Re: licence key validation method
Re: licence key validation method
- Subject: Re: licence key validation method
- From: Jens Alfke <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:51:39 -0800
> On Jan 12, 2015, at 9:07 PM, pscott <email@hidden> wrote:
>
> Experience has taught me that copy protection and license keys almost never prevent software piracy, except where the cost of ownership is so low that defeating the protection isn't worth the effort. I don't mean to discourage anyone, but no matter how clever you think your method may be there is certainly someone more clever than you.
Agreed 100%. The harder you make it, the more of a tempting challenge you provide to someone. And it only takes one person to upload the crack. In those circles it's a badge of honor to be the first to crack an app, and a major way of gaining cred.
The Intel version of Mac OS X was absolutely _riddled_ with "integrity checks" of this sort to guard against attempts to run OS X on non-Apple hardware. There were standard check macros that got inserted multiple times into nearly every binary in the OS, from the kernel through Calculator.app. Even so, it didn't take very long for people to patch all of them out and get the OS running on "Hackintoshes".
As the saying goes, "Locks are there to keep honest people out." The license mechanism serves as a reminder to new users that their demo has expired, or that the copy they borrowed from their roommate hasn't been paid for yet. It won't stop someone who wants to get the app for free and is willing to spend five minutes hunting torrents.
—Jens
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