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A comment on Ask HN: We found a cracked version of our software on the web, now what?. Parent comment

Re:Ask HN: We found a cracked version of our software on the... by einr on Friday January 13, 2023 @10:13AM (#34368815)
I would suggest (perhaps as a "fun" way of dealing with it) looking into The Legend of Spyro style copy-protection. This is where, rather than just depending on the small activation component, there are small checks throughout your code that cause little inexplicable annoyances constantly if a pirated copy is found. Maybe people try to print things and 1/3 of the page is blank. Maybe they try to save files and there's a 1-in-100 chance of total corruption. Checks like these, when widely distributed through the code, obfuscated, and having different things they look for, can sometimes be a major PITA to fully detect and remove. If a pirate feels that getting an initial cracked copy is easy, but getting all the bugs out is miserable...

This sounds like a great way to make sure prospective customers think your software is buggy and awful and dissuade them from ever spending money on it.

Don't underestimate how often cracked software serves as educational tool or trial version for someone who will later be a professional with money who will buy legit licenses.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: We found a cracked version of our software on the... by grujicd on Friday January 13, 2023 @10:33AM (#34369145)
It's risky that some of "intentional bugs for pirates" end up working for paying users as well. Every software has bugs, is it really a good idea to create extra ones, some of which might slip by?

At least this creates extra code paths and requires extra testing.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: We found a cracked version of our software on the... by gjsman-1000 on Friday January 13, 2023 @10:15AM (#34368844)
I'd also suggest (sorry for forgetting) also having a student license program that is cheap or free upon proof of academic use, and other more-lenient ways of getting a legitimate copy if you are in such circumstances.
[ Parent | on HN ]