munck@mitre-bedford.ARPA (03/15/85)
>>different instructions caused the radio to produce different noises... > when I'm doing CPU-intensive stuff like number-crunching, it makes sounds > almost like tropical birds... An interesting thought to juxtapose with the problem of software piracy. A package could do its processing so as to "broadcast" a unique serial number built into it by the software manufacturer (say be re-arranging the order of loading modules). One can imagine unmarked vans cruising the industrial parks listening for identical signals from two or more CPUs simultaneously, indicating piracy. Or maybe Microsoft or Lotus would put up a satellite. TEMPEST-qualified pcs cost a fortune, so real pirates may need to wrap their systems in aluminum foil. -- Bob Munck, MITRE
cs2532aa@unm-cvax.UUCP (03/21/85)
>From: munck@mitre-bedford.ARPA >>>different instructions caused the radio to produce different noises... >> when I'm doing CPU-intensive stuff like number-crunching, it makes sounds >> almost like tropical birds... > > An interesting thought to juxtapose with the problem of software piracy. > A package could do its processing so as to "broadcast" a unique serial > number built into it by the software manufacturer (say be re-arranging > the order of loading modules). One can imagine unmarked vans cruising > the industrial parks listening for identical signals from two or more > CPUs simultaneously, indicating piracy. > > -- Bob Munck, MITRE Something similar already exists. In the communications package for the Apple called "Ascii Express" there is a feature that allows the user to run a simple unattended board and have people call in and upload and download files to it. Since the program is sold unprotected, the serial number is encoded into the software, and if someone logs onto the board and types ^D^I^S at the command prompt ('(>') the program echoes the serial number. There are hundreds of these 'AE' boards all over the country (run mostly by pirates), and it is highly amusing to type ^D^I^S and see how many of the boards have the same serial number. Of course, any Real Pirate would be able to find the serial number and change or remove it, just like a nibble count or a check for a hardware device. Nobody seems to bother, though. .rne. ----- Real World . . Ernie Longmire / 311 Don St. SE / Los Lunas, NM 87031-9405 UUCP . . . . . {{purdue,cmcl2,ihnp4}!lanl,ucbvax}!unmvax!unm-cvax!cs2532aa ----- "Insightful and witty quote designed to gain the respect and admiration of your peers."