Why isn't software made impossible to copy ?

JBL47 · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 25, 2006 Posts: 49

Sorry if this is the wrong page to ask this...

If the GPS companies don't want their maps copied and resold then why don't they make it impossible for them to be copied in the first place ? Original buyer purchases and installs new maps on device and then original software locks (Mission Impossible style self destruct !). Surely a lock could also be installed in the workings of the actual GPS unit so maps couldn't be copied from it.
Or am I missing something here ????
It just seems so simple.

Cheers

4jbl7

Darren · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:36 pm Post subject:

It may simple but it's not. If it were then the issue wouldn't exist!

You can take some steps but ultimately there is a limit and there will always be someone ready to crack any protection.
_________________
Darren Griffin

Frabble · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 09, 2007 Posts: 51

PaulB2005 · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject:

In the case of Garmin maps, the code that comes with the DVD is locked to the first Sat Nav it's used with and not the PC.

Frabble · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 09, 2007 Posts: 51

Yes, I know Garmin uses unlock codes tied to a unit so that maps can be viewed. The question was for the OP should the software be locked.

JBL47 · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 25, 2006 Posts: 49

PaulB2005 · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject:

In order to do this each map would have to be uniquely encoded at purchase. With downloads this may be possible but with DVD it would be prohibitively slow and expensive.

Secondly it's still wouldn't take long for someone to work out where the unique code is and what it is. Then using a number of serial numbers and their respective unlock key the algorithm for generating the codes could be worked out and a KeyGen (Key Generator) could be made to create new keys for units just by typing in the serial number of the unit. The unlock key could then be put into someone else's map and used for free on another unit.

Similar practises already happen now.

The problem is there is a trade off between the amount of money lost through piracy and the amount of money you spend on locking the maps down to counter piracy.

aj2052 · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:31 pm Post subject:

You also have to bear in mind customer reluctance to buy keyed software, and i dont mean for piracy sake, the area I used to find a problem is PLC programming software which used to transfer a key to the PC I had a laptop stolen and PCs go down and thus unable to retrieve the key back to the install disk and although still had original disks the software was rendered useless and therefore having to repurchase at considerable cost, the annoying part being that the software was specific to each manufacture and couldnt be used with others, the other point being that it has to be on writable material and thus copyable.
_________________
Moto G5s Plus, Sygic 17.4.8

TranceraUK · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject: cracked

Any software that can be protected/locked can be reversed in the right hands.

Carl

robertn · Frequent Visitor Joined: Feb 06, 2005 Posts: 564

If you want to understand this issue in more detail, I highly recommend the books by Bruce Schneier, 'Secrets and Lies', and 'Beyond Fear'.

	PocketGPS
	Web