How long will the best software-only protections last?

Dear chaboyd,
If you like I can introduce a target that has lasted for about 2 years and nobody has managed to crack it up to now.

Regards,
Android.

[D-Jester]

Originally Posted by Android

If you like I can introduce a target that has lasted for about 2 years and nobody has managed to crack it up to now.

I believe you are refering to Code-Lock

_http://www.chosenbytes.com/challenge.php

Yeah...my names on that list. I lost interest once I realized that its not a protector persay, rather an add-on. I unpack, I don't keygen, inline, patch, etc...

Its an *.ocx (ActiveX) control protected with neolite, designed for VB developers.

It can be removed all you have to do is remove all the DLLFunction calls, it doesn't even compress the executable, but the key is his stipulations of what he considers a successful cracking of his protection:

1) Code-Lock will register a program with any registration code.

This would require modification of the *.ocx control so that its not application specific; possible but not likely since it needs the application ID to generate the registration code

2) The registered version protected by Code-Lock will run on any computer.

This would require modification of the *.ocx control so its not computer specific; possibel but not likely since a hardware ID is used to generate the registration code

3) You have to crack Code-Lock within 60 days of the Challenge.

Considering its written in VB, I'll give it 4 of 10 stars....but uncrackable, not even StarForce can make that claim, and its renowned for its complexity, and difficulty.

Peace...

[dyn!o]

Guys, don't waste your time on Code-Lock speculations.

Code-Lock has been uncrackable for 5 years 2 months 2 days 5 hours 37 minutes and 56 seconds...

That's right and within the same time I haven't had any sex. He lives in his own world and let him countinue it.

Look at the awards he (I forgot this sleepwalker's nick) admitted to himself - these are not awards. Look also at the forum posts he is making mostly by himself (I mean posts like "I can't believe it! It's still uncracked!"). Childrens like fairytales and www.code-lock.com is a one big kindergarden with own world of dreams.

Search ExeTools and find my post where I posted the correspondence (if I correctly remember... "dynio" or "dyn!o" post) where he disallowed me to get into the competition. At that time he just encrypted a part of code with asymmetric key so it was clear that it's uncrackable but not because of software security but cryptographic algorithm. As far as I remember I asked him about that possibility and probably that was the reason of refusing me getting into this sick "challange".

Considering its written in VB, I'll give it 4 of 10 stars....but uncrackable, not even StarForce can make that claim, and its renowned for its complexity, and difficulty.

Comparing ChosenBytes dream to StarForce reality is not suitable. CodeLock is not even 10% of StarForce complexity. Look at Toca 2, Trackmania and SCCT - they are uncracked and millions of people would like to play them. Splinter Cell CT has been produced in over ~7.000.000 of copies (for example GTA: ~10.000.000 till today). That's a challange.

Regards.

Reward:
USD$2000 will be paid to the first successful cracker.
(Which other software protection is confident enough to challenge crackers?)

Means that expect from cracker to tell his name/address to send the money? Sounds like starwars to me.

[D-Jester]

Originally Posted by dyn!o

That's right and within the same time I haven't had any sex.

Damn , I am sorry to here that.

Originally Posted by dyn!o

Comparing ChosenBytes dream to StarForce reality is not suitable. CodeLock is not even 10% of StarForce complexity.

I know of StarFoces legacy, I haven't ever had the opportunity, Since I don't play games on my PC.

Now you've got my synapse's firing though, maybe a copy of Splinter Cell CT would be a nice addition to my grocery list...yeah Wal-Mart should have it...
Thanks for your input dyn!o you and JMI always have a way of sliciing through the bull$hit to the facts; to end the arguements.

Peace...