Protecting software from being pirated.
View PDF | Print View
by: Alice
Total views: 182
Word Count: 448
There have been many instances when software publishers have found to their dismay that illegal versions of their software are being circulated on the net. These pirated programs are often sold at 1/10th of their original price and at times even for free. There are different types of software pirates and each works in a different way to circumvent the simple protection routines embedded in the software.
To prevent this, the software companies are regularly publishing newer versions of copy protection software. When a software company publishes a new piece of software, this routine is embedded along with the main software. This routine does not affect the main program in any way and allows the legal purchaser to use the software without any constraints; however, it creates problems when someone tries to install a copied version of the software.
Many different technologies have been used down the years and some of them included physically damaging the surface of the CD or DVD. The routine within the software would skip those damaged sectors while installing the software, but would stop the copying software dead in its tracks. The copying software generally reads the CD or DVD sector by sector and when it tries to read the damaged sector, and is not able to, it aborts the copying process.
While this system was successful for some tie, the publishers of copying software got wiser and they started bringing out newer versions of their programs that was able to circumvent this block. A software author spends lots of time in encoding data for the program and this involves lots of costs for them. If someone just copies the software and shares them with others, it results in financial loss to the publisher.
With the advent of high speed broadband it is possible to download entire DVDs in a few hours. One can understand how easy it is for persons with a crooked mind to download and install such software. They are not paying a single copper for the same. It is to prevent such rampart piracy that the software publishers are turning towards newer technologies to help protect their program.
One should be grateful to the publishers of software for providing us with the latest games that our kids play every day. Purchasing legal copies of their programs helps them financially to develop new programs. If everyone were to purchase legal software, a day will come when the price of software will fall drastically. People shout about the high prices of legal software but do not bother to think that the inflated prices are due to piracy being promoted by them.
About the Author
For your document security it is recommended that you invest in a proper pdf protection program. There are programs that can protect web content too.
Rating: Not yet rated
