Make trial version of program

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Sat Sep 28, 2002 4:47 am

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by ricardo.

You're forgetting one thing: The cracker just has to look at your exe
with a hex editor to see which API routines it's calling. Thus, he will
know that it's accessing the HD serial number because you'll be using
a hard drive API to get that info. Also, checking for a HD serial is
one of the first things a cracker checks...

Its strange that "checking for a HD serial is
one of the first things a cracker checks..." since its very uncommon that the software uses the HD serial to make the key (check at the crack sites and you will see how they publish username/key for most apps and if the username/key works in all PCs its NOT HD dependent).

But you could even use a lot of APIS to get a lot of info of the PC and combine it to make the key.

I can read lines and lines from a lot of posts... reallity says something different : )

ps. I dont want to continue this discussion since i dont want to convince nobody about nothing, i just try to contribute with my own experience and the results that i get, thats all

Best Regards

Ricardo

Dont cry for me Argentina...

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Sat Sep 28, 2002 5:09 am

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by PB.

> I dont want to continue this discussion since i dont want to
> convince nobody about nothing

You're absolutely right.

We can go on and on about this, but the
reality is that if your app is generating income for you then yes, it's
a successful app and congratulations to you.

Let's end it now.

PB - Registered PureBasic Coder

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Sat Sep 28, 2002 5:21 am

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by ricardo.

if your app is generating income for you then yes, it's
a successful app and congratulations to you.

Yes, i have to Thanks God that im living from my apps and giving my children an education, im very grateful : )

Best Regards

Ricardo

Dont cry for me Argentina...

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Sat Sep 28, 2002 6:54 am

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by PB.

> i have to Thanks God that im living from my apps and giving my
> children an education, im very grateful : )

You have a life I can only dream of.

Maybe one day...

PB - Registered PureBasic Coder

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Sat Sep 28, 2002 1:04 pm

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by ricardo.

C'mon!
You (like Danilo and most users here) are a genius.

Best Regards

Ricardo

Dont cry for me Argentina...

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Sat Sep 28, 2002 3:35 pm

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by fweil.

Hello all,

Depending on application's purpose, it is also possible to limit speed for example when the software is not licensed.

I have an example of this using the same code with conditional delays and it seems to be satisfying. You can also combine conditional delays and features of course.

When I place a license feature, I use a specific part of code checking if a license key file is placed in the same folder than the executable. If not, or if the license keyword in the file is wrong (based on HD serial), it slows the app. The user can get information to send by email to get the key pressing a specific key (F12 usually for me).

I receive the C: HD serial (in dec format which looks more strange to regular users) and the name of the app, and I have a key generator giving a 16 hex digits word. The HD serial is mixed with a hashcoding of the app name (using a specific algorithm it is easy to do), and the generated key if rather hard to understand.

I do not say it is uncrackable ! But it is just hard ... and a bit boring until you buy the key or ask me really gently

Rgrds

Francois Weil
14, rue Douer
F64100 Bayonne

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 2:34 pm

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by SoulTaker.

Ok now you have sold this software to your Customer.

Using the Hard Drive serial number is a NO! NO!

the customers hard drive could crash at anytime now they replace the hard drive and now have a different Serial number!!!

Which means they no longer have a Key to unlock your software.

Abit BD7-II Raid P4 1.9 gHz 384 Ram Xtasy GFroce 3 TI 200 CD-RW DirectX 9.0 Beta 2 Sound Blaster Live! XP Pro, Registered PureBasic version 3.30 For Windows.

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 3:22 pm

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by fweil.

License keys must be linked to honesty. I am selling my software sometime and when a user payed something he / she can come back to have a new number.

I have other license keys systems, not linked to serial numbers, more complicate for enterprise use of some apps. But as it is not a 'tricks'n tip' stuff, I will not share it.

Rgrds

Francois Weil
14, rue Douer
F64100 Bayonne

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 4:05 pm

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by PB.

> License keys must be linked to honesty. I am selling my software
> sometime and when a user payed something he / she can come back to
> have a new number.

That's true, although even "honest" customers can still request a new
number and then give it to a friend if they wanted.

Or, their friend can just change their HD's serial number to the same
number as the paying customer, and both get it for one price. There's
no real 100% way to stop it happening, unfortunately. Piracy is a way
and fact of life.

PB - Registered PureBasic Coder

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 4:25 pm

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by fweil.

I know that HD serial is not so much secure for publishers, but it is a license key system for low cost software.

For a higher level of security it is possible to compose a key with some other stuff.

The problem is that when publishing a protected application you should not discourage users. But it is not a reason for not protecting at all ! That's life ...

Francois Weil
14, rue Douer
F64100 Bayonne

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 4:28 pm

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by Paul.

Armadillo has a cool key system where you can set an expiry time on a key. This way it gives the user some time to enter the key and if a pirate posts it on the web, it will be useless after the expiry date. It can also do hardware finger printing (taking info from CPU, Bios, Harddrive, other Hardware, etc) so the key generated it truely unique to that system.

...no I don't work for them, I just think their product is very good

These guys put their reputation on the line and make it their business to protect my software, so I can spend my time writing apps and not waste time thinking up silly protection schemes.

----------
Visit the PB Resources Site at http://www.reelmediaproductions.com/pb

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Wed Oct 09, 2002 3:00 am

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by TronDoc.

Originally posted by blueb
- send the full version to a registered user.

and then you have the "registered user" who posts the full version somewhere. as others have said: if they want your program, they will have it. Joe

elecTRONics DOCtor
{registeredPB}P150 32Mb w98/DOS/Linux NO DirX NO IE

BackupUser · Post by **BackupUser** » Thu Oct 10, 2002 11:12 pm

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by cYanide.

yup just simpley dont include the code to registered features in the trial:D

{cYanide}