How to generate a serial number?

[AMpos]

I want to implement a licensing, generating a serial number from the computer the software is running on (so the program at start will check his licensing against my database).

How do I get a unique serial number, from a computer?

[Saki]

Hi, just in advance.
Software with such constructions is often hated like the plague and rightly so, as I think myself.

It is possible, business models of windy distributors are based on such a thing, then it is added that you can only install it three times and the software is offered under about five different names.

[infratec]

Use the MAC address. It should be unique.

[Caronte3D]

If you want a more robust implementation, you can use "the enigma protector", it's not free, but you have many ways of protect your software.
I was use it sometimes in the past, however infalible protection doesn't exists

[BarryG]

Use the MAC address.

The MAC address is easily changed -> https://www.howtogeek.com/192173/how-an ... x-and-mac/

[infratec]

In the properties window, on the “Advanced” tab and select the “Network Address” entry in the “Property” list. If you don’t see this option, then your network driver doesn’t support this feature.

My network drivers don't support this.

Btw.: each 'security' stuff is 'hackable'. It is only a question of 'do I really want to crack it'
And even if someone changes the MAC address, to which address should it be changed?
For this knowledge the user needs an alreday installed version of the software, or he has to test a lot of numbers.

[BarryG]

The point I'm making is that if two or more friends have supported MAC addresses that can be changed, then only one has to buy and the others can use his MAC address on their PC to avoid buying.

[AMpos]

Mac address should work for me. Anyway, it's there a way to get a hardware Id?

[Caronte3D]

You can use a mix of: HardDisk SN, Processor,BIOS, MAC, Windows User, and so on...

[AMpos]

Yeah, I know. My question is how to read this numbers...

[infratec]

You have to search for it

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=26950

MAC address is on page 3

[Caronte3D]

Yeah, I know. My question is how to read this numbers...

Sometimes is better if you search through google instead of forum it self:
Something like: Purebasic + "whatever you are searching" cast interesting results

[morosh]

You can use also the cpu serial number (not my job):

Code: Select all

Procedure.s GetCPUSerialNumber()
  Define highbits.l
  Define lowbits.l
  Define serial.q
 
  !MOV eax, $80000003
  !CPUID
  !MOV dword [p.v_lowbits], ecx
  !MOV dword [p.v_highbits], edx
 
  serial = lowbits | highbits << 32
  ProcedureReturn Hex(serial,#PB_Quad)
EndProcedure
Debug GetCPUSerialNumber()

[J. Baker]

Online and hardware activation sucks when the developer ups and quits development and you no longer can activate your purchased software. Here's some code. Read the comments.

Code: Select all

;-Run this bit of code in a separate progam to create the encrupted key.

UseSHA2Fingerprint()

Debug StringFingerprint("G4112h78ab", #PB_Cipher_SHA2)

;-Use this in your actual program so a user can activate their software.

Activation.a = 0

If OpenWindow(0, 0, 0, 310, 40, "Verify Key", #PB_Window_SystemMenu | #PB_Window_ScreenCentered)
  
  StringGadget(0, 10, 10, 200, 20, "")
  ButtonGadget(1, 210, 10, 100, 20, "Activate")
  
    Repeat
      
      Event = WaitWindowEvent()
        Select Event
          Case #PB_Event_Gadget
            Select EventGadget()
              Case 1
                If Activation = 0 ;-You will have to figure out how to store Activation if it equals 1 on your own.
                  If StringFingerprint(GetGadgetText(0), #PB_Cipher_SHA2) = "048339c50de4e5f29f5c91c7eba9c9a0a3e294fea0fa684193664f21f6c0a78c"
                    Debug "Yahoo!"
                  Else
                    Debug "Incorrect Key"
                  EndIf
                EndIf
            EndSelect
        EndSelect  
      
    Until Event = #PB_Event_CloseWindow
EndIf

[Paul]

Just a note... anyone who is wanting a simple licensing system "to protect their software" needs to be aware that once their application is compiled/assembled it can also be disassembled.
You can end up spending more time trying to protect your software than actually developing it.

For example, in J.Baker's code the line that checks if the correct code has been entered...

Code: Select all

If StringFingerprint(GetGadgetText(0), #PB_Cipher_SHA2) = "048339c50de4e5f29f5c91c7eba9c9a0a3e294fea0fa684193664f21f6c0a78c"

Of course mean "If entered code" = "Correct Code" then "Success"
and in ASM the "=" is "JE" , jump if equal, or opcode $74

Now if you reverse this logic you get...
"If entered code" <> "Correct Code" then "Success"
and in ASM the "<>" is "JNE", jump not equal, or opcode $75

Poke can easily change $74 to $75 so incorrect code will always give "Success".

A very simplified example... compile J.Baker's code to "MyApp.exe" either 64bit or 32bit

Code: Select all

UseSHA2Fingerprint()
Activation.a = 0

If OpenWindow(0, 0, 0, 310, 40, "Verify Key", #PB_Window_SystemMenu | #PB_Window_ScreenCentered)
 
  StringGadget(0, 10, 10, 200, 20, "")
  ButtonGadget(1, 210, 10, 100, 20, "Activate")
 
    Repeat
     
      Event = WaitWindowEvent()
        Select Event
          Case #PB_Event_Gadget
            Select EventGadget()
              Case 1
                If Activation = 0 ;-You will have to figure out how to store Activation if it equals 1 on your own.
                  If StringFingerprint(GetGadgetText(0), #PB_Cipher_SHA2) = "048339c50de4e5f29f5c91c7eba9c9a0a3e294fea0fa684193664f21f6c0a78c"
                    MessageRequester("Success","Yahoo!")
                    Else
                    MessageRequester("Error","Incorrect Key")
                  EndIf
                EndIf
            EndSelect
        EndSelect 
     
    Until Event = #PB_Event_CloseWindow
EndIf

Now run the following code which will scan through your compiled EXE and find the $74, change it to $75 and save it as a new EXE
This demonstrated how modifying a single byte in a file can totally change it's behavior.

Code: Select all

file$="C:\MyApp.exe"

hFile=ReadFile(#PB_Any,file$)
If hFile
  lf=Lof(hFile)
  *buf=AllocateMemory(lf)
  ReadData(hFile,*buf,lf)
  CloseFile(hFile)

  For tmp=0 To lf-3
    If (PeekA(*buf+tmp)=$74 And PeekA(*buf+tmp+1)=$28 And PeekA(*buf+tmp+2)=$48 And PeekA(*buf+tmp+3)=$B8) Or ;64bit EXE byte sequence
       (PeekA(*buf+tmp)=$74 And PeekA(*buf+tmp+1)=$13 And PeekA(*buf+tmp+2)=$B8) ;32bit EXE byte sequence
      PokeA(*buf+tmp,$75)
      hFile=CreateFile(#PB_Any,GetPathPart(file$)+GetFilePart(file$,#PB_FileSystem_NoExtension)+"-patched.exe")
      If hFile
        WriteData(hFile,*buf,lf)
        CloseFile(hFile)
        Debug "File Patched"
      EndIf
      FreeMemory(*buf)
      Break
    EndIf  
  Next
EndIf