frans@duvel.UUCP (06/15/85)
I am looking for ways to protect software on an IBM PC.
Currently I am looking for connectors or so which I can plug
into one of the output ports, and would return a (unique) id
when accessed, thus making it possible to identify a system.
I've seen protection by means of a connector in the past on a HP
micro.
Does someone know more about such devices? I am also interested in
other ways of protection software on an IBM PC.
Thanks!
--
Frans Meulenbroeks, Philips Micro Development Systems
...!{seismo|philabs|decvax}!mcvax!philmds!franstj@utcs.UUCP (tj) (06/17/85)
There is some sort of standard approach being looked at for hardware software protection shcemes. It is suposed to be a plug that hangs off your serial port that responds when the software associated to it asks for a response, and is totally transparent when normal use of the serial port is happening. I cna't remember where I read about it, probably PC, PC World within the last 3 months. (I know thats a lot of issues, sorry) t.jones
dkatz@zaphod.UUCP (Dave Katz) (06/19/85)
The Diagraph (r) Software package for the HP-150 has what they call a "softlock" system. What you get with the package is a small plastic gizmo that plugs into the HP-IB connector on your 150. When the software is ready for a security check, it prompts you to press the button on the top of the softlock. The approach is particularly good since the HP-IB is daisy chained and built such that there is always one open connector at the end of the chain for the softlock. We have speculated around here as to what is actually inside the plastic case. When our curiosity gets the best of us, ...
ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (06/21/85)
> What you get with the package is a small plastic > gizmo that plugs into the HP-IB connector on your 150. There's a generic name for the gizmo that "key" you plug into the micro that the software checks for, but I've forgotten what it is, can anyone help. -Ron
nather@utastro.UUCP (Ed Nather) (06/24/85)
> > What you get with the package is a small plastic > > gizmo that plugs into the HP-IB connector on your 150. > > There's a generic name for the gizmo that "key" you plug into the > micro that the software checks for, but I've forgotten what it is, > can anyone help. > > -Ron Idiocy. -- Ed Nather Astronony Dept, U of Texas @ Austin {allegra,ihnp4}!{noao,ut-sally}!utastro!nather nather%utastro.UTEXAS@ut-sally.ARPA
tj@utcs.UUCP (tj) (06/26/85)
There are three or four models of this as far as I know, all from the same company. They plug into various spots, between the keyboard, on a serial port etc. I just found the info in Computer Data, vol 10, #6 june 85 page 22. Called Gardware. PC-Gard, Mac-Gard and Port-Gard. Latter plugs into any serial port. From Arnet Controls. Circle number 112 on the reader service card (useful to you all eh!!) tj
al@mot.UUCP (Al Filipski) (06/28/85)
>> What you get with the package is a small plastic >> gizmo that plugs into the HP-IB connector on your 150. > >There's a generic name for the gizmo that "key" you plug into the >micro that the software checks for, but I've forgotten what it is, >can anyone help. The "Computer Fraud & Security Bulletin" calls them "dongles". I don't know if this word is used in the US of A as well as in Britain (where the CF&S B is edited). The magazine is the only place I've seen it. -------------------------------- Alan Filipski, UNIX group, Motorola Microsystems, Tempe, AZ U.S.A {seismo|ihnp4}!ut-sally!oakhill!mot!al allegra!sftig!mot!al ucbvax!arizona!asuvax!mot!al -------------------------------- We're so sorry, uncle Albert, but we haven't done a bloody thing all day.
waters@viking.DEC (PCSG Software Jihad) (07/12/85)
I don't believe for a minute that software protection will result in higher volume (and subsequently lower prices). First of all, I won't buy any software which is copy-protected because most of the time, it cannot be placed on my hard disk. You must have always used floppy disk systems. Look at Lotus Development's products. Have their prices gone down with the large volume of sales? Not at all! Software houses always boast of high development costs (to justify their high prices). What about book authors? They work hard and have approximately the same development costs (especially on technical books). Are they charging $250+ per copy? Anyway, copy protection is nothing but a potentially dangerous nuisance. Do you remember hearing about that copy protection scheme which would cause DOS to screw up and perhaps wreck your hard disk? Imagine if you had a *legitimate* copy and some small disk error triggered the DOS worm, and moments later... wiped out hard disk! PLEASE INSERT YOUR KEY DISKETTE AND PRESS ENTER... Lester Waters ...!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-viking!waters