Re: Absolute addresses, relative addresses

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Article #46

#46

From: Beth
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2003 05:40

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Bob Masta wrote:
> Beth wrote:
> >Just I came up with a mad software piracy prevention idea the other
> >day...the idea is pretty simple...encode the customer's details -
> >including credit card number - into the executable...no, the
> >executable itself does NOT ever decode it or crack it open so
there's
> >no way to reverse engineer how this code is stored or even where it
> >might be stored...the only people who can read it need a special
> >utility program that'll be able to see this "watermark"...the final
> >ingredient is to prominently make clear in BOLD TEXT and suitable
> >legalese that the executable contains _YOUR_ sensitive
> >information...so, it's in your _OWN_ interests not to copy it or
let
> >unauthorised people at your copy...the legalese makes clear that in
> >running the software you accept responsibility in keeping the
software
> >safe from piracy and that _should_ your copy be found on a Warez
site
> >then, legally, you're culpable...
>
> <snip>
> A similar but tamer method I've used is to encrypt the user's name
> along with the registration key file.  When the software starts up,
> the splash screen says "Registered to Joseph Schmoe" along
> with the registration number.  The idea is that this will discourage
> ordinary users from simply passing their keys around.  The key
> encryption and validation must be good enough to prevent casual
> crackers from figuring out how to create their own "valid" keys.
>
> Of course, all this assumes that somebody wants the software
> pretty bad in the first place.
> Haven't figured that one out yet... ;-)

Yeah...but there's no "perfect solution", unfortunately...this just
helps get "better than even odds" in your favour...

And, actually, if the stats on piracy are to be believed then the
majority _is_ actually just people making copies for their
friends...the professional stuff is, basically, practically impossible
to defeat...they'll always find some sort of a way, if they are
determined to look hard enough...but, going by the stats on this
stuff, if it only defeats "casual piracy" rather than the professional
stuff, that's still a major, major win because that's apparently what
the majority is...

I won't say you'd recover the majority of your profits because, in
many cases, if they can't get it for free with piracy then many people
simply won't bother and won't instead be buying your product...but
it's the old statistical thing...if it only catches 10% then for
software that's used a lot that can add up to a substantial sum to
make it worth the effort...

Beth :)

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From: "Beth" <BethStone21@hotmail.NOSPICEDHAM.com>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.asm.x86,alt.lang.asm,alt.os.assembly,borland.public.tasm
Subject: Re: Absolute addresses, relative addresses
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