Copy Protection...

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Originally posted by scoutt
actually that is pretty smart. but what if the user was not online?

I do like your idea though.

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Who doesn't have a connection now days?
You want my auth script?

I realize a lot of people have connection to the interent, but I was asking if you can run your program without going on the net? Ya send me the script for it, that would be cool.

[email protected]


thanks

And what if your server is down?
The guy wants to use your prog but he can't because your server is down...

Is your prog related to the internet?



Krushstone

So you make a redirector (i.e. you.6x.to/you.vze.com etc) and if your server goes down, sign up with freehost and change redirector, simple.

I have a flaw! WHat happens if the person gets a virus and need to completely format his/her harddrive?

Or what if I make an exact copy of the floppy? I mean exactly the same, so even the same serial number.

I can now install it on 2 computers at the same time?

TiPeRa is right. If my hard drive crashes, I can't uninstall the program so my floppy won't work anymore.


If the floppy is only for the installation, I just have to install it and then zip all the files...
maybe a little registery patching will be needed, but...


Krushstone

Well maybe my theory was not so good because of the thing that wipes out the disk but that is not something i cant skip:rolleyes: its just that pirates piss me off and i want to at least make it hard for them :cool: maybe if we could mix Yash_Kumar theory with mine we could have some improvements or maybe a lot of them and please make suggestions to the theory(Constructive ones).

Just one thing Yash_Kumar if you completely copy a floppy the SN is the same but the SN changes only if you copy a couple files to the disk(Maybe your files) so thats why my theory has that point if a stupid cracker only copies the files that he need BOOM!; another thing this is just a secondary check.

Krushstone about what you said about the user formatting his HDD Ok my theory takes data that is not supposed to change unless youre pirating Windows too this data might be the name of the Windows Owner or the company name that uses windows the other that shouldnt change is the SN of the HDD and well if my theory finds out that these data havent changed it will work :p

Another thing Krushstone if he copies the disk before even running the first install with it then it will be OK that disk will only be not safe until someone runs an install with that disk cause after someone runs an install with the disk it wont matter if he copies the disk the data with the disk and the pirating PC wont match :o

So use my way, but change it to only first time check, after wards store a cookie or something (which will contain coded localcomputername).

What I meant was, let suppose that I know how the protection works.

I open the box containing the floppy and CD. I copy both floppy and CD without running anything.

I give a copy of each one to my friend and we now have 2 computers running the program....


Also, the serial number of the drive will change if it is reformatted.

Personnaly, I wouldn't like to have a lot a trouble to reinstall a software if my HD die and that I replace it...

Krushstone

With tools like SoftIce/API/installation monitors you cant do anything that the cracker dosen't know about, GIVE IT up and admit defeat it's impossible to fully protect a program, all you can do is try to make life difficult for them.

But anyone who's determined can and will get past any protection!!!

Nothing new here!:mad:

I didn't read all of the posts, but I'll tell you how I managed for not to give my work away. If the final user wants to have "his" program registered, he/she has to send me a registration file (a dat file with hardware info, the serial number for the HD, e.g.) and the make a key code codifying his/her name, his/her email and this specific hardware info. If he/she wanted to passed his/her code to a friend it won't work, most probably since the HD's serial number won't be the same, almost for sure!!. Hope this helps for something.

Hi;

I didn't have time to read all of your posts, but I think I have one that pretty much sums your original question up. No, there is no way to totally protect your programs. There exists several burners that copy everything; even so-called "bad-sectors" that are put on original ("real") disks to prevent regular burners from copying CDs. But (I think it's Plextor) there is at least 1 kind (as mentioned before) that copies it.

Also, the encryption-string-thingy can easily be found using a registry search and copied.

As Spiv said, GIVE IT UP. I know a few "professional" hackers/crackers who are experts. No matter what method I've devised they find ways around it.



JD


P.S. Mc Brain: I'm **VERY** interested in your method. Could you send information? (possibly even a copy of the program that does it -- changed, of course, so I wouldn't copy yours exactly -- :) ????????????)

jon_davis24:

I don't have that code here (right now), but I could explain you the idea better. I have a "demo" program which is the one that the final user can download. This app is restricted, not in "time-life", but in functions. There are some things he/she won't be able to do with the obvious message letting him/her know that the "full version" won't have those restriction. Nothing new so far.
When the user clicks on the "Register" option (in the help menu), I open a form where I ask Name, email, address and whatsoever you like. The first two are NOT OPTIONAL. When the obligatory data is input I enable the "send" button. This is when I create the .dat file (which is a simple text file) I save into it all the data (even the blank ones) and the hardware info I will use. As I said in the previos post (the HD serial number). I suggest to codified this data (with the algorithm you'd like best... I also add some kinda "parity bytes" so that I could be sure the codified data was not edited. There's always a chance to change it and even though still match the parity bytes (if they're changed as well)... but in that case, the KEY CODE won't work for him either.
Then I open an email (directed to me) and beg for attaching that file (created on the directory it was installed) -I can't remember now if I managed to attach it myself-

And that's the whole idea. When I receive the DAT file I have all the info I need to codify the NAME, EMAIL and HD's Serial number (with the algorithm you'd like best -doesn't have to be the same- ) and send him/her back. I guess it's pretty clear that the app should be programmed so that it could verified whether the NAME, EMAIL and HD's Serial Number (in which it's installed) to be sure the Key Code entered is correct
If this person would like to pass its key to a friend, I guess the only way it would work would be to make a copy (with Ghost® or similar program) of the whole HD (I'm not really sure that it copies the serial number as well.. that's why the "I guess"). And if he/she tries to copy (with the usual way) into other HD would not work. I guess you can see why, the HD's serial number will not be the same so the Key Code would not be a "good one".

And if you're wondering about the odds for two HD to have the same serial number... this is the tiny number: 1/4294967296. Needless to say that the odds for those two HDs to belong to a couple of acquaintances is so much smaller.

Hope this helps!

:confused:

It sounds good! I only have two problems with doing that:

One, I have no clue on how to grab the HD's s/n. And I also don't know how to create an algorithm for a custom keycode. If you could help me with some source code (or info on where to get code -- i.e. a web site or book) I'd be very appreciative.


Thanks,

JD

Just a recommendation,

NEVER allow for easy download a semi-functional just requires a key for full function type of program. Sure list the function in the Menu Bar but don't actually have them included in the program. WHen they pay/register then let them get a version with the full code, but still rquires a key (which you just sold them) to allow full function.

Sure the Full requires a key version will be passed around on Warez but hey it sure cuts down alot on standard users just using a way to easy to make keygen or crack for your program.

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Originally posted by rsitogp


Who doesn't have a connection now days?
You want my auth script?

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Hmmm, that's a glaringly simplistic statement. The majority of computer users do not have access. Figures released in OZ, state that approx 30 % of computer users have access to the web, ergo the vast majority do not. Therefore to answer your question, the majority don't have access. Sorry, l just hate this shoot at the hiip answers that people bandy about without actually researching what they are saying.