Bought game + crack = ?

[seventhson]

So it turns out my brother bought Sims 3 for my niece and is planning to install it. If I provide him with a crack, is he going to be able to avoid the horror of SecuROM, or am I going to have to remove the damn malware from his computer? I are confused about when exactly it's activated. Halp?

[Chain_Reaction]

There's no SecuROM in Sims 3. Don't let the game install the EA Download Manager when it asks, it's not needed and it apparently has SecuROM. If you're still paranoid, SecuROM isn't activated until the game is installed and you click the EXE to launch the game. If the original EXE is replaced with the crack before this is done, all is safe.

[seventhson]

Thank you very much, I was under the impressions Sims 3 was just like the last few Sims 2 EPs...this is a relief.

[jolrei]

...Don't let the game install the EA Download Manager when it asks, it's not needed and it apparently has SecuROM.

I don't think it's securom, but it's certainly got something.  I had the EADM, and uninstalled it.  I searched for securom but found nothing.  It is true, however, that the EADM is not needed and there are numerous reports from MATY members that it causes problems with the running of your system.  EADM = just say no.

Also, install with the computer offline so it does not phone home during the install process. 
There is a no-cd crack incorporated into the awesomemod (read the RTFM of the mod for installation and configuration instructions).