy on their launch days. Irdeto, Denuvo’s parent company, acknowledged the security concern and informed TorrentFreak that they are developing a solution to address it.

Hypervisor Method Enhancements Pose Increased Security Risks for Gamers’ PCs

While a significant advancement in piracy, the Hypervisor method raises security risks for players’ PCs. To enable these cracks, users often must disable critical system protections such as Windows Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) and Hardware-Based Code Integrity (HVCI), and turn off driver signature verification. Disabling these defenses leaves PCs vulnerable to low-level threats, such as rootkits and ransomware, which can gain deep control of a user’s system. FitGirl, a well-known repacker of pirated games, initially refused to distribute games cracked using the Hypervisor method due to the potential for irreversible damage to users’ computers. Although she now offers these files, she labels them prominently with “HYPERVISOR” and advises extreme caution during download. This change came after the technique improved, eliminating the need to disable Secure Boot. Irdeto has confirmed they are actively developing solutions to combat the Hypervisor bypass. According to Daniel Butschek, Irdeto’s head of communications, the team is working on updated security versions for affected games. Butschek assured that these enhanced security measures will not compromise player performance and clarified that the company will not operate at the Ring 1 level to combat the problem.

In Case You Missed It

In other news, Ahmed Hassan has been quite busy lately with three compelling articles that you won’t want to miss. Kicking things off is his exploration into the unexpected commercial triumph of “Super Mario Galaxy.” Despite being lambasted by critics with a Metacritic score of just 37, this animated film managed to rake in an impressive US$34 million on its opening day, thanks to its game references, humor, and action-packed sequences that had fans embracing it wholeheartedly while traditional media critiques seemed left behind. You can dive into this thought-provoking analysis right here Despite Critic Condemnation, ‘Super Mario Galaxy’ Film Shatters Box Office Records on Opening Day. But Ahmed wasn’t done there. He also penned a piece on the impressive sales performance of Pearl Abyss’ latest release, Crimson Desert. In “Crimson Desert Achieves 4 Million Sales in Under 15 Days: Is the Game Already Profitable?”, published just last month (April 2nd), Marcus Thompson delves into how this open-world game attracted over 4 million players in under two weeks, and explores whether its rapid growth has made it profitable already. Check out his insightful analysis here Crimson Desert Achieves 4 Million Sales in Under 15 Days: Is the Game Already Profitable?. And if that wasn’t enough, Ahmed also explored the intriguing possibility of Disney’s acquisition of Fortnite creator Epic Games in his recent article, “Disney Seeks Ownership of Fortnite,” published on March 31st. Drawing from Kevin Mayer’s insights and discussing potential strategies of new CEO Josh D’Amaro, this post is a must-read for gaming enthusiasts eager to understand the corporate dynamics shaping their favorite virtual worlds. So stay ahead of the game and dive in here Disney Seeks Ownership of Fortnite!