Released on: March 20, 2008, 10:51 am

Press Release Author: Hanit Piplani

Industry: Internet & Online

Press Release Summary: There are many systems that can lock your software or
document, allowing you to control access to that file. But the problem arises with
assuming that this will stop all theft. A well thought out, thorough protection
system can deter theft, but it cannot stop it 100%.

Press Release Body: There are many systems that can lock your software or document,
allowing you to control access to that file. But the problem arises with assuming
that this will stop all theft. A well thought out, thorough protection system can
deter theft, but it cannot stop it 100%.

An \"unbreakable\" protection system simply does not, and will never exist. If someone
really wants your information, they can get it, even if it takes years of work.

SO WHAT\'S THE POINT? WHY USE ANY PROTECTION AT ALL?

There is no 100% security guarantee in anything, but that\'s no reason to totally
ignore protecting your intellectual property -- A thief can easily kick in your
front door and rob your house, but you still lock the door. Locking the door is not
100% effective security, but we still do it. Why? Because it deters most potential
theft and those who are more determined will have to work a bit to get in.

WHO SHOULD USE PROTECTION?

The big question here is, HOW VALUABLE IS YOUR INFORMATION TO YOU? Sensitive,
proprietary or private information demands some sort of protection, otherwise
transmitting over the net is not an option.

If your information is not free, then it\'s obviously of some importance. So, how
much damage would it do to you if it were made freely available? What type of impact
would it has on your sales and could you (or would you) absorb that without thinking
twice?

Is a $14 Ebook worth paying for another service to protect it? Probably not, but it
depends on the situation and target market. What about a $2,000 report? Does the
price change the perspective?

Businesses protect their property. If you believe your information or software to be
of a unique or proprietary nature, you should protect that information using some
means, no matter how small.

Companies like Microsoft lose hundreds of millions of dollars due to software theft
and fraud, yet they continue to implement protection measures in their software. I
would guess that without any protection whatsoever the losses would be in the
billions.

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT?

Like I said, there is no 100% way to prevent every possible incident, but you can
make it very difficult and less likely to happen. At best what you should hope is to
provide just enough security to close obvious security flaws and discourage would-be
thieves. But not so much security that it discourages honest users and customers.

PROTECTION OPTIONS

Here are some common protection schemes:

No Protection: Just distribute your information and hope for the best.

- Pros: No special process to access files which means less support issues.

- Cons: File can be passed around, copied, distributed and/or sold without
authorization from the owner. Can\'t prevent access after chargeback or refund.

---

General Password Protection: Simply requiring a predetermined password to install or
register the file.

- Pros: Simple for customer or end user.

- Cons: File and password can be passed around, copied, distributed and/or sold
without authorization from the owner. Can\'t prevent access after chargeback or
refund.

---

PC-Unique Password Protection: Generates a unique password based on the user\'s
computer.

- Pros: Can\'t pass around the file since it is basically locked to one machine.

- Cons: Requires an extra step for registration; Customer cannot move file to
another PC; If their PC crashes they will need another unique password; Can\'t
prevent access after chargeback or refund.

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Delayed Registration: This requires a user to enter a second registration number a
specific number of days after they first register the file. For example, after 90
days of use, they must enter a new registration number that they receive from you.

- Pros: It allows control over chargeback and refunds. The file will be disabled
after the second registration period because you will not provide the second key to
reactivate the file.

- Cons: Requires an extra step for registration; A user can request refund or
chargeback AFTER the second registration period.

---

Post-Purchase Activation: Requires activation by online server. After user purchases
they are entered into an online customer database. They then install and register
the file by entering their name/email or some data. The server confirms the purchase
and then activates the software. This method is become more and more common with big
name software.

- Pros: Can prevent unauthorized distribution of file since the file must be
activated by the online server.

- Cons: User must be online to register file; Can\'t move file to a different PC;
Can\'t prevent access after chargeback or refund.

---

Active Password Protection: Each time user attempts to access file it checks an
online server to confirm the usage rights and permissions for the user.

- Pros: Prevents distribution or copying of file; File Owner can revoke access to
file after chargeback or refund; Access permissions can be changed and applied in
real-time.

- Cons: must be connected to the net to register and/or access file; User may not be
able to move file to another PC; User registration can be somewhat cumbersome and
difficult for some customers.

---

EVALUATING PROTECTION SERVICES

When looking to protect your digital information any protection system or service
that you consider should have a few basic security bases covered.

For software and executables:

1. When opening the file, a protection system must not save or copy an unprotected
version of the file to the windows TEMP directory or anywhere on your PC for that
matter.

2. The system should automatically prevent password sharing and access by
unauthorized parties. This will prevent the document from being passed around or
distributed illegally since it can\'t be opened unless you are authorized.

3. It should have some method to revoke or cancel access for refunded or fraudulent
users.

For PDF documents, providing adequate protection requires a bit more security as
there are many more ways to obtain a protection free copy of the document.

Any PDF protection system must cover the three bases above, as well as:

* It must prevent emailing of file and exporting or extracting pages from file.

* It must prevent copying file and text to the clipboard

* It must prevent redistilling of the file and printing to PDF

* It must prevent unlimited, uncontrolled printing of file

* It must watermark all printed pages

* If using Adobe Reader, the company providing the protection service must be an
authorized Adobe DRM provider.

WHAT ABOUT COST? IS IT WORTH IT?

Is $300 a year too much to protect your copyrights? Definitely not. Protection costs
money, but if your business is making money then it\'s a cost of doing business.

Is it for you? I don\'t know. Selling a few low priced applications a month probably
won\'t warrant any sort of protection, but if you generate a substantial income from
your software or the information distributed is of a critical nature to your
business, then you need to protect your intellectual \"capital\" at some level.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Personally, I believe that some level of protection should be implemented on any
piece of software or document that is of any value to you. You should never mass
distribute a file in an unprotected format. Otherwise you will be scrambling when
you find someone misusing it... if you find them!

It\'s easy to listen to those that say \"don\'t worry about it\" (a common reply to the
document protection topic) until someone is actually stealing from you. Then all you
can do is worry about it, but it\'s too late really. The damage is done. You can\'t
take something back once it\'s out there unprotected. No amount of legal threatening
is going to phase someone in Prague who just doesn\'t care about your copyrights.


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