Off Topic but...

[Sleidia]

Hello.
Yesterday, I was arguing with someone about the issue on piracy and we came up with a question I would like to have
a possible/realistic answer.

The reason why piracy exists is mainly because software company use algorithms to generate serial numbers right?
Why do they continue to do it that way knowing the fact that a skilled guy can find the algorithm if he can gather
a few existing serial numbers?

If s/n were generated randomly, and if the software checks
for running copies during internet connection, piracy wouldn't exist anymore, right?

Any opinion on this question would be welcome.
Thanks.
My Work...

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...and More...

 

[SPYDERIX]

Yes I think that is true too. If software companies can check the IP's of people and get the serial numbers when they are online they can catch it faster. However some people (like me for example) use DHCP to obtain an IP and there are many people who have the same IP as me.

But the main problem isn't the serial number, the problem is giving people the option to register the software or not. Norton Anti-Virus makes you register before you can use it. There should be a process that obtains IP and serial number and checks it through a database to see if it is duplicated or not.

That's my 2 cents!

 

[Boomerang]

And what if people use one computer for internet connenction and another computer for piracy software .....

Erik <!-- My sport: Boomerang throwing !!
This year I will participate at the World Championships in Germany. (

http://www.boomerang2002.com)

!! Many Happy Returns !! -->

 

[SPYDERIX]

Ha ha good one Boomerang! LOL

 

[Wullie]

Hi all,

If s/n were generated randomly, and if the software checks
for running copies during internet connection, piracy wouldn't exist anymore, right?

This brings in a lot of other problems. That means you MUST be connected to the internet to run a program. This is simply not practical as a lot of people do not have permanent connections and must pay for the time spent online.

Hope this helps Wullie

http://www.freshlookdesign.co.uk

http://www.searchit-now.co.uk

http://www.survivorhelp.co.uk

 

[Wullie]

Ok.. I read your post wrong..

As boomerang said, this is still not practical.

That means I could have any program and either change the host file in windows to map their server address back to my machine or use my firewall to block all out going traffic to that site.

Hope this helps Wullie

http://www.freshlookdesign.co.uk

http://www.searchit-now.co.uk

http://www.survivorhelp.co.uk

 

[Sleidia]

Wullie,

The program can run without interent connection, but when online, it could do the check.
But the main issue of this thread is about the use of algorithms for serials. Why?

Let's say you want to sell 200.000 softs.
You can build a list of 400.000 randomly generated s/n
and burn each CD with its own serial. There's nothing impossible in it. It's only a matter of smart automation in the process of burning CDs.

Then, each person is given a totally personal s/n, right?
If this s/n is shared online, then the owner can become responsible for the infringement.

My Work...

http://www.pariswave.com

http://www.tppro.com

http://www.france.jalpak.fr

http://www.tokyo-gas.co.jp/IR/ir_j.html

http://www.scandinavia.co.jp

...and More...

 

[Wullie]

Sleidia,

You will notice that I corrected myself in my second post after I read your post again..

The problem with only connecting when online is that a lot of machines are not connected to the internet, does that mean they don't have to pay?

Also, as I said before I could change the host file in windows to map their server address back to my machine or use my firewall to block all out going traffic from that program.

This way, the serial is never checked and the only programs that this may actually work for were ones that needed to connect to the internet to do their job. Even those programs would not verify the serial if I mapped their server back to my local machine.

Also, how do you actually check if someone has given out the serial or not? IP addresses cannot be checked as they often change and you cannot ask a user to update their IP address on your site every time that it changes, this is especially true for dial up users.

Hope this helps Wullie

http://www.freshlookdesign.co.uk

http://www.searchit-now.co.uk

http://www.survivorhelp.co.uk

 

[Sleidia]

Hey Wullie..... I think you miss the point

What I was saying is that if each buyer of a soft
has it's own personal s/n NOT GENERATED by any logical
algorithm, then, if someone's s/n is found on the
internet, he should have to pay something if he can't
prove that his s/n has been stolen from him.

The main issue is about s/n which are easy to crack because
they are generated with algorithms. This is the thing I don't understand. Sorry for insisting so much

See you ! My Work...

http://www.pariswave.com

http://www.tppro.com

http://www.france.jalpak.fr

http://www.tokyo-gas.co.jp/IR/ir_j.html

http://www.scandinavia.co.jp

...and More...

 

[SPYDERIX]

WHAT!!!!

if someone's s/n is found on the
internet, he should have to pay something if he can't
prove that his s/n has been stolen from him.

Oh...So you mean I get the terrorist squad at my door interigating me to find out if I really was robbed...Nice

There will be a case to find out what really happened and if they were robbed then the true owners wont actually have to pay the fine. Imagine how many cases like that would happen. Imagine the hasstle for a measly $200.00 program.

The laws are different in all the countries.... How do you enforce a worldwide law on this??