KeyGens - Part II

Earlier, in an establishment, say a corporate bank, the security was limited to a guard standing out in the post. The robbers used to hit the guard and get off with the loot. Then, a security company was appointed who beefed up the security by engaging a dozen or so people around the bank. Robbers found a way out by performing some aerobics and landing on the roof. Drilling the roof as seen in some of the blockbuster movies or unlocking the doors after by-passing the security cordon.

With such instances, the banking corporations came to a conclusion that manual security was not adequate. Instead, the usage of a high-end security system was the need of the hour. Not only do you have to pass through the basic security cordon you also need to have the key to the lock. It doesn't end there. The Bio-metric security device now wants to verify that you are the person who is supposed to handle the keys. Only after your authentication and authorization is verified, will you be able to enter the vault!

Our great software companies started using similar methods. For the purpose of a case study, let's use Industry leading Image organizing / editing software ACDSee from ACD Systems. First, you need to visit their web site to download a trial copy of ACDSee (I am referring to ACDSee version 7). Once you download and install it, don't be surprised if it asks you for a trial serial code. Yes, this is a new trick they started using it. Even I was surprised the first time I installed it.

To obtain the trial serial code, you need to visit their web-site and register your name and other details. Next, you need to enter that serial code in the initial dialog box. This will unlock the software to be used for a period of 7 days. Once you are satisfied with Software (in 7 days), you need to visit their web site again and provide them with the previous details and make a payment and finally, you'll get the instructions to convert the trial copy to a full featured software.

Getting back to our banking example, with the latest security system used, the bankers may have a ball until they watch "Mission Impossible: 2" or read Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons" where Leonardo Vetra' eye is plucked to get authenticated!

Don't worry, the crackers are not animals to pluck someone's eye to crack a software. In case of ACDSee, they use more of a patch than a KeyGen. We'll get back to "Patch" in near future. Now that you have understood the security constraints set in a Software, let's have a look at what KeyGens have to offer.

For Advanced KeyGens, we need to use a related case study. There are many a software that uses the "Activation" principle to set the security constraint similar to the banking example which we had discussed earlier. Famous companies include Microsoft (Windows XP, Vistas), Symantec (Norton Antivirus, Norton System Works), Adobe ( Photoshop, GoLive!) etc.

Let's take a look at Symantec's Norton System Works 2006 - A System software suite that takes care of your System right from Anti-Virus, Anti-Worm protection to providing simple System Information. Here is how it's security system works. Once you receive the Install CD (or download from Internet) and start installation, it asks for the serial key that you find on the back of the CD Jewel case. You need to enter the 25-digit serial key. The rest of the installation runs normally. It then asks you to reboot your System. Once it is back from reboot, the Norton wizard will start running. It then gives you the option to Activate and register. Activation requires you to contact Symantec either thru the software itself or if it fails connecting the server a few times, it will offer you the alternate ways of contacting like using the web-browser or by calling. Once you call their toll-free number, you need to provide them with the unique System Generated ID and finally they'll give you the Activation code that you need to enter in the Activation dialog box to activate it. Puff.

With an advanced keygen, you don't have to go through all these. Although there are many Keygens available, I am describing one from SSG. It has a very simple interface. Three text boxes and three buttons (Generate, Make and Copy). When "Generate" is pressed, a serial key is generated that you can "Copy" and paste prior to the installation. Post installation and reboot, make sure that the Internet is disconnected and let the Symantec Registration and Activation wizard run. Choose the option to Activate only. The Software makes 5 - 6 in vain attempts to contact the Symantec server. After a series of failure, it provides you with the alternate options. Select th option to register by phone. The activation dialog will then present you with the unique System code. Copy the code in to the Keygen's second field and then click "Make". Viola! the activation code is presented in front of you!