CD Protection

[SteveW]

Hi All

I know this is a bit off the subject, but I've designed a project inc videos etc which I plan to distribute on CD.

Anyone know any software / etc how I can stop anyone
copying my CDs

Thanks

Steve

[AGRO]

No such thing.

[AndrewClark]

Steve,

Ultimately, Eric is probably rght. Just have a look at this large thread on the Acrobat Windows forum at:
http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?128@204.fVqQaORllYz.1@.1de5e44d

One of the most effective methods is to use a challenge/response security administration system. Such a system will probably be expensive and require you to commit a long period of time to support it. It all depends upon how valuable your products are.

Regards

Andrew

[Corey]

Yes. There are techniques, but nothing cheap and nothing 100% effective. Video game companies have been plucking this banjo for many years and I notice all the latest games still seem to be getting cracked left right and center.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[TJ_Tigger]

Here is something I was playing around with on my current project. I have the files stored in a password protected zip file. The link, when pressed then asks for a password and stores that in a variable, the variable is then used to unzip the file and that password is used. The file unzips to a temp location and and I execute it from there with the wait option. After the wait expires the file is then removed. I would just make sure the on project close or on project destroy that you have actions that look for those files and clean them up before it finishes. I have attached the actions as an example. This is very basic and could be expanded like the examles in the usersguide to include an limited number of attempts. And of course, I don't know how secure the zip password protection is so Thought it would be worth a show.

12733-password.zip (http://www.indigorose.com/ubbthreads/uploads/12733-password.zip)

[Corey]

Nice idea Tig but I could still easily make a verbatim copy of your CD which is what I think the gist of this ask was... Happy tinkering.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[TJ_Tigger]

Ah, I see, I went back and read the post and yup, I read it wrong. Oh well. I will read it closer next time.

[Derek]

There was a post I remember from the old AMS3 postings but it seems to have been deleted. It went on about, something like:

build the project
use CDRwin to make an ISO
Something else here about ripping it apart and adding something or doing something to it???
rebuilding the ISO
Burn it to CD
[here is where the person that posted it shows me how wrong I was on the steps]

Thats how much I remember of it anyway ... so not too great on the details! /ubbthreads/images/icons/frown.gif
Apparently, whomever posted it had tried to copy it with a number of methods and all had failed.
I believe the post was called 'Copy protecting your CD's' (or similar)

So maybe there is something to work with if you include a number of steps and apps. to achieve the final goal.
I should add that this only appeared to stop the mage copy - it will not stop someone copying contents of CD

[antjedi]

TJ Tigger:
Of course after I realised it was doing that, my first attempt would be to run the program, let it open all the files; and as soon as it did, kill the ASM menu process...never allowing it to 'clean up' the files I wanted access too...I suppose I could just go to my temp folder and make duplicates of those files to another dir as well....

[kpsmith]

Only thing I found that works fairly well is Macrovision protection. But it aint cheap and is something you don't typically control but send to a specialized vendor to have done.

It adds something to the .exe file usually that checks for a special track or something on the original CD to make sure it is in fact the original. If it is a copy it typically wont work.

It can be cracked as others have metioned. Never seen a game that doesn't have a crack to thwart the CD protection placed on it.

[John-oh]

Derek,
I recollect something similar, it involved a freeware program than knacked a track on the CD. I never used it, and got the feeling it wasn't foolproof, just discouraged the inquisitive.
I'll have look around and see if I kept anything on this..

[TJ_Tigger]

Here is a site (http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_utils_3.shtml) with info about CD-Protection. Don't know if it will help or not.

[AGRO]

If you can burn it, you can copy it.

Nothing is burn proof, nothing.

You might copy protect a cd that the average Joe can not copy, but the experienced "CDR-er" can do it all day every day.

[SteveW]

Hi Guys

Thanks for all your help, looks like I'm just going to have to keep my fingures crossed that there are honest folk out there

Steve