Subj : Reg methods
To   : All
From : Scott Adams
Date : Tue Sep 18 2001 05:44 pm

   Folks,  What do you think is the best registration scheme out there
   for games?

   Method 1: Paper sent with code on it to enter into some file
     or program.
     Advantage: No reg files to break.
     Disadvantage: Since its obviously a set scheme hackers can
       break it with enoughw ork an a hex editor.  Even trial
       and error has been known to crack some of these emthods.
       If paper is lost then code is lost if game crashes.

   Method 2: Reg files are sent to the person.  99% of the time
     its encrypted and unreadable.  Other times it might be
     a straightforward # in some text file.
     Advantage: Hackers have to use hex editor alot to try to
       figure out the scheme so its a bit harder due to length
       of time needed only.
     Disadvantage: Hex editors can still crack it in alot of ways.
   
   Method 3: Complete exes are sent out with the imbeeded information.
     Advantage: Harder to track if its well placed into the exe
       and not in obvious spots like "Registeration code" found in
       a hex editor.  A bit tougher to break.
     Disadvantage: Usually takes up alot of space and expense
       sending out the files (if by mail-disk).

   Method 4: Imbed the information encrypted into the disk itself
     (works with floppies but I suppose CDs could be done with
     some work).  The only game I saw to do this was a early
     Wizardy (#3 or 4 I think).  Nothing to this day could break
     it or crack it.  It could not even be copied.  You could not
     even get a directory listing on the disk.
     Advantage: Very skilled encryption on the hardware level.
       Very hard to break.  Though some modern copy software might
       be able to do it.
     Disadvantage: Didn't work in many disk drives adn were limited
       to set hardware and conditions.  Hard to tell if the
       disk was corrupted/bad since you saw garbage on teh disk.

   Method 5: The Microsoft Way.  Okok :)
     Enter name and #s in 4 boxes into the software.
     Advantage: The encryption scheme was different for each CD.
     Disadvantage: Well its microsloft :)  Trial and error
       and combinations and permuations could get it done eventually.


   Those are the main methods I know of.  There are probably others
   not listed if you have some let me know.  BBS doors used methods
   1-3 to death.  Computer games in the '80s did methods 1-3 then
   at one point did combation of those methods.  Then in the
   '90s computer games were about 90% of method 5.

   As to encryption codes.  There have been many many versions over
   the years.  Some as simple as converting the name of the person
   buying/regging the software to hex.  To real complicated schemes
   using CRC values, dates and secret random codes.  Then more that
   used all of the above plus 30-50 other steps.

   So does anyone know of a general scheme that seems to work
   most often that you don't see crackers for?

--- Fringe BBS
 * Origin: EWOG II - The Fringe - 904-733-1721 (1:112/91)

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