Encryption?

[mrdark7734]

Does anyone know of a way to encrypt sections of script in a game?

[BeyondtheTech]

If you're talking about people being able to view the exported code, it all gets encrypted.

I use the RPN registration method that Makslane thankfully put together for us and the strings are not visible from a hex editor.

[mrdark7734]

Well I only ask this because the day I released my new game, apparently a crack group was able to crack the rpn string in my game, and I'm using the registration method your talking of.

So I guess the next question would be, does anyone have any idea's as to how a crack group would be able to crack our rnp keys that are emmbeded in the games?

P.S. your new game Battlestar looks fantastic.

[BeyondtheTech]

I am sorry to hear that. Which is your game? Are you sure it's a keygen or did someone post their username and registration code?

I have requested with Makslane pull from the registry, or I am thinking of trying to create a web-based activation sequence.

[mrdark7734]

I'd rather not say which game it was at the moment.

I don't know if they used a keygen or not but the info I found on it showed they were able to create there own registration info, and it was not from anyone who purchased the game. They made a crack team specific registration name and rpn number.

This just makes me a little worried about myself and others including you, BeyondtheTech, who are going to be releasing more games with this method. Because it appears to not even slow the crack teams down. I mean the day my game was released they cracked it.

We are all going to need to figure out some way to strengthen our games security one way or another. Otherwise say goodbye to the potential income you may be expecting from your games.

Now I've done a fare bit of cracking in my time, (for personal use, and it was a while ago) but if they were able to read the contents of the ppc's active memory while the game was running and locate the different variables in it. Then it would be very easy to find the rpn string, as it is a global string variable, held in memory, while the game is running. I personally haven't been able to test this theory because I haven't been able to find a tool that would let me do it. But this sort of method has been used on windows machines in the past to find such information for cracking purposes.

Anybody have any thoughts on any of this?

[mrdark7734]

Ok, for the past few days I've been busy contacting some old acquaintances and basically getting the skinny on how a lot of the crack groups out there for pda's do their thing. And what I've found out is actually pretty funny.

A lot of groups are using tools provided by M$ to simulate and then automate taps on a screen. Now I won't go into details about it, but you can use your imaginations.

Anyway, to help stop or at least slow down this process I've modified the rpn module that has been provided on this forum by Makslane and Beyondthetech. What the modification does is create a grid of 42 squares. Then it randomly picks one to be colored red. The customer is then asked to tap the red square to continue with the registration process. If they pick any other square but red the program exits. I've also changed the registration process so that if the wrong reg name and number is entered it will exit as well.

So because of the random nature of the block test an automated tool will find it incredibly difficult to get to the registration panel, and if it does it will cause the game to exit every time the incorrect info is entered.

It's a simple deterrent that should help. I'm not saying it's fool proof but it should make the crackers work a lot harder to get it done.

You can get the modified module below.

RPN_Registration_Module_1.8.zip

[BeyondtheTech]

You should make it a couple of different colors or even icons, too, since they could be looking for a particular color to hit.

Interesting concept, these crackers. You have to admire their persistence - if only they put it to constructive use.

[mrdark7734]

Well as far as I know the tools aren't sophisticated enough to find a specific color on the screen. All they can do is what they're scripted to do, and those are some pretty basic things. This should work well enough the way it is, but yes it may be better if each person who uses this, customizes the way it looks for their own personal use. Colors, icons, images, size, location on screen of the boxes, whatever it takes.

This is a great community and I would hate to see more of it's members affected by this. So this modification is free for anyone to use, and modify as needed. Any other ideas are welcome as well.

[CdaMarinersFan]

Man, these crackers are making me sick. I just hate it when someone would want to infringe your rights on a game .