CODEWITHSUNDEEP
encodingdrm
kim
kim

Reputation: 11

How to restrict a software for only 1 time use?

I need a solution of this question " How can I restrict a software for only 1 time use " Means binding a software to only 1 Pc for only 1 use ...

Hoping to get some ideal answers .. Please help me.

Thanks

Upvotes: 0

Views: 714

Answers (7)

tangens
tangens

Reputation: 39733

Set up a server and let the user enter a onetime password when he starts your software. Then check the onetime password inside the server and abort your client, if the onetime password was already used.

And as addon: transfer some important functionality to the server, so even a cracked client can't do without the server.

Upvotes: 2

gbn
gbn

Reputation: 432261

Any software solution will fail or be circumvented.

If it's very important, then a single use dongle would be best but the software would still be cracked to allow it to work

So, supply the software with a sealed mini PC that self destructs...?

Upvotes: 2

Alexander Gessler
Alexander Gessler

Reputation: 46607

Make it a web application. Send one-time keys to access it to your customers (using 'normal' mail). Hire lawyers to sue everybody who sells these keys on ebay. Make sure the keys are truly random and unpredictable and large enough (lets say 1000 digits) that a decent brute-force cracker has no chance of ever finding a match.

Upvotes: 0

tkalve
tkalve

Reputation: 3186

Are you trying to make sure the software is only installed ONCE, but can be used by the user who installed the software as much as the user likes?

.. or do you want to make sure the software cannot be run more than ONE time?..

Upvotes: 1

Noon Silk
Noon Silk

Reputation: 55082

Well, it's pretty trivial (depending on the language).

If it's Java, you can just delete the class file, and they won't be able to re-run it (because it deleted itself).

In other languages, you can adopt similar approaches.

Of course, it's not ideal, not impossible to divert, and generally fairly ridiculous, but it's a "solution".

Upvotes: 0

Matthew Flaschen
Matthew Flaschen

Reputation: 284796

You can't. It won't work. Even if you want it to.

Upvotes: 2

user151323
user151323

Reputation:

I know it's not the answer you're waiting for but you can't do it.

The best you can make it call home at each start. You will record the machine signature and only allow one start for that machine.

However:

If your application is very good, it will be cracked sooner or later

If your application is nothing special, nobody will bother.

Upvotes: 6

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