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copy-protectionpiracy-preventionpiracy

Prevent time-based copy protection circumvention?


I have some trial software that I wish to distribute to clients. I want the trial based software to stop working 30 days after installed.

A simple check of the system date in the software is the most straightforward way to achieve this, but couldn't a client easily circumvent this protection by changing his system time/date in Windows?

Is there a better way to accomplish what I want?


Solution

  • Best bet is to not warn them, and after 30 days (be sure to check both ways, otherwise they can set the clock to in the future, install your app, and reset the clock to today) it stops working, also lock the app once the trail period has expired, so even if they then reset the clock, it should still be locked