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VB.net Security Key

Hi

A few months ago I looked at the following security key generator provided by Eric Moreau

http://www.emoreau.com/Entries/Articles/2007/12/Licensing-a-VBNet-application.aspx

I still don't understand the fundamentals. Could anyone please explain briefly how
this works and what stops multiple people using the same key to install the app on multiple machines?

I don't understand how the following process works "This method is using the registry (the CurrentUser section) to store encrypted information to keep track of everything. Symmetric encryption is used (a single key used to encrypt and decrypt). This demo is using a textbox (titled Pass Phrase) for you to try different combination. "

Steven Harris

I still don't understand the fundamentals. Could anyone please explain briefly how
this works and what stops multiple people using the same key to install the app on multiple machines?

The key that is generated is specific to the machine. As a quick and dirty example (not specific to the code, but as an example only):

I have a computer that is named "TOS4567890" <-- string value specific to my PC
You are using a passphrase of "HelloWorld!" <-- string value only known to you
The generated key is "HTeOlSl4o5W6o7r8l9d0!" <-- the above two interact to make this (can you see how I combined the two?)

Think of this as the Username/Password combination. You have to know both in order to gain access.

Murray Brown

ASKER

Thanks. The part that confuses me is that I generate the key on my machine using the middle two boxes. Then I send them the username and password. Am I doing it incorrectly?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Steven Harris

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Ark