Hey,

I reckon a really good dongle would be one that stored the 'key' parts of
the code internally. When a correct serial is passed to it and verified it
would return the correct, unencrypted code. Therefore a cracker couldn't
acheive anything as the program would be missing parts. A nice 64k eeprom
could store some essential code nicely hidden away from crackers.

I've written some self modifying code before, which is what the program
would need to do. I may have a go at making a dongle like this one day. Of
course, software updates would be a pain if any of the key areas were
altered, the dongle would also need an update :)

Regards,

David Stubbs

WEB: www.nti-uk.com
TEL UK: 07968 397782


> -----Original Message-----
> From: pic microcontroller discussion list
> [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Matthew Fries
> Sent: 02 August 2001 5:34 PM
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: [OT]:Dongle - aka node lock
>
>
> > The best code protection I saw was a friends surveying
> > software costing $5000+ US. Each week the software
> > scanned their PC, generated a number and they have to
> > ring the main office and get a second number. Then
> > it works for a week. And nobody has ever cracked it
> > yet. :o)
> > -Roman
>
> What a pain in the neck! The only thing worse than expensive software is
> expensive software that can never be maintenance-free.
>
> It would make more sense if the software were to contain some
> date-sensitive information, then I could justify registering it every
> week. But in this age of quickly outdated software and failing software
> companies, who knows if the company will even be around when you need to
> use the softare.
>
> The 3M software that we use where I work is similar, but it DOES contain
> date sensitive information, so that makes the trouble worth
> while. However, I think 3M realizes this and makes the registration
> process more difficult in order to compensate. :-/
>
> The software is updated with new data every quarter. The installation will
> not proceed until you enter the correct response code to a randomly
> generated number (which is based on the current time). When you call 3M's
> tech support to get the code, you *HAVE* to leave your name and phone
> number with an operator, and the technician calls you back. Sometimes it's
> HOURS before they return your call, or even days. And when they do call,
> they just leave a voicemail message, and the whole process starts over
> again.
>
> The crazy thing is, all this work just for some silly medical coding
> program. Yes, it is safe from copying, but I can't think of why anyone in
> their right mind would want to copy this program (unless they wanted to
> start their own HMO....)
>
> --
> http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different
> ways.  See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.
>
>

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different
ways.  See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.