On 29.12.2009, at 17:41, Rafael Bugajewski wrote: > It’s true that in this case key generators are almost impossible, but this > doesn’t matter at all. Uli said that cracks tend to instability, but this > isn’t the common case.
You should ask some people whose apps have been cracked. I vaguely recall several instances of cracks that jumped over too much code, or stubbed out a piece of important code along with the SN check, and thus caused the app to crash. > Furthermore, for people who use cracked software it doesn’t matter if they > enter a self-generated key or apply a crack. In most cases a crack is only a > “jmp” away (in a lot of cases in the registration window) and I don’t see how > this could affect overall application performance or stability. That's a tautology. Of course, people who use cracked software don't mind using cracked software much, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it. If you meant to say "people who illegally use software", the question is one of knowledge. Getting a leaked serial number means you can use the existing official executable. There can be no malevolent code in a serial number (at least as far as it concerns this discussion). Getting a cracked copy of an application means you have to wait for it to be re-cracked with each update, and you have to trust the cracker not to add any backdoor code into the application (like it happened in the case of "iWork services"). For that reason, even if I felt entitled to do so, I would not use software cracks from the internet. People who do not know much about computers may not be aware of the dangers, but they'd also open a trojan, so they simply need to be educated by their admin/nephew/whatever. > While I agree that software developers should make sure that “script kiddies” > can’t put their assets in danger, I also agree that it’s non-sense to do more > in this case. It’s all about competition—a competition you can’t win. I agree that the often-quoted "race with the pirates" is pointless. Don't try to lock down your application more than necessary. If your software reaches a certain degree of popularity, there will be cracks, and there will be leaked serial numbers (and if your scheme is simple, there will be a keygen). And if you don't watch this development, it will be easier to get a hacked/cracked version than to buy it, and at that point your sales are gone, but your support cost goes up. Yes, illegal users still mail to support, still complain about your app's bugs on public forums etc. And you can't tell them from legitimate users, because "Penny Miller" may actually be Penelope Farnsworth now following a gorgeous wedding, and Prof. Jeffries may have bought two dozen copies of your app through his University department and licensed them to "Chair of Geodaesics at Wallaballoo". -- Uli Kusterer Sole Janitor http://www.the-void-software.com ------------------------------------ MacSB email guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/2g55d6 Use MacSB-Talk for off topic messages: http://groups.google.com/group/macsb-talk Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/macsb/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/macsb/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
