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Cracking, theft, illegal use and distribution of information and software have increased recently. Amazingly IT security market has not escaped this lot either.
More and more companies make products that provide performance security and effective operation of companies of any size. These products include network protection, antivirus, anti-spam, firewalls, proactive security systems, mobile platform security systems, etc. It is obvious that producers of these applications themselves need to protect their software against evading security systems by hackers and against the possibility to reproduce the logic of such application operation.
Taking this into account, StarForce has developed and is successfully introducing its technologies for security application protection. StarForce also offers professional consulting and investigation services for estimating the resistance of your products to cracking, reverse engineering, unauthorized use, etc.
StarForce technologies provide protection for your software in the following cases:
- Parsing, analysis and further reconstruction of a program operation algorithm (reverse engineering)
Use of reverse engineering contravenes the law of copyright and patent legislation, which does not prevent employing it for selfish ends. Violators parse and analyze the source code of your product with the purpose of its further modification, copying, illegal use and distribution. The most important thing is that such actions cause damage not only to you, but also to your clients.
- Threat of unauthorized access to application and data via network (local network and/or Internet).
During analysis and cracking, the weakest points and vulnerabilities in programs are investigated, and the obtained data can be used later to get unauthorized access to a network, remote computer and confidential information.
- Intentional change of the parameters being checked (creation of a program Loader) with the purpose of cracking the product and blocking its effective operation.
- Generation of false keys, passwords, etc.
The developers of the programs that require use of some electronic keys, passwords or other means of user authentication/authorization often encounter the problem of faking these data. Faking is based on the analysis of the application operation algorithm. Thus a violator, who can fake these data, can launch the unlicensed program version.
- Theft of some private information on internal program structure: on the protocol of network exchange with a server, device or another program.
- Providing security on all levels and stages of the product development and sale
The number of cases when the most popular software products are cracked PRIOR to their official release has increased recently. Even beta and demo versions of your product pose a potential threat to official/complete release of your product.
- A threat to your company’s image
Illegal versions of the software products spoil the image of your company and your software, since it is impossible to download patches and updates aimed at improving programs and correcting errors. The clients may have problems in launching a program, and unfortunately an end user without gaining an understanding of the situation usually blames a developer since the program cannot perform its functions.
- Stealing your intellectual property.
Stealing is possible not only on a technical level, but also on a juridical level.
If you do not hold a patent for your software, a violator, who possesses an unprotected application and has analyzed its operational logic, can create a software product based on your application and patent it later.
You in turn lose all rights for your development (/intellectual property).
- A threat of causing damage to your clients, because your product fails to perform its main functions.
If at least one of these threats concerns you, by starting to use StarForce protection technologies you can forget about it!
StarForce protection technologies
The technologies are intended to protect the application executable code against reverse engineering and cracking. The technologies protect the code areas, which are of the intellectual value and are crucial to be protected from the business point of view. They provide reliable protection eliminating any possible ways to analyze the application operation logic.
The basis of this protection method is the obfuscation and compilation (a transformation of the executable code into the instructions of StarForce virtual machine) that allow complicating the process of investigating and modifying the program code by illegal users.
During the protection of data files their contents are encrypted, while the protected files are moved to a protected container. The feature of a protected container is that it can be addressed from the protected application only.
Features and advantages of StarForce technologies
- Reliable algorithm and data protection against reverse engineering and cracking.
- Different ways to integrate and employ the StarForce technologies are possible:
a. With source code transfer/sale;
b. On the basis of standard or customized libraries.
- Possibility to develop customized solutions for various platforms (Windows, Windows Mobile, Linux, etc.).
- Possibility to protect an application source code or executable file or both simultaneously.
- Source code protection (obfuscation, virtual machine embedding) for C/C++ applications.
- Executable file protection for Win 32/64, Java, Linux applications.
- Adjustable protection level.
- Simple scheme of integrating the protection into an application.
- Possibility to reinforce protection using other technologies such as protection with disc binding, with binding to computer, server, etc.
- Possibility to implement protection with external binding. This binding can use internal verification (of some client-defined function) of the application as an additional authentication. This brings the flexibility of the protection settings, integration with existing licensing systems and additional protection against distribution.
- No additional hardware and toolkit (for example, hardware keys) are required for protection, and for working with the protected application as well.
- 24/7 technical support by StarForce.
- Possibility to have an application protected by StarForce support engineers.
Terms of StarForce technologies sale
Various terms of the StarForce technology sale and licensing are possible, according to your business needs and the plans for their subsequent use.
Main factors affecting the cost are as follows:
- Presence and amount of redesign performed by StarForce to meet your needs.
- Transfer of development with or without source code.
- A set of licensable functions.
- Number of platforms supported by your product.
- Presence or absence of the subsequent code support.
- Training and/or consulting your company’s employees.
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