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Thread: Time Restricted Software

  1. #1
    Legendary Member cairnswm's Avatar
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    Time Restricted Software

    Does anyone have a secure component that restricts the amount of time a program can run for? Tamperproof preferably
    William Cairns
    My Games: http://www.cairnsgames.co.za (Currently very inactive)
    MyOnline Games: http://TheGameDeveloper.co.za (Currently very inactive)

  2. #2

    Time Restricted Software

    I could be thinking to simplistic, but isn't it just a case of

    if (endDate > 0-1-01-2004) then displayMessage('Get a new version on my website');

    or something like that ?

  3. #3

    Time Restricted Software

    i think he wants one where u cant set the clock back to make it work

  4. #4
    Legendary Member cairnswm's Avatar
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    Time Restricted Software

    It probably is as simple as that but what happens if he only downloads the program on the 31-12-2003 he only gets one day to use the software.

    I was thinking of something that possibly uses the registry and stores the installation date etc (encrypted) and then stops working after a specified time period.

    Oh well I('ll make my own little component. Shouldn't be too hard
    William Cairns
    My Games: http://www.cairnsgames.co.za (Currently very inactive)
    MyOnline Games: http://TheGameDeveloper.co.za (Currently very inactive)

  5. #5

    Time Restricted Software

    you could create a reg key when its run if it doesnt excsist then encrypt a string with the date in and save it.

    then when that date is 1 day old (ei, yeseterday) then refuse to work.


    just hope he doesnt install it on 11:59

  6. #6

    Time Restricted Software

    Grr. Lost a reply cause the server was down. :evil:

    I'd suggest that you go for a feature-reduced version rather than a time-limited one. You can just {$IFDEF} out relevant code so that it never appears in the shareware exe. Also, try to make it have a slightly different format from the final program so that users can't, for example, just email the maps and play 'em anyway.

    The trouble is that anything client-side can be cracked given enough time and willpower. The above suggestion (creating registry keys) is easy to get around -- just run the exe and debug it. Whack a breakpoint at the relevant part, change an opcode or two (e.g. from jump-if-equal to jump-if-not-equal) and redistribute the cracked exe. Also, there are more direct ways (e.g. delete the key when your time limit expires and it'll be recreated, change the clock, etc).

    You'd want to ensure that the unique value/however else it's protected is used throughout the code, so it all goes wonky if someone tampers with it. CRCs are probably a not-bad idea as well.

    The only sure-fire way would be to involve a server somewhere the process, but that's kinda intrusive if your game doesn't use the net for anything else.

    Check out the following article from Gamasutra (free registration required) for info on how the people who made Spyro tried to keep the hackers at bay.

    Bear in mind that your game may not attract the attention of serious crackers if it's not a multi-million seller, which means that you don't have to go too overboard. However, do try to keep it a bit safe .
    "All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind."
    <br />-- Aristotle

  7. #7
    Legendary Member cairnswm's Avatar
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    Time Restricted Software

    On the project I'm working now we are using NetExpress Cobol. When it installs it updates a number of keys in the registry. So even if you delete the info in one place it is still in lots of other places as well.

    I was thinking of creating a component that implemented a number of options.
    1. Time delay. Put a key in the registry for when the product was installed, encrypted with a double check digit (one before enryption, one after).
    2. Number of use count - also encrypted along with the double check digit.
    3. Server register link - must link to a server to continue working.
    4. Register for a specific PC. I have code to get the MAC address of a users network card to help create a unique code per PC.

    Unfortunatly this isn't for a game Its for my FAQ creator, currently in version 0.0 Alpha state I have the required code to link it into Internet Explorer as a new band to make creating FAQs from a web page or copied text very easy - a great way to store all those great delphi code snippets out there
    William Cairns
    My Games: http://www.cairnsgames.co.za (Currently very inactive)
    MyOnline Games: http://TheGameDeveloper.co.za (Currently very inactive)

  8. #8
    Legendary Member cairnswm's Avatar
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    Time Restricted Software

    On the topic of how to restrict/limit use of your shareware program have a look at :

    http://www.dexterity.com/articles/

    and specifically

    http://www.dexterity.com/articles/re...incentives.htm

    Articles by a self proclaimed successful shareware company.
    William Cairns
    My Games: http://www.cairnsgames.co.za (Currently very inactive)
    MyOnline Games: http://TheGameDeveloper.co.za (Currently very inactive)

  9. #9

    Time Restricted Software

    Try the TurboPower components on sourceforge.net.
    There's a component called 'OnGuard', I think this is exactly what you are looking for.
    Here's the link: http://sf.net/projects/tponguard/
    wolfnight.org - Wolfnight Game Development

  10. #10

    Time Restricted Software

    Might also want to think about having multiple protection routines, and make it hard to hack the checks out. Have some self checking code, checksum tests, and dont hard code any kind of 'Demo Expired' messages using standard ASCII. But that's if you are bothered about people hacking it quickly?
    http://www.c5software.co.uk (site is being developed at the moment)

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