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AnonTechie writes:
"Echoing a question asked on programmers.stackexchange.com - How can software be protected from piracy ?
It just seems a little hard to believe that with all of our technological advances and the billions of dollars spent on engineering the most unbelievable and mind-blowing software, we still have no other means of protecting against piracy than a "serial number/activation key." I'm sure a ton of money, maybe even billions, went into creating Windows 7 or Office and even Snow Leopard, yet I can get it for free in less than 20 minutes. Same for all of Adobe's products, which are probably the easiest. Can there exist a fool-proof and hack-proof method of protecting your software against piracy? If not realistically, could it be theoretically possible? Or no matter what mechanisms these companies deploy, can hackers always find a way around it ?"
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday March 23 2014, @09:34AM
Uhhhmmm, while I tend to agree with your statement, the conversation wasn't directed that way.
No matter how well made a crescent wrench might be, it is a general purpose tool, lacking in precision. It might be "good enough" to turn your nuts and bolts most of the time, but it can't be counted on. A precision built hex wrench or socket will fit the appropriate nuts and bolts exactly, time after time, with no slipping. It only takes one broken knuckle to convince a more intelligent person that precision tools are worth the extra cost. I do own and use slip joint pliers and channel locks, but I never use them on nuts and bolts. Even expensive high dollar crescent wrenches are known to slip when a lot of torque is applied to them. The monkey wrenches I mentioned will take more torque than a crescent, but they will slip too.
ICE is having a Pretti Good season.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Sunday March 23 2014, @06:18PM
This too, tho sometimes a person can't be arsed to go find the correct wrench or socket, and vise-grips do the job well enough. Or the damned socket won't FIT in the spot, but vise-grips do.... a situation I have a lot of experience with thanks to the vagaries of fence clamps and irregular fence panels. :( And then there's the crescent wrench I use mostly as a hammer, because it fits conveniently into narrow spots. We won't even discuss how I use the tire iron. :)
I'd say the software market, DRM and all has much in common with both situations.
What was the question? :)
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday March 24 2014, @04:05AM
LMAO at the crescent wrench hammer - that is just to damned true!! Not to mention that the crescent wrench fits into a hip pocket, but a hammer normally stays in the drawer of my toolbox because it doesn't fit into a pocket.
ICE is having a Pretti Good season.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Monday March 24 2014, @05:03AM
Nonsense. This ball-peen with the busted-off handle (er, without the busted-off handle) that I found in the mud today fits in my pocket just fine!
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.