Systems and methods for auditing software usage using a covert key

摘要

System and method for auditing for usage of licensed software in which a client executing the software generates and transmits a license key and a covert key to a server via network connection. The license key is transmitted to the server upon activation of the licensed software at the client. The covert key is generated based on at least a portion of the software code activated at the client and is transmitted to the server at random or at predetermined time intervals after transmission of the licensed key so as to avoid detection by a user. The license and covert keys are each associated with a device fingerprint that uniquely identifies the device transmitting each one of the respective keys. Unauthorized software usage at a client is determined at least when a covert key does not correspond to a device fingerprint having an associated license key.

主权项

1. A system for auditing usage of software comprising:
a network interface disposed to receive a device fingerprint associated with a covert key, the covert key derived based on a portion of the software that was unlocked by a license key; a memory holding program instructions operable for accessing a database storing a plurality of previously received device fingerprints associated with license keys and determining whether the device fingerprint associated with the covert key corresponds to any one of the plurality of previously received device fingerprints associated with license keys; and a processor, in communication with the network interface and the memory, the processor configured for operating the program instructions.