Your opinion is quite valid, but even hardware dongles don't withstand the
determined hacker...........

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: pic microcontroller discussion list
[mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Amaury Jacquot
Sent: 09 May 2002 10:50
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [OT]: Software Protection


Joe McCauley wrote:

>You don't say what language you use. If it is VB then try
>http://www.activelock.com. It is an ocx file which you integrate with your
>application. It is free. You may be asked to fill in your details - it is
>not compulsary. Is there a catch? I don't know, but I've used it
sucessfully
>to deter casual theft. I've no idea how good it really is against a
>determined hacker. The source code is now available so mayb someone who
>knows about this stuff can tell us all.
>
>As it is a limited market, your best bet is to make a deal with the
company.
>They would save themselves some development time if they haven't already
>started on a new version.
>
>Hope this helps
>
>Joe
>
>
according to the howto at
http://www.internetion.net/ActiveLock/activelock.asp
it's a 5 seconds job to remove the thing with IDA.

the code to use it is like :

*If .UsedDays <21 Then*
frmRegister.Show 1
Calculator.Show
Else
' If the evaluation period has expired...
MsgBox "Your evaluation period has expired!"
Unload frmRegister
Unload Calculator
End If

which, to patch, only requires a basic "nop the test out" patch.

in my opinion, it would only stand with joe shmoe, not the determined
cracker.

of course, this is My opinion...

Amaury

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