Online Activation in Version 3.47 - Sandboxie

from
http://www.sandboxie.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=8712
"..
Due to rampant piracy of Sandboxie registration keys I have decided to implement a new activation policy.

Starting with version 3.47, Sandboxie is licensed using new Product Keys instead of the old-style Registration Keys. The new Product Keys have to be activated online once every 90 days.
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the idea is to break the keygen cycle among other things

 

Wow it is very bad for me.
I format/restore my pc every 15-20 days.
I bought prevx licence for 3 years but i cant use it.
Because it give me activation error. I am using CTM and other backup/restore utulity. I cant sent message prevx support every system restore, so i dont use it.

I hope sandboxie can handle CTM restore or acronis restore.

 

it might work, from the sound of it, differently implemented than prevx

 

Hrm, and interesting turn of events. I can understand why Tzuk would want to go this route, what with rampant piracy. On the other hand, I can imagine that a large portion of Tzuk's customers are exactly the sort who would stop using Sandboxie over what they perceive to be a privacy violation (real or imagined).

I'm curious, though: Does anyone know if this means that older versions of Sandboxie will now become invalid? I've not upgraded beyond 3.46 since I usually wait for the final stable release, but I'm wondering if I should bump up to the 3.47 beta now to ensure continued uninterrupted Sandboxie functionality.

 

I am not familiar with this --- how does the new method prevent piracy, and the old method not?

 

I don't think the older version will become invalid and once it is updated it will prompt for activation

 

The new method verifies your product key by connecting to the website. Old method only the program itself checked the key, thus allowing the use of key generators to make fake keys.

 

because the key verification will be stored online and not within the app itself therefore easier to block pirated keys without having to update the app. It will not prevent piracy as in cracked app but it will stop keygen approach (it is expected)

 

Gotcha, thanks.

 

Well this is lovely, I'm not going to "check in" with Sandboxie every 90 days to keep proving I paid for the stupid thing. I do that enough just running Windows. Hell, I'm against pirating it to, but come on.

 

What if something unforeseen happens and development stops? Within 90 days everyone who paid gets dumped back to the free version?

 

From what Tzuk said on the Sandboxie forums, it looks like authentication will only invalidate a key at his personal discretion. That is to say, if he sees the same key appearing on a vast number of different machines, he has the ability to manually nullify the key.

I don't think he has any plans to axe functional keys without probably cause to think that they're being used illegitimately.

At least, that is my rudimentary understanding of the situation. I may be wrong, as I often am.

Edit: I will note, however, that from that same forum thread it appears that hardware modifications will require reactivation of Sandboxie regardless of time elapsed since the previous authentication. In this example, a user installed a PCI ethernet card, and was prompted to reauthenticate Sandboxie two days after initial verification.

 

I'm sure there's a plan in place for that, that wouldn't exactly be the best way to leave. But, who knows.

 

privacy violation by a product supposed to help provide privacy, dont know if i would want to use it ...maybe just "time freeze" after that
Why cant he just have it validate once... about piracy : people will always find ways

 

Exactly. It's not exactly a "privacy violation" though, nor is the product meant for privacy. The problem is, I shouldn't have to tell a vendor every 3 months I bought their product. My "privacy" isn't being invaded (people really need to quit throwing that word around for every little thing they disagree with). Doesn't Sandboxie have the ability to detect an already used license key and just deny the install, like almost all other security apps out there? I certainly don't know just how Tzuk has set that up, but surely there is a better way than this every 90 days thing.

I guess I won't be updating Sandboxie anymore and won't let it check for updates. Unless some malware shows up that can break it, I doubt much is going to change in functionality anyway. Or, I can just get rid of it.

 

I respect the fact that Tzuk wants to get paid for his work -- who wouldn't, especially if that is his income. The one time fee reduces his income as opposed to yearly subscrips, so I would imagine every user counts.

I don't like the idea of it in general, just out of principle. I myself am not paranoid about privacy with that product. I don't really like the prospect of changing hardware having an effect, but I can appreciate the reasoning.

I would much prefer a key system that is hard-coded and compiled directly for an HWID of some kind. Not as elegant or flexible, but it guarantees that as long as a specific piece of hardware is in one of my systems, Sandboxie could reside there as well. I don't imagine that will happen, but one can dream...

Sul.

 

My thoughts exactly until I see how it pans out.

Sul.

 

And if that hardware fails? I didn't even comment on the hardware issue, that's even more ridiculous. This idea IS starting to become it's own little version of Windows. Besides, if you tie it to hardware, you start getting complaints of Big Brother, and, actually, they'd have some validity.

 

Sandboxie should not include such option. It will reduce its users, while users will always find workarounds for such activations. According to my knowledge, Norton was the first antivirus, which includes online activation (only method for activation). Now you can find workaround for its activation (which really works). I am not here to promote piracy, but including such options is not a right decision, at least in sandboxie. I will continue using current version.

 

There will always be ways around sure. I don't want Tzuk to not get paid, I mean jeez, I'm sure he gets hungry and life IS better experienced when you have a little dough. He deserves every dollar he gets, I just wish he had chosen an alternate way.

 

Guys,

I am not a Sandboxie user, but I think Tzuk (of Sandboxie) and Ilya (of DefenseWall) are heroic one man band software developers with a passion for quality. Therefore I feel the need to say some words for Tzuk's defense.

Look at SBIE's release calender. It allways had a release (minor update) within 90 days. When Tzuk provides an auto update, which opts in the lisence keys activation automatically, no one will ever have to manually activate.

The 90 day restriction is for prirated version blocking updates.

So solution is easy: SBIE needs an auto update within the program, which renews key activation. Nobody will ever notice the 90 day restriction. So hush to SBIE forum and ask Tzuk for this feature.

Regards Kees

 

I don't know, 95% of my hardware just got old and slow, not failed. HDDs are the only thing of any abundance that I notice failing in public circles. There is a reason why some software uses dongles or keys, because it is very robust. I have coded things that are compiled to run only in the presence of specific HWIDs, it works very well.

I am not saying it is the best idea ever made, but I would certainly prefer something other than online activity if I had a choise. I despise online checks, and I am not exactly sure why, probably because I pay good $$ for the OS, and I am treated like an untrusted criminal by constant checking to see if I paid for it.

There is no winning situation. Developers almost have to do some sort of anti-piracy check to get thier rightful money, and pirates will always be able to circumvent it. This online check of Sandboxie will also be cracked, a patched dll or something. I simply wish there were a way to pay for the software and be done with checks for good, and I wouldn't mind something like an HWID if the policies and implementations were sane.

Sul.

 

Whatever I guess..developers can do as they please,and I can also choose not to use sandboxie software also.

I'll be staying with the version of Sandboxie I have. Not playing the up to datest software game.

 

I don't think this has anything to do with violation of privacy, many software does it, so I find it a great idea. Also tzuk said he we not invalidate any keys as long as they are not used on hundreds of different machines or IP regions.

It's a great step into getting what tzuk deserves, people paying for what is a great product created by 1 single individual.

Contrary to big corporation software, tzuk doesn't spend 99% of his time on marketing ******** but he's refining his work.

Great move tzuk, but we can foresee his forum getting filled we "bugreports" of users having Sandboxie doing stuff is doesn't have to, and people using cracked software deserve nothing more than just that.

 

v3.47.02 now has this built in as default