Talk:Keygen
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How to make a keygen? And what software to make a keygen?
- You need to be a computer programmer. You need to know some computer programming language, such as the C programming language.
- How exactly is the algorithm figured out?
- Disassembly. - Ðra
I added some information about typical key generation algorithms and how they are reverse-engineered. Shadow1
What about keygen music?
- There is a cool website dedicated to keygen/trainer music. http://www.keygenmusic.net/ Music should definitely be mentioned in the article. Kurt 05:39, 6 August 2006 (UTC)
Contents |
[edit] Legality of keygens
"Although the code is not being copied and redistributed, giving away the key is the functional equivalent."
This is a rationalization, a keygen program does not contain keys. While it's reasonable that a keygen program is illegal this is not the reason. I think it's to do with "no non-infringing useds" but clarification is needed. 86.16.135.53 07:36, 15 October 2006 (UTC)
- Also of interest is at what point does a keygen become illegal, perhaps this could be explained in the article?
- For example, is downloading the keygen illegal (no?), what about generating a key? Is it the use and intent that makes it illegal? What if I download a keygen, generate a key, and pass it along to my friend without using it myself? OpEd 03:23, 14 April 2007 (UTC)
- IANAL, but as far as I know, there are only laws against the generation and distribution of keys. However, I am unaware of any law that forbids the creation of a keygen. Perhaps it would fall under the same jurisdiction as a programmer for a P2P program being guilty of aiding copyright infringement. But a lawyer (or someone very well educated in law) will want to check up on all of that. Hell, it's probably all up for interpretation. Noddegamra 07:05, 18 June 2007 (UTC)
- At the very least, some algorithms may use look up tables that may be copyrighted.--213.66.131.204 19:17, 23 April 2007 (UTC)
Decompiling or reverse engineering a program is a copyright infringment. This would be the first illegal part, assuming the user has accepted the EULA. On the otherhand, if the keygen is somehow built referencing the source install files (ie; the cracker never actually accepts the EULA), then it's possibly a different story. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 61.9.212.224 (talk) 01:16, 7 December 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Origins and cultural impact
Keygens are arguably part of the Demoscene as those programming them are often found associated with the Demoscene or what is left of it. Since these days the majority of people using such "products" don't bother reading .nfo-Files containing ASCII Art or aren't really interested in watching crack intro Keygens these days are often "decorated" in a nice way. That often includes nicely done artistic background images as well as mostly oldschool Tracker music. Due to recent internet-activation-systems it is very likely that this form of art is going to die out soon.
This is from a previous version of the page, I know it was removed but the current phrase is out of place, could this be reworded and elaborated on to fix the section? cyclosarin 06:05, 6 May 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Second half of the article...
... is rather poorly formatted and written and seems a complete departure from the first half. Looks like someone just went off and brainspewed. 61.149.231.77 05:12, 18 June 2007 (UTC)
- I agree, especially with the section "Problems with Keygens." If I have time tomorrow I will try to fix it up. If not, then I hope someone else does. Noddegamra 07:01, 18 June 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Public Encryption
Why don't companies use public key encryption to generate software keys? Even if the algorithm used to validate cd-keys is know, it is impossible to generate new cd-keys without knowledge of the private key.66.156.90.250 21:15, 6 July 2007 (UTC)
- I'm not sure, but I'm guessing it's probably too much effort for something that would just get circumvented. Sometimes when generating serials doesn't work, the appication is "patched" (i.e. cracked) or used through a loader, which makes a valid key unnecessary. Cctoide 16:11, 30 September 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Elgamal.jpg
Image:Elgamal.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.
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BetacommandBot (talk) 21:16, 13 February 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Problems with KeyGen
I removed a problematic quote from IDC. IDC claimed an unjustifiably high ( >50% ) infestation of viruses in KeyGen software available online. This is grossly exaggerated. The "report" linked-to was on Microsoft's website; IDC is not widely known in the IT industry, and certainly not well know to the general public, but is essentially a "hired gun" that will produce a pseudo-researched report for anyone, on any IT theme, with any desired result if the price is right. These guys are essentially as unreliable as researchers as the "scientists" employed by the tobacco industry to prove that smoking's not harmful.
IDC's report is simply untrue. Quoting it without rebuttal would be a disservice to the readers, and lend unjustified credence to IDC's report and reputation. Sethnessatwikipedia (talk) 07:26, 5 June 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Most KeyGens designed to be spyware?
I've heard that alot from my friends and other good people, but i have no reliable reference for it. Pavel T (talk) 22:38, 10 June 2008 (UTC)
