IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SOFTWARE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

摘要

A method and a system of preventing unauthorised installation or running of a program in a computer is described. The method includes reading (21) an identifier code associated with the computer which is preferably the hard disk serial number (7) and an identifier code associated with the program. This number (7) is sent (23, 34) to a third party (e.g. the software manufacturer) where they are combined and encrypted (25, 35) using a private encryption key (17). The encrypted data relating to the combined identifier codes is received at the computer and is decrypted (27) using a stored public decryption key (5). Installation of the program is prevented (31) if the computer identifier code (7) is not equivalent to or derivable from the decrypted data.