Thread: Unique machine ID

  1. #1
    Malum in se abachler's Avatar
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    Unique machine ID

    is there a way to retrieve a unique machine ID. I want to protect a piece of software so that it can only execute on a particular machine.

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    Hurry Slowly vart's Avatar
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    MAC-address of the Network card is one of the widly used identifiers...
    All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection,
    except for the problem of too many layers of indirection.
    – David J. Wheeler

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    Officially An Architect brewbuck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by abachler View Post
    is there a way to retrieve a unique machine ID. I want to protect a piece of software so that it can only execute on a particular machine.
    As long as you realize that a determined person can circumvent it... Some combination of hostname, MAC address, other system stats. You could get the machine GUID directly from Windows, but again, this can be faked. Just type GUID into an MSDN search.

    Also, you are creating a pain in the ass for your user, because they can no longer change their hostname, or install a new network card, without changing their identifier. Are you sure you want to take the support calls when that happens?

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    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    > I want to protect a piece of software so that it can only execute on a particular machine.
    And lose customers whenever they upgrade the bit you're dependent on?

    Unless you pull an ID from several different sources, and tolerate a certain amount of change from the baseline.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

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