So I've looked around the web for PRO-Q 3 Pirate Message fixes and I've used the Windows built-in 'Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security' program blocker. I've blocked all FL, FL (scaled), FL64 and FL64 (scaled) .exe programs from INBOUND and OUTBOUND but still FabFilter seems to scream white noise at me after 5-10 minutes of playing music from a project that has the plugin used. I have downloaded the pack from a reliable source but to no avail... How can I fix this issue as it's a big pain (apart from my broke ass paying for the full thing)

P.S I've also tried Malwarebytes Windows Firewall Control and have set my profile to High Filtering and even turned off my internet before opening my DAW which seems to not work also...

My DAW is FL Studio in case that's important.

 

after the plugin received a message from the server about the use of the pirated version, the plugin left a mark on this in the system (either in the registry, or in one system folder / user folder).
https://audiosex.pro/threads/fabfil...-a-sudden-saying-i-have-a-pirated-copy.44430/

 

Will uninstalling FabFilter remove the registry files or how would I go about refreshing my computer as if I had never installed it? I might have to try it and see how it works.
So if I'm correct, I wipe the registry files somehow, uninstall the program, remove all .dll files and all folders it may have created. Then I reassure I have FL Studio fully blocked and reinstall it all?

 

use vm or other computer with same os:

- copy setup file of this pro-q 3 at this pc/vm
- download any application for system snapshots (which you like) and install it
- install your daw or download savihost application (minihost that can run vst without installation, scanning plugins, etc.)
- turn off internet
- install pro-q 3
- make system snapshot
- run insatalled daw and load pro-q 3 (or run savihost to load pro-q 3)
- register pro-q 3 and close daw/savihost
- make another system snapshot
- turn on internet
- run insatalled daw and load pro-q 3 (or run savihost to load pro-q 3) again
- make another system snapshot
- close daw/savihost
- run insatalled daw and load pro-q 3 (or run savihost to load pro-q 3) again. repaet run/close till you'll see message about pirated copy
- make another system snapshot
- close daw/savihost

after that, compare the first and second snapshots and you will see which files were created / changed / deleted and which registry entries were created / changed / deleted. Then compare the second and third snapshots. do this until the last couple of snapshots. if everything is done correctly, then in the end you will have a few changes. deleting or restoring the contents of these files / entries in the registry you can find the one that causes the message.
if such a file / registry entry is not found, then this is a check in the plugin code itself, which has not been eliminated. then only the correct cracked version of the plugin (proper) will help.

also you can try to find solution to this problem using google.

 

Just use Revo Uninstaller to uninstall Fabfilter plugs. For any software warez you're installing, you need to block it in firewall BEFORE you run it. Once you run it and it blacklists you, you're done, you need to reinstall entirely.

 

Stay offline and this wont happen.

 

Use a 3rd party firewall after cleaning!
Mono introduced me to this* little app called simplewall, it's been a rock solid app right from the beginning.
It has a build in hosts-file feature with many entries already in it, like blocking windows-update wile windows-update being enabled.
It also blocks other microsoft online features like win-store, hotmail, telemetry etc., but you have to enable it in preferences.

Link*:
https://www.henrypp.org/product/simplewall

 

Maybe i miss it but i see: only available for Windows..too bad .. (i am a mac user).
Thx anyway for your tip mate !

 

you can install windows, then turn off the ipv4 and ipv6 protocols in the network adapter options.. for internet access install virtualbox or vmware and use bridged networking. this will allow the vm to use your network adapater using its own ipv4/ipv6 stack. you only need a small linux system and you can download everything you need using the vm, put it in a shared folder and you can access it from within your windows host.. this way the windows host will not be connected to the internet and you still have full internet access using the vm, which you can simply turn on and off as needed.

Edit: if for whatever reason you should need internet in windows, e.g. to install software that needs the connection you can simply turn on the ipv4/ipv6 protocols again and connect to the internet.

Additionally i think the malwarebytes windows firewall control is a good utility . if you put it on medium filtering, it will ask for every connection if you want to allow it. after using it you can put it on high filtering again and it will block all connections.

 

Last edited: Mar 17, 2020

The latest fabfilter release has this issue and it does not depend on internet connection. Had this happen to me as well (on windows, but most people had the issue on mac). I grabbed an earlier scene release on the sister site.

 

Little Snitch should be the equivalent therefore ..

 

You can buy a cheap TP-Link or Dlink switcher, connect the router and the computer to the switcher and when you use the DAW just pull out the cable. That's the solution for when some plugins need the network card to work, like Waves and Korg, I think Roland, too.

 

Why did you update from the original clean release? Your fault

 

This* could be something for you, I have no experience with it(Obviously Not A Mac Guy), but I saw people talking about it.
It's Open Source.

LuLu Firewall*:
https://objective-see.com/products/lulu.html

 

I'm not sure about this, but perhaps the trick someone said for Studio One also applies (I think it was @The Pirate )
To install a software virtual network driver, the microsoft loop network driver or whatever.

Anyway, like has been said, once the plugin gets unauthorized via internet you have to completely uninstall and reinstall (I also recommend Revo Uninstaller or Total Uninstall).

 

is there a non time bombed version of pro q 3 for mac out there?

 

Fabfilter Total Bundle 2018.11.30, 2019 version has the timebomb but the 2018 version has no externally keyed sidechain :/

 

Has anyone had the bomb happen on Windows? Or is it just Mac?

Is it contacting a web address or addresses before the bomb? If someone can find out what they are they should be able to be blocked.

Or is the plugin bombing in some other way?

 

I see, so blocking the Internet or being unconnected from the Internet doesn't solve this. I guess that's why R2R or VR haven't released a fix in the past year.

 

I'm not on Mac, but apparently on 12/23/2019, Cashmere released "FabFilter Total Bundle v2019.03.13 PROPER", which is supposed to fix the time bomb, but only on Mac.