Obsidium Protection Software and Others - Protecting your Neo Apps
Quote from Mark Waples on December 13, 2019, 12:56 pmHi,
I have been looking at ways of protecting my VisualNeo Win compiled apps and so far I have successfully protected them using two programmes:
1 Obsidium (32 bit)
2. PC Guard (32 bit)
PC Guard offers a nice splash screen when launching your app so you can regsiter/deregsiter the software. It is very slick - but the downside is the cost - £266.34 + VAT - which is a lot of investment if you only sell small amounts of Niche apps
Obsidium on the other hand has no splash screen and is not as slick as Obsidium but I am told you can create something yourself, but if you are a non-programmer I guess that would be very difficult to achieve. Costs €149 + VAT, although they do do a light version (Less features) for £66 + VAT
I was wondering if anyone else had experiences with the two pieces of software or can recommend any other protection software that works with Neo compiled apps?
Hi,
I have been looking at ways of protecting my VisualNeo Win compiled apps and so far I have successfully protected them using two programmes:
1 Obsidium (32 bit)
2. PC Guard (32 bit)
PC Guard offers a nice splash screen when launching your app so you can regsiter/deregsiter the software. It is very slick - but the downside is the cost - £266.34 + VAT - which is a lot of investment if you only sell small amounts of Niche apps
Obsidium on the other hand has no splash screen and is not as slick as Obsidium but I am told you can create something yourself, but if you are a non-programmer I guess that would be very difficult to achieve. Costs €149 + VAT, although they do do a light version (Less features) for £66 + VAT
I was wondering if anyone else had experiences with the two pieces of software or can recommend any other protection software that works with Neo compiled apps?
Quote from Christian Schaer on July 27, 2020, 12:43 amHi all, Hi Mark,
to until now i was on search to a little bit cheaper System to protect and found not really much.
more than € 500 for a License, same Problem like you is to expensive.
To your Topic, i will really test it and tell you how i the feeling with it.
Chris
Hi all, Hi Mark,
to until now i was on search to a little bit cheaper System to protect and found not really much.
more than € 500 for a License, same Problem like you is to expensive.
To your Topic, i will really test it and tell you how i the feeling with it.
Chris
Quote from Vadim on July 27, 2020, 11:41 amHi!
VisualNEO Win has great security features. You can think of many ways.
For example, your program at startup can check if there is a special license file. After purchase, you can send this file to the buyer. You can create this file using the utility also created in VisualNEO Win. I used this method. Using the hpwUtility plugin (with the hpwZipString command), I saved the customer data, program version and license type (in my case it was a corporate or private license) to a password-protected zip archive. I additionally encrypted all data with the Crypt_RC4_string function (see attachment below).
At startup, the protected program unpacked the password-protected archive (using the hpwUnZipString command) and decrypted the data - it was launched in full-featured mode and could show the owner's data. If a key file appears somewhere, you can always see whose it is. And without such a file, my program worked in trial mode.For expensive programs (or for yourself personally), you can use other methods of protection, for example, I use the binding of the program to a flash drive, which is used as a hardware key.
A description and an example (.pub) are in this lecture of my online course (it is free, but requires registration; in addition, the course is in Russian, but you can translate it automatically using the Google Chrome browser):
https://distant.orgpsiholog.ru/mod/lesson/view.php?id=182
Separate link to PUB: http://orgpsiholog.ru/downloads/neobook/practicum/USB-key.zip
Take the asUSBDevice plugin here: https://visualneo.com/shop/as3856
Hi!
VisualNEO Win has great security features. You can think of many ways.
For example, your program at startup can check if there is a special license file. After purchase, you can send this file to the buyer. You can create this file using the utility also created in VisualNEO Win. I used this method. Using the hpwUtility plugin (with the hpwZipString command), I saved the customer data, program version and license type (in my case it was a corporate or private license) to a password-protected zip archive. I additionally encrypted all data with the Crypt_RC4_string function (see attachment below).
At startup, the protected program unpacked the password-protected archive (using the hpwUnZipString command) and decrypted the data - it was launched in full-featured mode and could show the owner's data. If a key file appears somewhere, you can always see whose it is. And without such a file, my program worked in trial mode.
For expensive programs (or for yourself personally), you can use other methods of protection, for example, I use the binding of the program to a flash drive, which is used as a hardware key.
A description and an example (.pub) are in this lecture of my online course (it is free, but requires registration; in addition, the course is in Russian, but you can translate it automatically using the Google Chrome browser):
https://distant.orgpsiholog.ru/mod/lesson/view.php?id=182
Separate link to PUB: http://orgpsiholog.ru/downloads/neobook/practicum/USB-key.zip
Take the asUSBDevice plugin here: https://visualneo.com/shop/as3856
Uploaded files:- You need to login to have access to uploads.
Quote from luishp on July 28, 2020, 7:15 amObsisdium works fine for me but also have developed my own registration system similar to that explained by @vadim
Obsisdium works fine for me but also have developed my own registration system similar to that explained by @vadim
Quote from rcohen on October 11, 2020, 2:10 amI like to keep my license's on a web server and just have my pubs check the existence of them. I obtain fingerprint information from the licensed machine (grab system things like SN's and whatever else, and encrypt the final string). Name the file the same string as the fingerprint string and add .txt. The file doesn't need any contents, just the name must match the license, and so your software could both, lock to the machine AND check that the license is valid in the same stroke, leaving nothing to share with friends ;-)
I like to keep my license's on a web server and just have my pubs check the existence of them. I obtain fingerprint information from the licensed machine (grab system things like SN's and whatever else, and encrypt the final string). Name the file the same string as the fingerprint string and add .txt. The file doesn't need any contents, just the name must match the license, and so your software could both, lock to the machine AND check that the license is valid in the same stroke, leaving nothing to share with friends ;-)
Quote from emo on June 21, 2021, 10:05 pmSome time ago I made a small program for these things, which does the following:
1.- Generate the serial number that you tell it in format AAAAA-AAAAA-AAAAA-AAAAA
You can specify the number of digits in each column.
2.- Save the result in program_name_serials.txt
3.- Generate a binary. program_name_serials.dat, msgpack library compatible with all
programming languages and with the hash to choose: sha256, blake2b or sha3_512
4.- Generate a file name_del_programa_serials_mysql.txt with all the hashes to import to mysql
5.- Generate the file name_del_programa_checksum_de_serials_dat.txt with hash sha256
On the client side, you take out the UUID and encrypt it in the registry, the program when the user goes to register it makes a query to the server's database with the serial number that you have sent for the purchase and saves that UUID on the server together with the registration email
Basically the same program,without the database part, made with visualneowin you have it here
There are several possibilities...
Another good program that have a community version that i usually use is Enigma Virtual Box. You can embedded files in your exe, and the paid version allow all the habitual protection things: trial, expires,password...etc
Some time ago I made a small program for these things, which does the following:
1.- Generate the serial number that you tell it in format AAAAA-AAAAA-AAAAA-AAAAA
You can specify the number of digits in each column.
2.- Save the result in program_name_serials.txt
3.- Generate a binary. program_name_serials.dat, msgpack library compatible with all
programming languages and with the hash to choose: sha256, blake2b or sha3_512
4.- Generate a file name_del_programa_serials_mysql.txt with all the hashes to import to mysql
5.- Generate the file name_del_programa_checksum_de_serials_dat.txt with hash sha256
On the client side, you take out the UUID and encrypt it in the registry, the program when the user goes to register it makes a query to the server's database with the serial number that you have sent for the purchase and saves that UUID on the server together with the registration email
Basically the same program,without the database part, made with visualneowin you have it here
There are several possibilities...
Another good program that have a community version that i usually use is Enigma Virtual Box. You can embedded files in your exe, and the paid version allow all the habitual protection things: trial, expires,password...etc
Quote from Christian Schaer on June 21, 2021, 11:52 pmQuote from Emmanuel Fernandez on June 21, 2021, 10:05 pmSome time ago I made a small program for these things, which does the following:
On the client side, you take out the UUID and encrypt it in the registry, the program when the user goes to register it makes a query to the server's database with the serial number that you have sent for the purchase and saves that UUID on the server together with the registration email
There are several possibilities...
Another good program that have a community version that i usually use is Enigma Virtual Box. You can embedded files in your exe, and the paid version allow all the habitual protection things: trial, expires,password...etc
Sound very interesting, do you solved with VisualNEO himself or else by a third Software ?
OK, i'm not really powrfull in VisualNEO and i used most time Pascal.
And in cryptographic Engines i am a noob, i know not realy much to solve this question self.
Kind regards
Chris
Switzerland
Quote from Emmanuel Fernandez on June 21, 2021, 10:05 pmSome time ago I made a small program for these things, which does the following:
On the client side, you take out the UUID and encrypt it in the registry, the program when the user goes to register it makes a query to the server's database with the serial number that you have sent for the purchase and saves that UUID on the server together with the registration email
There are several possibilities...
Another good program that have a community version that i usually use is Enigma Virtual Box. You can embedded files in your exe, and the paid version allow all the habitual protection things: trial, expires,password...etc
Sound very interesting, do you solved with VisualNEO himself or else by a third Software ?
OK, i'm not really powrfull in VisualNEO and i used most time Pascal.
And in cryptographic Engines i am a noob, i know not realy much to solve this question self.
Kind regards
Chris
Switzerland
Quote from emo on June 24, 2021, 12:50 amYou can make a function in vbscript for visualneo that it generates a unique ID.
In the same vbscript you can write the functions to save for example in for example:
HKCU\Software\yourprogramnameThen you can request that number when the client make the purchase,
and return them a .reg to run on their machine with a mixture of that code and their dataIt is similar to what Luis does with VisualNeo.
The method that Vadim explains with the usb flash is also very simple and you have the tools to do it from VisualNeo itself.
The same method, in reverse, became fashionable among hackers several years ago with a python script that did the same, and if the police came to stop them, they only had to remove the USB so that the computer could begin to erase all the data or shutdown.
a greeting
You can make a function in vbscript for visualneo that it generates a unique ID.
In the same vbscript you can write the functions to save for example in for example:HKCU\Software\yourprogramname
Then you can request that number when the client make the purchase,
and return them a .reg to run on their machine with a mixture of that code and their data
It is similar to what Luis does with VisualNeo.
The method that Vadim explains with the usb flash is also very simple and you have the tools to do it from VisualNeo itself.
The same method, in reverse, became fashionable among hackers several years ago with a python script that did the same, and if the police came to stop them, they only had to remove the USB so that the computer could begin to erase all the data or shutdown.
a greeting
Quote from Mark Waples on March 28, 2022, 3:53 pmJust an update on PCGuard32....
It worked very well with VisualNeoWin but after a hard disk drive failure the Software developer refused to issue a replacement license code insisting I paid a further fee, either to purchase the software again or to pay a yearly fee for support.
I did not wish to upgrade the software or to pay for a further period of support (I never needed the support) - all I wanted to do was to get back to status quo albeit on a new hard disk drive!
To me this is not the way to treat a genuine purchaser and unfortunately, because of these practices I cannot recommend using PCGuard32.
Obsidium still works well with Visual NeoWin.
However, I will be designing a new system based on Vadim's suggestion. (Thank you Vadim)
If anyone uses anything else please share your solutions/ideas.
Thank you.
Just an update on PCGuard32....
It worked very well with VisualNeoWin but after a hard disk drive failure the Software developer refused to issue a replacement license code insisting I paid a further fee, either to purchase the software again or to pay a yearly fee for support.
I did not wish to upgrade the software or to pay for a further period of support (I never needed the support) - all I wanted to do was to get back to status quo albeit on a new hard disk drive!
To me this is not the way to treat a genuine purchaser and unfortunately, because of these practices I cannot recommend using PCGuard32.
Obsidium still works well with Visual NeoWin.
However, I will be designing a new system based on Vadim's suggestion. (Thank you Vadim)
If anyone uses anything else please share your solutions/ideas.
Thank you.
Quote from Christian Schaer on March 28, 2022, 11:31 pmHi Mark,
I'm on valuation t use still now.
Thanks a lot for your feedback about the PCGuard 32...
To until now I was not sure to use PC Guard or else Obsidium I not buy any Licenses for my App.
Now I have a new Idea about.
I am still open to a System it's work and I can protect.
Kind regards
Chris
Hi Mark,
I'm on valuation t use still now.
Thanks a lot for your feedback about the PCGuard 32...
To until now I was not sure to use PC Guard or else Obsidium I not buy any Licenses for my App.
Now I have a new Idea about.
I am still open to a System it's work and I can protect.
Kind regards
Chris
Quote from Mark Waples on March 30, 2022, 7:38 pmHi Chris,
you are very welcome and good luck with your system
Mark
Hi Chris,
you are very welcome and good luck with your system
Mark
Quote from Krakerman on April 10, 2022, 4:46 amThere is a plugin called npCust over here:
https://www.decsoftutils.com/neoplugins/
which implements a customizable Partial Serial Number Verification System easy to use in your publications.
Also could look at PELock https://www.pelock.com/
There is a plugin called npCust over here:
https://www.decsoftutils.com/neoplugins/
which implements a customizable Partial Serial Number Verification System easy to use in your publications.
Also could look at PELock https://www.pelock.com/
Quote from Mark Waples on April 10, 2022, 10:19 am@krakerman
Thank you, very interesting.
Here is another one I have tested and purchased and works well with the latest version of VisualNeoWin
rtProtectMgt
https://www.ronmarie.com/rt_psm.html
I have no affiliation
Thank you, very interesting.
Here is another one I have tested and purchased and works well with the latest version of VisualNeoWin
rtProtectMgt
https://www.ronmarie.com/rt_psm.html
I have no affiliation
Quote from Mark Waples on April 10, 2022, 10:22 amI have also tested winlicense and I couldn't get that to work with Neo
I think it affects the resources making the executable fault.
I have also tested winlicense and I couldn't get that to work with Neo
I think it affects the resources making the executable fault.
Quote from Krakerman on April 10, 2022, 2:12 pm@mark-waples Nice. I noticed this one hasn't been updated in long time. Did you purchase this one recently?
@mark-waples Nice. I noticed this one hasn't been updated in long time. Did you purchase this one recently?
Quote from Mark Waples on April 10, 2022, 7:14 pmQuote from Krakerman on April 10, 2022, 2:12 pm@mark-waples Nice. I noticed this one hasn't been updated in long time. Did you purchase this one recently?
Yes - it is and still works perfectly and is supported
Quote from Krakerman on April 10, 2022, 2:12 pm@mark-waples Nice. I noticed this one hasn't been updated in long time. Did you purchase this one recently?
Yes - it is and still works perfectly and is supported
Quote from CN_Iceman on April 15, 2022, 3:31 pmQuote from Krakerman on April 10, 2022, 4:46 amThere is a plugin called npCust over here:
https://www.decsoftutils.com/neoplugins/
which implements a customizable Partial Serial Number Verification System easy to use in your publications.
It's the one I've been using since 2012.
Quote from Krakerman on April 10, 2022, 4:46 amThere is a plugin called npCust over here:
https://www.decsoftutils.com/neoplugins/
which implements a customizable Partial Serial Number Verification System easy to use in your publications.
It's the one I've been using since 2012.
Quote from rcohen on May 1, 2022, 3:42 amI hear from a birdie that there is a new, online registration system under development. One that permits some cool tricks including being able to both engage and DISengage a license, enabling the production of SaaS (Software as a Service) based titles. Completely automated using PayPal IPN, for hands free operation, and a few other tricks ;-)
Best guess from what I hear is about six to eight weeks to beta ;-0 But not sure, the birdie was in a hurry ;-)
I hear from a birdie that there is a new, online registration system under development. One that permits some cool tricks including being able to both engage and DISengage a license, enabling the production of SaaS (Software as a Service) based titles. Completely automated using PayPal IPN, for hands free operation, and a few other tricks ;-)
Best guess from what I hear is about six to eight weeks to beta ;-0 But not sure, the birdie was in a hurry ;-)