How to protect my ShareWare

  • Thread starter Thread starter Keith Smith
  • Start date Start date
K

Keith Smith

I need to be sure that my app expires after 30 days and even if the user
uninstalls and reinstalls the app then it will not function. Are any of
these methods good?

1. Write a small code in the registry telling the system that the software
is expired.
2. Put a file (maybe a .INI) somewhere in the Windows path letting the app
know it is expired
3. Write to a particular byte/sector on the hard drive which would indicate
whether or not the app is expired (is this even possible?)

I know this isn't completely a C# programming question, but I thought you
guys would have a great answer to this. Thanks!
 
Whatever of the two first approaches will do the trick as long as your
uninstaller does not remove it, but take into account that maybe the logged
user installing the software is not an admin, and therefore you must use
HKEY_CURRENT_USER instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and you can not write in the
Windows folder. I tell this because, if possible, setups should not require
admin privileges...

--

Carlos J. Quintero

MZ-Tools 4.0: Productivity add-ins for Visual Studio .NET
You can code, design and document much faster.
http://www.mztools.com
 
Well you could always do a Winzip and not de-activate it and then make more
money out of suing people for licensing infringement. :)
 
I need to be sure that my app expires after 30 days and even if the user
uninstalls and reinstalls the app then it will not function. Are any of
these methods good?

1. Write a small code in the registry telling the system that the software
is expired.
Click to expand...

Can be easily cracked by me
2. Put a file (maybe a .INI) somewhere in the Windows path letting the app
know it is expired
Click to expand...

Can be easily cracked by me too.
3. Write to a particular byte/sector on the hard drive which would indicate
whether or not the app is expired (is this even possible?)
Click to expand...

Sounds very dangerous. If I find out this I don't think I will use the app
anyway. Neither will the mass public.
I know this isn't completely a C# programming question, but I thought you
guys would have a great answer to this. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Try something like activation in windows xp, although I hate it, and so do
alot of ppl.
 
Back
Top