Useful terms in understanding the software cracker world and how they will try and pirate your Software application.

Pirates beat DRMs through Exploits, KeyGens and Cracks. Each of these approaches is distinct, and requires differing amounts of effort to avoid being pirated.

A brief description of each, in order of least to most effort involved to make them work, can be found below.

Exploits
Exploits are holes in a DRM that can be circumvented without downloading anything to the computer. For example, going into the registry to delete a time limit on a game demo, renaming a hidden .exe file, or using task manager to ‘quit’ the DRM are all things that have been done in the past or can be done currently to circumvent casual game DRMs.

KeyGens
Most DRMs work around an encryption system that delivers the full game to players but limits them to a 60 minute trial. The full game can be unlocked by entering in a serial-type key into the game. Keygens are programs that illegally create serial keys to unlock a portal’s games. They are distributed in multiple ways, often shared among friends, as well as being sold or provided free of charge on web sites around the Internet.

Cracks
Cracks are perhaps the most commonly mentioned type of piracy. In this case the entire game is made DRM free by the addition of a file that impedes the DRM. Closely associated with cracks are ‘cracked games.’ This refers to a DRM-free version of the game that was cracked and then distributed by pirates. Obtaining a crack or a cracked game requires downloading files to the customer’s computer from locations that are clearly illegitimate.

Yes, I admit it, like everyone else I hate DRM on my music and Video/DVDs.

Am I a hypocrite or what? Well I am and I am not.

I my experience in the world of software licensing I feel more thought and care has gone into servicing the end consumer – it’s certainly the total driver for my business at Nalpeiron, perhaps partially driven by my DRM use.

Maybe it’s just that software licensing is an older and more mature business where we have heard all the gripes and groans and tried to help, whereas the DRM world is young and has yet to learn it’s lesson.

It may also be that software developers tend to love their customers and want to please them more than the Hollywood studios and music conglomerates? The latter seem much more arrogant and paranoid than the more hippy-like software developer community who have a big open source faction.

Also, I feel as a user of software licensing that it’s just easier to get fair use and mobility for some of my applications (not all by a long way) than I do for any of my DVDs and music.

I guess DRM has to face up to the fact that DVDs easily scratch and get damaged by my kids and therefore become worthless and I can’t easily or legally back these up like I can with software.

When it comes to music until recently (when it became DRM free) I always bought CDs and ripped them to avoid DRM. Any music I did download soon had problems as I keep changing my PCs, I have 5! Now I can’t use most of it and have just junked it.

So in both cases for music and DVD I am forced to re-buy the stuff again and again whereas with my software it’s all backed up and in many cases I can move it between PCs and load on several without any problems.

What’s the lesson here? Well it looks like DRM is being killed by people like me saying we are all fed up. We had better watch out in the software licensing game that this doesn’t happen to us.

How? Make sure we think as much about the customer experience as we do the ability to prevent casual copying. Make it really easy to move licenses with one click via activation and the phone for example.

You could even go one step further like we have at Nalpeiron and allow the end user to participate in their control and management of their licenses, plus self serving them as they need them, all via a nice and simple online portal.

See it in action here:

www.internetactivation.com