Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by PB.
> Just released my chord program, and only 2 weeks after it's cracked
I know exactly how you feel. One of my apps was cracked a couple of years ago.
I've not had the motivation to release anything other than freeware since.
> Does armadillo give me more protection?
No. Anything can be cracked. Don't waste your money.
> It was cracked by LUCid, where they come from?
In one case, people request cracks in alt.binaries.cracks and the crackers there get
your app and start playing with it. If your app is compiled without some functions,
they just register it once, hack the registered user's details out (if any), and then
distribute that in full form.
Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by ricardo.
Sorry Cor
I think that if we work hard we can find a way.
Did the cracks is a serial generator? Its a full version that they are distributing?
I think that we must concentrate is key generators, since distributing a full version is more easy to stop, just make it bigger in size and i dont think that nobody will afford the bandwith of distributing 1 MB version.
Armadillo dosent gives protection for this cases, i test it and they generate a generic Key, then if someone just share the Key in a web page all the users will have access to your hard work.
I know that everybody says that there is no way to stop cracks, but however we need to find a solution. I think its possible.
Some points:
1.- Its not illegal to distribute a keygen (dont ask my why!!) but its illegal to distribute cracked executables.
2.- Google ban crack sites only if they have a link directly to some crack of your software, if they link to another site that is the one with the download link Google dont do nothing!!!
Some people distribute cracks for they own software that gives some kind of scare to the downloader... i dont know if it works.
Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by tinman.
Originally posted by ricardo
I think that we must concentrate is key generators, since distributing a full version is more easy to stop, just make it bigger in size and i dont think that nobody will afford the bandwith of distributing 1 MB version.
1) There are plenty of places you can get enough free bandwidth to distribute warez.
2) 1MB is not a lot these days, however...
3) ...why bother using PureBasic if you are going to bloat your exes up just to try to stop pirates?
--
I used to be a nihilist but I don't believe in that any more.
(Win98first ed. + all updates, PB3.51, Ed3.53)
Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by PB.
> Its not illegal to distribute a keygen (dont ask my why!!)
Because keygens don't contain any copyright code from the app, and as such they are an
original form of work and therefore protected by the same rights as any application.
> but its illegal to distribute cracked executables.
Yes, because the executable has been modified. A keygen doesn't modify an executable,
although a "crack" app will. I don't know if "crack" apps are illegal or not.
Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by ricardo.
They are distributing the full version with key
It was compressed with upx, they uncompressed it.
What bad people!!!
The sad thing is it is listed by a site running by the makers of 'Getright' downloading program.
Try to check if any important search engine gives this page as a result of a search and then send them a fax complaining and if the site is on the search result they will ban it. Its not easy, but only when they get hurt start listening, im talking about site that points to cracks.
Some idea: when your trial installs on the user PC add those sites that offers your crack in the server list and the user will not be able to go to that pages, add the domain of the download link too. I know that they can go using another PC, but be sure many regular users dont know the trick so they never will be able to download the crack, at last not using the same PC.
Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by cor.
@ricardo,
Thanks for the tips
Do you mean the host file?
Some idea: when your trial installs on the user PC add those sites that offers your crack in the server list and the user will not be able to go to that pages, add the domain of the download link too. I know that they can go using another PC, but be sure many regular users dont know the trick so they never will be able to download the crack, at last not using the same PC.
a$=Space(255) : GetModuleFilename_(0,@a$,255) : appname$=GetFilePart(a$)
If FileSize(appname$)29728 : End : EndIf ; Size of exe when compressed.
Thus, no matter what my exe is called, it can't be run if it's uncompressed.
I do realize that crackers can probably change the size checking code, but
it's still a good quick protection in just 2 lines of code. Best not to put
any messages there (like "This app has been modified") because that makes it
easier for people with SoftICE to hack into it, by checking your app for all
calls to MessageBox_() or similar -- just end your app immediately.
Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by Inner.
To me I would be happy if I wrote software for money which I don't and someone did such a thing, there is a method in the madness of saying that comment, usally software that is cracked/serial & or warezed has to be popular to many people, before crackers get wind of it, also I've noticed some factors come into consideration;
1 . Is it popular ( if X application is, then he/she criminal is going to have to devote time to building the illegal copy, and keep an eye on versions so that new versions still work with the same serial or crack )
2 . Is there better software than the one that is being requested
It should be enough to say even so, that if someone is determind enough no matter the cost on time/effort or money, that someone somewhere will find away around it, I remember on my old 8-bit atari's they used to make dongels which go into the joystick port and the software would only run with said device, in some cases lightwave for example they still do, even these mesures are not enough to stop altogether the criminal that copys software, which brings us to this.
The only way to make money in the industry, is to;
a ) make your app better than everyone elses, so that people that do pay for software buy it
b ) make sure there is some security there to slow down or hamper the cracker, because you'll certainly not stop him, but you can slow him down.
c ) be aware of the level of those buying it to the people copying it, if the people buying it is greater than the copys then your doing well, if it is the other way around then you have serious problems.
Another one of my points is this, if your copying software and your making money from it then you are a criminal because your benifting from someone elses work, if your not making money from your work with programming, then it's a lesser offence but doesn't make it any less right, but at least your not benifting from something you was supposed to pay for, which is why by and large why I use free software. but it cannot be over stated that no matter what my opinuion it doesn't make it right to copy software, however using software you haven't paid for to be creative with that software for _no_ benift to yourself doesn't harm anyone, if the user he/she couldn't aford it in the first place. infact there in itself is a way to provent copying release software for free to those that cannot aford it on the condition that place the programs they used to create it somewhere about the application, which might encorage others to buy it.
Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by ricardo.
@Cor
Yes, the host file.
I do it in my software in the past, i dont know if it is giving any result because nobody gonna tell me, but at least im making difficult to the user to find a crack.
Another think i do in the past is make a web page that offers a crack of my software, i work so hard to have it as the first result if somebody search for a crack in search engines, and then in the page i say that i cant understand why somebody download and run some executable for an unknown site, if the cracker is an illegal buddy, how can trust in him?
I think that many crack downloaders could be afraid to download and run some dark unkown executable when they understand the risk of running something from an unknown source.
If this dosent work at least dont hurt me and maybe some people think it twice before download cracks.
Maybe you can even offer some 'crack' to your own software, and the crack could be some warning window that makes the user to get scared.
I have had big battles the past year with keygens and im affraid that my recently released application will be cracked in this same week since i get a lot of downloads. Thats why im in a hurry trying to find a way to combat this.
Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by PB.
> Yes, the host file.
You really shouldn't change a user's system files like that. If anyone finds out,
and makes this known to others, your reputation as a pro coder will be destroyed.
Nobody wants to use software that changes their system files without warning.
Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by lanael.
The best protection I've seen is a "fake demo" :
downloadable freely from the website like any other demo,
with dialog-box for registration
with some code which may let think it can work
but in fact there's no way to made it fully working.
After registration, the user get a link (by email ) where he can download the true app. with its registration dialog-box.
For this app, I've seen a lot of cracks or 'keygens' but none of these works.
