The underground

Introduction
CD-KEY Numbers
Serial Numbers
Brain Dumps
Warez
Hackz
Crackz
Console and other game emulators
Abandon Warez
MP3
Viruses
Other questions and answers

Introduction

Computer Hope has created this page for both educational purposes and to help educate end-users on what to avoid when on the Internet and why to avoid these sections of the Internet.

CD-KEY numbers

CD-KEYs allow users to install computer software onto their computer. Computer Hope frequently gets requests from users for CD-KEY numbers for various types of applications.

Computer Hope will not give any user any CD-KEY number whether or not the user has purchased the software. Below are reasons why not to give out your CD-KEY numbers to friends or other individuals.

1. It's illegal.
2. Giving your CD-KEY number may prevent you from logging onto Internet games, as only one CD-KEY is allowed per user.
3. May prevent you from obtaining updates to the software that may fix issues with your program.
4. More than one CD-KEY number on a network may prevent you from running the program.

If you have lost your CD-KEY it is recommended you contact the software developer of the program or operating system you are attempting to install and obtain a new number.

Serial numbers

Serial numbers, like CD-KEYs, are unique numbers that help identify users with their software.

Like CD-KEY numbers, Computer Hope will not give any user a serial number whether or not the user has purchased the software. Below are reasons why not to give out your CD-KEYs.

1. It's illegal.
2. Giving your serial number may prevent you from logging onto Internet games, as only one serial number is allowed per user.
3. May prevent you from obtaining updates to the software that may fix issues with your program.
4. More than one serial number on a network may prevent you from running the program.

If you have lost your serial number for your software program, please contact the developer of the program.

Brain dumps

A brain dump is a listing of questions and sometimes answers created by individuals who have taken a test and remember the questions and/or answers and quickly write down what they remember after taking the test. Once these have been written down, the individual can easily locate the correct answer on the Internet or through documentation. Brain dumps can help allow users not familiar with a test subject to memorize the test questions and answers helping enable them pass a test. While this may sound beneficial, below reasons are why we recommend you do not utilize brain dumps.

1. It's considered cheating.
2. You may be learning information that is incorrect, causing you to do worse on a test. 
3. If caught, your certification can be permanently removed from you and your credibility will be lost.
4. The whole design of tests are to 'test' the user of their knowledge of the test subject. If you cheat to pass the test, you may gain a certification, however, when the time comes to know the information, you will more likely fail.

Warez

Warez, also known as pirated software, has been and continues to be a serious issue for the computer industry. Below are highly recommended reasons not to pirate or download warez.

1. It's illegal
2. One of the most common ways to get computer viruses.
3. Causes lost profits for computer companies, which can contribute to higher prices, less innovation, and possibly the down fall of the company.
4. You receive no support from the company and no documentation for the software product. In addition, if Computer Hope finds out you are trying to obtain support for a pirated product, we will no longer support you. 
5. You will receive no free upgrades, offers, updates, or patches.
6. If you are pirating computer games that are playable over the Internet, you more than likely will not be able to play the game with your friends.

With the popularity of purchasing software over the Internet, piracy is invading into several types of Internet Sites. Auction pages where users can bid on software is an ever growing location for the sale of pirated software. When purchasing software over the Internet, ensure that you are purchasing a legal copy of software by following the below guidelines.

1. Ensure the place of purchase has a return policy and contact information.
2. If the price sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
3. Do not purchase beta software.
4. Do not purchase software that is described as CD only or with no other documentation.
5. Do not purchase software that is on CD-R or CD-RW.

Hackz

Hackz or Hacks are instructions or software that help enable a user to gain additional access to computer systems and information. Below are reasons that we highly recommend you do not utilize these techniques or programs.

1. Obtaining access to information or computers without permission is illegal and you could face criminal prosecution.
2. Some software that may claim to do one thing may do another. For example, software that may promise to gain you access to another individual's computer may allow other hackers to get access to your information (aka Trojan Horses).
3. Getting hack software is high risk software for computer viruses.

Crackz

Crackz are utilities that allow a user to bypass potential protection measures a company has created to prevent software piracy. Below are reasons why not to use Crackz.

1. If you are in need of crackz, more than likely you are pirating software, which is illegal.
2. Crackz, like other illegal software, are a high risk for computer viruses.

See our warez section for additional reasons why you do not want to pirate software.

Console and other game emulators

Console and other game emulators are software programs that computer users use to play old games that were found in the arcades, Nintendo games, Sega games, Atari games, etc.

While it is sometimes impossible to locate this software for your computer, it is still considered, in most cases, illegal by the game manufacturers and developers because of copyrights held by the game developers.

If you are unable to locate an older program, try auction web pages.

Abandon warez

Abandon warez, also known as abandonware is software developed several years ago that is no longer being produced or sold and is considered by many as abandoned.

Computer Hope has never received a confirmation from any company indicating that they are ok with other individuals giving away their old software as Abandon Warez and therefore considers this type of software illegal because of copyright laws.

If you are unable to locate older software programs, see document CH000614.