Secure License

[George Oro]

For instance:
1) I have a program (demo version) which is downloadable then...
2) Buyer will buy and pay online then...
3) I will send the activation code.

Question: How to avoid other users to use the same license (in/outside
LAN)?
Using the internet may avoid this but for instance the user doesn't
have
internet connection and the program was downloaded to other PC having
internet connection.

It seems this is not doable as M$ software can be install anywhere
using the
same license but I will appreciate any comments on this.


TIA,
George

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

For instance:
1) I have a program (demo version) which is downloadable then...
2) Buyer will buy and pay online then...
3) I will send the activation code.

Question: How to avoid other users to use the same license (in/outside
LAN)?

Tools available from sites such as sysinternals.com can crack any
method you use to store a future date anywhere on a system such as in
the registry or a file. Unless it's encrypted. But even then if you
delete the date from wherever it's stored your app may think it's just
installed.

Thus I prefer to limit the number of records in one key table such as
5 units or 50 volunteers but allow unlimited access for everything
else. Once I get paid then I email them an encrypted file containing
the number of records they are licensed for as well as their company
name which goes on the bottom of every page of every report.

For more of my thoughts on this topic see the "Copy protection or how
to safely distribute a demo Microsoft Access Application" page at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/demo.htm

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
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