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DarkBASIC Professional Discussion / is there any way of stoping people making a copy of a cd

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Terabyte
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Posted: 17th Mar 2003 01:12
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the answer is probably no but is their any way of stopping someone from copying a cd other than begging them not to while they rappidly rush through the user licence agreement at installation point by clicking next!
you would of thought my now, that sombodys come up with a solution.
you know
a file or a bit of data on the cd that blocks or stops a programs from copying it i don't know!! [img][/img]any answers? [img][/img]
I have a word of advice...
..don't piss on an electric fence!
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Andy Igoe
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Posted: 17th Mar 2003 01:17
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It is totally impossible to prevent hacking. You can make it difficult but you cannot make it impossible.

The problem is if your program can read off the CD to ensure that the important don't-copy information is there then so can CD copying software.

Most anti copying protection systems are very expensive and frankly you can get better protection from a serial number system. Sure fake numbers will appear on the 'scene' but to be honest the pirates are going to get your software if they want it anyway.

Pneumatic Dryll, Outrageous epic cleric of EQ/Xev
God made the world in 7 days, but we're still waiting for the patch.
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Xoid
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Posted: 17th Mar 2003 02:24
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Yeah, I agree with PneumaticDryll, it is more or less impossible to stop piracy! although alot of companies try to implement copy protection they have failed in their attempts. if the data is there for the taking hackers/crackers will take it
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malcom2073
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Posted: 17th Mar 2003 07:31
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There is only one way. Microsoft is trying it, but not doing a good job of implementing it. Have people HAVE to register online with their own personal number.

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Terabyte
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Posted: 17th Mar 2003 09:51
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Thanks everyone
especicaly malcom2073 [img][/img]
thats not a at idea actually [img][/img]
thanks[img][/img]

I have a word of advice...
..don't piss on an electric fence!
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Terabyte
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Posted: 17th Mar 2003 09:52
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typo above
thats not a bad idea
[img]:s[/img]

I have a word of advice...
..don't piss on an electric fence!
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Rob K
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Posted: 17th Mar 2003 17:21
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http://tzcopyprotection.cjb.net

This is one of my other software projects. It does have an executable protector which works on DB/DBP exes. Bear in mind though that if you use the standard protection (same as used on Championship Manager 2003) + "Step 4" + "Step 5" you will only stop standard programs from copying it. CloneCD will still succeed (though there is a method on the main page which has worked for some people)

Current Project: Retro Compo. Entry.
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Terabyte
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Posted: 17th Mar 2003 17:37
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aha [img][/img]
cheers

I have a word of advice...
..don't piss on an electric fence!
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Andy Igoe
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Posted: 18th Mar 2003 01:35
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I had a quick look and it appears to be a combination of file enveloping and bad block protection.

These are tried and tested methods and will prevent what I call 'playground piracy' where friends exchange copies. This will not make you invulnerable to a pirate and the subsequent 'fixed .exe' releases.

This actually relates to a paper I read by a Swedish student called Mike Anderson about a convention he called 'Crypth'.

Crypth is a standardised script for making changes to files thus ensuring the MOD community, and by co-incidence the pirate community too, could make changes to commercial .exe files without re-releasing the exe's thus making them totally legal.

Mike's Crypth parser does not work on PII and above processors and seems to have died a death, but if the pirates got their act together it would be possible to release and sell - in shops if you like - totally legal 'CD removal' scripts. Aswell as more legitimate things such as MODs and cheats etc.

Software is quite possibly the strangest of business' to be in...

Pneumatic Dryll, Outrageous epic cleric of EQ/Xev
God made the world in 7 days, but we're still waiting for the patch.
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HZence
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Posted: 18th Mar 2003 01:37
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The only thing about forcing everyone to register online is that not everyone has the internet, nor does everyone want it, and that's where they might run into problems.

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malcom2073
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Posted: 18th Mar 2003 02:03
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Thats why it only works for huge corperations who can afford to have a phone number just for that . Although, if you are distributing only over the internet, like download, then the people should have access anyway. (eg most db and dbp programs)

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Terabyte
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Posted: 18th Mar 2003 10:11
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not everyone has the internet, nor does everyone want it
that is somting that crossed my mind but then if they really want the program.. im sure they can pop down to their local libry and use the internet their to register D

I have a word of advice...
..don't piss on an electric fence!
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Xoid
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Posted: 18th Mar 2003 11:51
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LOL, it's amuzing to hear these methods of 'copy protection' they just DON'T work, hahaha,

if any of you come up with a secure method of protection then your be soooooooooo wealthy, your be richer than Bill Gates.
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Rob K
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Posted: 18th Mar 2003 15:39
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" file enveloping and bad block protection"

Not quite

Executable encryption + Runtime in-memory decryption

- Bad / Weak / Hidden Sectors
- Dummy sectors
- CD TOC modifications

... all the usual methods. Of course none of them are 100% secure, if they were, I would be very wealthy indeed as Xoid said.

Current Project: Retro Compo. Entry.
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Andy Igoe
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Posted: 18th Mar 2003 22:24
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"if any of you come up with a secure method of protection then your be soooooooooo wealthy, your be richer than Bill Gates."

For the perfect anti-piracy model see http://www.everquest.com

Over 3 years on, still selling, still not pirated, generating over $12m USD a year... Not quite Bill Gates income, but not bad

Pneumatic Dryll, Outrageous epic cleric of EQ/Xev
God made the world in 7 days, but we're still waiting for the patch.
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