Copy protecting a CD (off topic)

[macsys]

My company has decided to give out versions of some software. It does not violate licensing with our vendors but I want to make it so that when I burn copy's that when the end user takes them home they can't make copy's. They are just regular CD's. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance, sorry for the off topic but when it comes to decription there is a lot of knowledge here.

[housepig]

I don't think there's any way to do it - if there was, I wouldn't see bootleg Microsoft and Adobe discs on people's desks everywhere.

If someone is capable of burning discs, they are most likely going to be capable of copying your cd-rom.

[thoughton]

If you use an unusual sized CD (like one of those 90 or 100minute ones) you might be able to make it a bit more difficult to copy. You may want to fill up any empty space with junk files too. However anyone with a decent computer knowledge will be able to crack it though.

[MacDSL]

Wait. you want to give out software, but you do not want the recipient of the given software to be able to also give out the software?

No, there is no way to be able to give out software on a CD format, and not have the recipient also be able to give it out. There are ways to slow it down. I.E. require a serial number for installation, make the file hard to find on the CD, require the CD to be in the drive like for games, make the software really, really bad, ect.

But there is no way to completely stop it...

[macsys]

I appreciate everyone's help with this. Yes it kind of blew my mind also. This is a major software vendor you all would know who if I said it. I was shocked that my legal department talked to the the software vendor and said we could give out copy's for our employees, but they must sign a agreement not to distribute, blah, blah, blah. I just wanted to see if I could add alittle security so I didn't see our version on the web somewhere. thanks again everyone.

[decay]

how about using password-protected stuffit archives on a CDR?

dk

[macsys]

How? If you don't want the users to copy it then how would they be able to use the archive without the password?

[WiseWeasel]

The best way to do this is to put the file or executable in a hidden directory (name it with a period at the front) and have a visible alias pointing to it. Then, it's necessary that there be enough space left over to fill a significant portion of the CD with junk files (they can also be in the hidden directory, and should have filenames that come after the files you want to protect). Then, once you've finished burning the CD, make a scratch towards the outer edge of the CD, on the metallic side. This way, they won't be able to duplicate the CD without encountering read errors, and you can hope that the scratch you made fell within one of the junk files (might take a little trial and error). If you do this, most users (~99.9%) won't be able to copy it. That other 0.1% might figure out how to find the hidden files on the CD and copy them manually.

[MacDSL]

Wiseweasal has a good idea. Of course your would have to do that for EACH CD you burned, be sure to rename the actual installer file to something that would not be easily searched for random numbers/characters or something....

[decay]

How? If you don't want the users to copy it then how would they be able to use the archive without the password?

You would provide the password separately. Written on a sleeve, or emailed to them.

Make separate passwords for each client. Keep track of them. If one leaks out, you know who did it.

[g4cube]

This all sounds like a lot of work if people really want it they will find a way around anything you do. Lets face it people copy music, games, apps and even the OS so its not really worth all the hard work.