Is this site safe?

[Narnia]

I'm sure that many people remember the program DVD Decrypter. I did a google search and there is a mirror in the UK that still has it (first result on a google search) available as a free download. Is the download safe? Will it give my computer a virus? Finally, is it legal? Thanks.

PS: if you feel that this thread somehow violates the site's terms of use, please inform me so I can ask a mod to remove it. Thanks.

 

[Skwink]

How do you expect us to know? We don't know the site.

 

[ZeletDude]

A link to the site would be nice.

 

[Narnia]

A link to the site would be nice.

www.dvddecrypter.org.uk/

 

[Skwink]

Well I wouldn't click that link, if you don't know if it's safe or not.

 

[ZeletDude]

Well just download it and find out, I personally wont because I have no idea what DVD decrypter is..

 

[Narnia]

I was just wondering if there was a way for me to be fairly certain that the download was safe or not, like if there are any guidelines in general on how to tell if a site is safe or not or if there was a virus scanner I could use or something like that.

 

[Narnia]

Well just download it and find out, I personally wont because I have no idea what DVD decrypter is..

It allows you to copy a dvd. I have several DVD's that skip a lot due to scratches and I was wanting to use this to back them up before they get completely ruined. From what I understand of US laws, this is legal as long as I don't give/loan the backup to a friend. If I am wrong on this however, please inform me.

I also wasn't expecting anyone to download it, I was just wondering if anyone happened to know a way to find out if the download was safe or not.

 

[ZeletDude]

Well my virus scanner will say there's a virus once I download it then it deletes the virus, I don't know if there's actually anyway you can 'check' before hand you just have to do it I think.

 

[mdwh]

Yes, the original DVD Decrypter is fine, but I imagine he's asking if that particular mirror is the original, or some hacked malicious version.

http://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Copy-of-DVD-Decrypter says the original file is 899,414, which the file on this mirror is. Though I guess anyone could have edited that

Maybe see other places that host it, e.g.:

http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-DVD-Decrypter.htm

I can't be sure that any link is safe, but if someone is hosting it with a collection of software, it suggests that they're less likely to be malicious.

As for legality, in the US distribution is illegal, but I don't think there's anything illegal in using it.

In the UK, it is technically copyright infringement even if you own the DVD - similarly if you even copy a CD you own to your mp3 player. But whether you wish to obey such a dumb law that no one else follows, is up to you.

I don't see why any of this should be disallowed on this forum. Though I find it hard to understand the logic of some of the moderation, so who knows.

 

[warpus]

Technically fair use rights override copyright considerations when you're backing up your own stuff. At least they should.

 

[Zelig]

Technically fair use rights override copyright considerations when you're backing up your own stuff. At least they should.

Nah, the DMCA overrides everything in the USA.

 

[Narnia]

I don't see why any of this should be disallowed on this forum. Though I find it hard to understand the logic of some of the moderation, so who knows.

I'm not sure why it would be disallowed either...

As for legality, in the US distribution is illegal, but I don't think there's anything illegal in using it.

If memory serves, in a court case in California it was decided that distributing the program was illegal. Therefore, wouldn't that make it California state law and not federal law? Wouldn't that mean that it is only illegal to distribute in California? If not and it is illegal nation wide, I live close to the border; I could just cross the border, go to an internet cafe, download the program, and be good to go .