Copy Protection

[eiSecure]

Hello everyone,
I have this security/encryption program that I am selling, and now, a question has arised that I just can't figure out, and not many web sites have good topics on it. My question is: How do you implement copy protection in your programs so that a)Your registration codes can't be shared, and b)Every machine requires a different registration code.
Any help, and/or code would be a great help.
Thanks!

Try some of the following:

• Make several Registry keys that get created when you run the Setup
• Base the Registration code on system settings i.e Computer name, Owner name, CPU etc. as well as their personal information
• When setup is executed, store some of the user's system settings in the registry then whenever your App loads, compare the info in the Registry with the user's settings

[Jop]

For the sharing problem:
Use Internet Checks if the Key is already in use, for the machine thing you can use the HardDisks Serial nr. or something, to ensure it's only being used at that HardDisk.

Hope this helps...
THere was an earlier post about your last question, try to find it good luck

[JHausmann]

In order to ensure that the registration is unique, you'd probably need to set up a server that would validate the registration information (that Megatron indicated) _or_ (and this will be a lot harder) you'd have to mkae the software poll for other installations of the registration number (something like what tcp/ip does when it finds a duplicate ip address). Or you can do what most game manufacturers do, require a CD (or even a dongle).

In any event, you will only be able to slow down piracy, not prevent it. No matter what you do, if your software is popular enough, your protection scheme will be cracked. Copy protection only protects you from casual theft...

[eiSecure]

"...use the HardDisks Serial nr. or something, to ensure it's only being used at that HardDisk."
I like this idea, but do you have any code that I can look at to see how this is done?

"...When setup is executed, store some of the user's system settings in the registry then whenever your App loads, compare the info in the Registry with the user's settings"
How do I do this with an Install Program? I am currently using GP-Install, and it doesn't support scripts or custom dialogs.

[eiSecure]

*reflects upon my first thread at VBForums.*

[peet]

getting the serial

Private Declare Function GetVolumeSerialNumber Lib "kernel32.dll" Alias "GetVolumeInformationA" (ByVal lpRootPathName As String, ByVal lpVolumeNameBuffer As String, ByVal nVolumeNameSize As Long, lpVolumeSerialNumber As Long, lpMaximumComponentLength As Long, lpFileSystemFlags As Long, ByVal lpFileSystemNameBuffer As String, ByVal nFileSystemNameSize As Long) As Long 
 
Public Function VolumeSerialNumber(ByVal RootPath As String) As String
    Dim VolLabel As String
    Dim VolSize As Long
    Dim Serial As Long
    Dim MaxLen As Long
    Dim Flags As Long
    Dim Name As String
    Dim NameSize As Long
    Dim s As String
 
    If GetVolumeSerialNumber(RootPath, VolLabel, VolSize, Serial, MaxLen, Flags, Name, NameSize) Then
        'Create an 8 character string
        s = Format(Hex(Serial), "00000000")
        'Adds the '-' between the first 4 characters and the last 4 characters
        VolumeSerialNumber = Left(s, 4) + "-" + Right(s, 4)
    Else
        'If the call to API function fails the function returns a zero serial number
        VolumeSerialNumber = "0000-0000"
    End If
End Function
 
 
'Usage 
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    MsgBox VolumeSerialNumber("C:\") 'Shows the serial number of your Hard Disk
End Sub

[eiSecure]

lol

...sure, now you answer, peet. Why didn't you answer when it was posted 2 years ago?

[peet]

damn .. u got me there alex, didn't see the date of that post... and as u already know, I don't understand english, so u'r post didn't give it away...

[eiSecure]

If no english, wut ist tis?