Retagged...	

Hi, Marcio Wrote:
>>I am looking for a way to protect my product. I am thinking 
>>about loading a bootloader and burning the pin B7.
>>
>>Burn would be a 12v surge applied to this pin.
>>
>>Does someone have this experience?


And I say:

Hi Marcio,
	I've been discussing this with some customers and partners... I
think it's not necessary... I assume that you want to load the PIC memory
with the bootloader, then damage the RB7 pin, and then load the program
trough the bootloader... Right?

Anyway:
- If you have a bootloader, unless you have a sophisticated bootloader
"password" someone might brake into it
- If you have code protection, some people claim to be able to brake it. I
think they would, but the cost and benefits from copying a given device must
be big, because those proceedings are not cheap. Sometimes it would be
cheaper to make the device starting from scratch...
- Some people tend to erase the part no on, for example, the PIC. Now, if
such a board is given to me, I think it might take me 5 to 10 minutes to
determine which PIC it has (or which kind... pIC16F873/6, for example...)

So, why not simple code protection?
Also, if you have a bootloader, you can make an special instruction that
makes the bootloader erase itself...

regards

Mauricio Jancic
Janso Desarrollos
Microchip Consultant Program Member
(54) 11-4542-3519
info@janso.com.ar
www.janso.com.ar

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