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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    North Idaho
    Posts
    18

    Unhappy Anti-Piracy Software Recommendations

    Hello All,

    I was using the VB.NET 2008 Professional version trial. Now it has expired and I'm not sure what to do. I had intended to purchase the VB.NET 2008 Pro license with the initial revenue from my premium level application licensing... but no longer.

    A while after creating what I would call a 'corporate level' database (front end) application, I put it up on c-net. I believe that this was a terrible mistake. After working over two years on the program, designed to track customers for people or businesses along with endless customer notes for each record along with many other features, I tested the (he-double-hockey-sticks) out of it. Then distributed it locally for testing and when I was satisfied, I finally made it available on the Internet via my website with all of my other free tools and works.

    Written inside was a very simple (keep honest people honest) style registration code. At the time I believed that neither I or the application would become well known enough to illicit the attention of hackers. I was wrong. About 6 months later I realized that I was seeing dozens of downloads a week, and lots of requests for technical support, but not even one attempt in those 6 months to register for a valid license key. It didn't take me long to find my program listing on all the popular hacker/torrent sites with a keygen for my app. The crack information was put up literally a week within setting up my listing on download dot com.

    As a disabled person living off of an extremely limited income, my family has tried many things to supplement our income so that things aren't always so tight and frustrating. Having worked all that time by myself on a project and then loose everything because nobody wanted to support that effort, was devastating! I took not only that application of the web site, but all of them. Every last one. It seemed as though there is no point in even trying. To help people with freeware apps or to try and earn money with business style applications either!

    Realizing that I am never going to keep up with hackers in my own back yard I have recently been looking into 3rd party Anti-Piracy applications/plugins. After I was done pouting and sulking, I was surprised to have found several. However, there are not nearly as many as I was hoping for and most are quite expensive. Many others seem questionable as to whether their goal would lead to success.

    My question is: Have you heard of or do you use anti-piracy licensing technologies? And if so what do you use and what would you recommend. As already established, I don't have a lot of money but desperately need a solution if I am to ever change my mind and continue with my works or even create a new application that deserves the coveted title "Trial/Demo" some day.

    I would love any and all thoughts and thank you for your time and help! Oh yes, and Happy Holidays!!

    David

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    JHB South Africa
    Posts
    3,772

    Re: Anti-Piracy Software Recommendations

    Hi David.

    There are dime a dozen Anti-piracy Licensing software available that you can simply plug in, however many of the 'hackers' know them, and some know how to bypass them.

    There is no real way to prevent it, It will always happen. I suspect that the reg system you put in was simple and possibly allowed any activation code to work on any system..

    I've writen a Reg system that is relatively difficult to write a keygen for as it uses a two way key system. (one key generated for the system loaded, and a second key to unlock).. the thing is the keys are not transferable and are unique to the PC..

    A VB6 copy of this is on this thread however i have done a vb.net version of it too..

    I'm a little suspect of posting the full source of it on here as i'm using it in allot of the applications I've written for work... and putting the source out is just giving hackers the tools to write a keygen....

    I'll work on stipping it down to give you the core code, and explain how to build your own keys in it too ....

    Gremmy...
    Articles VB6 : Break the 2G limit - Animation 1, 2 VB.NET : 2005/8 : Moving Images , Animation 1 , 2 , 3 , User Controls
    WPF Articles : 3D Animation 1 , 2 , 3
    Code snips: VB6 Hex Edit, IP Chat, Copy Prot., Crop, Zoom : .NET IP Chat (V4), Adv. ContextMenus, click Hotspot, Scroll Controls
    Find me in ASP.NET., VB6., VB.NET , Writing Articles, My Genealogy, Forum
    All VS.NET: posts refer to VS.NET 2008 (Pro) unless otherwise stated.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    North Idaho
    Posts
    18

    Re: Anti-Piracy Software Recommendations

    Many thanks GremlinSA.

    That is what I am truly afraid of too. Who wants to pay $300-$2,000 for a security plugin that is defeatable or already hacked. Some certainly promise refunds should such a thing happen, but that seems weak and would almost certainly be a pain in the backside. At that point the situation would be irreversible anyway.

    While it is true that the same code could work on any system given that they used the same name, originally that was by design so that legitimate users could use the application on more than one computer. However, they did write a keygen for it as my code was based on a lame hash of the given registration name.

    Having been though my experience, I would agree. There is apparently no level of defense against hackers that is too vigilant. I would say, I would not like to see you post the code for the chance that your fears are realized. I will pm you with my email. If you should feel comfortable with that, I understand. If not I equally understand that as well.

    I thank you for your assistance! I didn't think I was going to get a response.

    David

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    JHB South Africa
    Posts
    3,772

    Re: Anti-Piracy Software Recommendations

    Attached is the VB.net (2008) project that will allow you to add a better key activation module to your application..

    Here is a how it would be used in your application..
    Code:
            Private CodeProtect As New ProdKey
    
            Private Sub GetActivation(ByRef Expires As Boolean, ByRef ExpiresDate As Date)
                Dim KEY As String = CodeProtect.GenKey
                Dim UnlockKey As String = InputBox("Please enter the activation code " & _
                                               "(Call 011 608 1121 for assistance, and provide " & vbNewLine & vbNewLine & _
                                               KEY & vbNewLine & _
                                               " as reference number):", _
                                               "CashFlow3", "")
                If Not CodeProtect.ActivateProduct(Application.StartupPath, UnlockKey, Expires, ExpiresDate) Then
                    MsgBox("Wrong Code, please call 011 608 1121 for assistance, and provide " & vbNewLine & _
                           KEY & " as reference number", MsgBoxStyle.Information)
                    ExitApp = True
                    Application.Exit()
                End If
    
            End Sub
    
            Private Sub MainForm_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
                Dim ExpiresDate As Date
                Dim Expires As Boolean
                If Not CodeProtect.CheckIfLegal(Application.StartupPath, Expires, ExpiresDate) Then
                    GetActivation(Expires, ExpiresDate)
                End If
                While Expires And ExpiresDate < Date.Now And Not (ExitApp)
                    MsgBox("The licence has Expired, Please click OK to enter a new Activation Code")
                    GetActivation(Expires, ExpiresDate)
                End While
    NOTE: it would be best you change the way VALS string is built in the GenKey Function and the key calculation in the Calk_Licen_Key Function.

    In the 4 apps that we are using this in, we have the same Complex calculation in the Calk_Licen_Key (in the sample i left a simple Eor calculation in there), and changed the VALS build so that a we can use a central KeyGen Application for all the app's but keys are not compatable across the apps...

    To generate the unlocking key you simply Have a Textbox to enter the supplied code, a Checkbox to show if the code expires, a DateTimePicker to select the expiry date of the code, and a Textbox to display the Unlock Code..
    Code:
        Private Sub GenUnlock_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button10.Click
            Dim Ukey As String
            Ukey = KeysGen.GenUnlock(TxtAKey.Text.Trim, CBExpire.Checked, DTPExpire.Value)
            If Ukey.Length <> 0 Then
                TxtACode.Text = Ukey
            Else
                MsgBox("Invalid Key Entered", MsgBoxStyle.OkOnly, "Activation Code")
                Exit Sub
            End If
    If you have any Queries dont hesitate to ask ...

    Gremmy
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Articles VB6 : Break the 2G limit - Animation 1, 2 VB.NET : 2005/8 : Moving Images , Animation 1 , 2 , 3 , User Controls
    WPF Articles : 3D Animation 1 , 2 , 3
    Code snips: VB6 Hex Edit, IP Chat, Copy Prot., Crop, Zoom : .NET IP Chat (V4), Adv. ContextMenus, click Hotspot, Scroll Controls
    Find me in ASP.NET., VB6., VB.NET , Writing Articles, My Genealogy, Forum
    All VS.NET: posts refer to VS.NET 2008 (Pro) unless otherwise stated.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    North Idaho
    Posts
    18

    Re: Anti-Piracy Software Recommendations

    That was fast! I know this probably took some time. Thank you again!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Fox Lake, IL
    Posts
    15,007

    Re: Anti-Piracy Software Recommendations

    Pretty useless to close the barn door now, but, you should be able to offer an upgrade to the people requesting support.

    Service is the name of the software game. If someone else gives it away, they can't match your level of support...
    David

    CodeGuru Article: Bound Controls are Evil-VB6
    2013 Samples: MS CODE Samples

    CodeGuru Reviewer
    2006 Dell CSP
    2006, 2007 & 2008 MVP Visual Basic
    If your question has been answered satisfactorily, and it has been helpful, then, please, Rate this Post!

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