ShareGuard Copy Protection

Reviewed by William Bradshaw

ShareGuard: For Shareware developers who want to protect their software. Consists of 4 components: (1) ShareGuard Lock (2) ShareGuard Key (3) ShareGuard Locksmith (4) CRC Check. (1)

ShareGuard Lock is the program that protects your software from reverse engineering and from being used longer than the specified demonstration period. This is called by your software and is displayed to the user to notify them of the current demo status (e.g. 10 days left). It will also display a splash screen if desired. You create a JPG or BMP and it will display your logo/favourite picture WITHOUT ANY CODING.

(2) Key Program that YOU sell to your customers (optional method) - Allows your users to register the software using one of your valid certificate numbers. The ShareGuard Key program that users will buy from you will prevent the ShareGuard Lock program from displaying the demo status form. Typically a user will have to enter a certificate number that you will provide for them. After the certificate is validated the software is unlocked.

(3) Locksmith Program allows YOU use to build your lock(s) and key(s). Many different options to allow customization of your methodology. You can build AND TEST (with your application even), a working lock and key within SECONDS without reading the manual. ShareGuard Locksmith generates message notifying you of possible problems, generates test code and code (C++, Delphi, Visual FoxPro, Visual Basic, VB.NET and more to come...) for you to cut and paste into your program.

(4) CRC File Checker is a DLL which performs a Cyclic Redundancy Check on files to ensure that they have not been tampered with. You will load the DLL and then check to ensure that the Lock program has not been modified.When the Lock program is called it will automatically check your software to ensure that it has not been modified. Protects from reverse engineering. ShareGuard works with ANY programming language.