[Update] Sonic 2 HD contains virus, DELETE ASAP!
Update - So now Scarred Sun was apparently exaggerating about those issues and the team working on the HD remake has responded.
First Scarred Sun has updated the Internets by saying "I fucked up. This is totally my fault and I take full responsibility for that. The article has been redacted and there will be another one going up shortly that explains the situation". Ok...
Then we have reports from the Project Manager Canned Karma who says there is no Keylogger in the demo. It's "Just a bug (or lazy code) from DirectInput that causes it to read input even when the window is out of focus. The worst that can happen is you alt-tab out of S2HD, try to type something, and Sonic runs and jumps in the background when you press movement keys". That programmer is no longer on the team. Moral of the story here is don't play an Alpha build of a fan-made game unless you are willing to take a gamble. I for one will wait until the full release.
Editor's Note: Kotaku has also updated the post to reference a number of "issues" that this project has faced. It might not even really be a "community project" anymore based on what writer Scarred Sun implies.
Well this is bad news for anybody who downloaded Sonic 2 HD. The people who made the Sonic 2 HD Fan Project were recently told the software file contains a Keylogger virus which logs everything you type. This could be seen on Sonic Retro as a PSA post
I want to emphasize that at this time, we have found no evidence that the software has been “phoning home” any data—only that we have found the capability exists. Because this vulnerability has been found, we are strongly advising that the software be removed. You will need to delete the files included with the Sonic 2 HD zip, as well as the registry keys hooked at HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/NakaSMK (if you are unfamiliar on how to do this, go to Start->Run.., type regedit, follow the folder path, and then delete the NakaSMK folder.)
Kotaku.com who reported on this sad event and over at Sonic Retro urge people who have downloaded the game to delete it immediately and the Zip file as well until a solution is provided.
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g1 DISCUSSIONS
King Meatball I
Good to hear its not a keylogger or potential virus but the project is damage well beyond repair just because of the stupidity of one person.
Kaibaman41
Yes Indeed, even Yahoo has had the "Keylogger" story on their site and made Sonic 2 HD a big story...besides this stupidity hopefully Sega doesn't come in and scrap the project.
Sobari
Where was it announced that LOst was booted from the project? Couldn't find confirmation anywhere.
They Call Me The Fizz
The unchecked ego and paranoia floating around this project is astounding...
Lordlundar
Agreed. I would be genuinely surprised if it makes it to a final release before everyone just says "fuck it".
Gaijin Goombah
Wow... This is a PR nightmare. I'd hate to say it, but I think there are going to be a LOT of people who are going to avoid this game in its entirety, fixed issues or not just because of this issue.
Dakomissar
Even worse, since the issue got on the front page of Yahoo... like Sega getting wind of this.
Schmooblidon
"Moral of the story here is don't play an Alpha build of a fan-made game unless you are willing to take a gamble. I for one will wait until the full release." - Take a gamble on a bit of harmless code? oh shit son its reading the keys and not saving them at all, my computer is infected!
killacut10
lol hahah say good bye to your facebooks bitchy sonic fans
firehazard51
Balls.