Do you always
have to be connected to the internet for ByteShield™ to
work?
No. The only time
internet is needed is for the initial
activation.
The publisher can set the
server to require only one connection, or multiple connections,
depending on the level of security
desired.
Remote users, such as
field technicians, can work with no problem. For high-security
requirements, ByteShield™ can even be loaded onto a memory
stick.
We don't want our
customers to go through an invasive or lengthy registration
process. How does ByteShield™ activation work?
We've made activation to
be as fast as possible. The activation process is intended to
be as invisible to the user as possible.
No personal data of any
sort is needed - just a user name and an access code (supplied by
the manufacturer). There is no "survey" of information, no
lengthy questions to answer. This is not a "product
registration" process - it is simply a server
synchronization.
What happens to remote or
field users when they can't connect to the internet?
Remote users can
work indefinitely without internet connectivity, depending on how
the system has been configured by the
publisher.
If only a single
activation is required by the publisher, then remote users only need
to connect for the first launch of the application.
If higher
protection is desired, remote users can be configured for a certain
number of offline runs before another internet connection is
needed.
Can ByteShield™ handle a
limited time trial of a product?
Yes, this is a
simple configuration parameter to set. Not only can you
control for a time period (like 30 days), you can specify a specific
start time and date, as well as and end time and date, or a
combination of these parameters. This is especially useful for
pre-release products that need to be tightly controlled prior to
commercial release.
Our users work with
floating licenses. How does ByteShield™ handle
that?
The ByteShield™ Verification Server keeps track of both
named users and total users. Floating licenses are no problem
- simply configure for the total number of licensed users.
This can even be done for licenses across multiple offices in
multiple locations.
We like our users to be
able to install our application on at least two different
machines. How does ByteShield™ handle that?
Many publishers will
allow their customers to install an application on more than one
machine. This is typical, and is often seen where a user has
an office machine, a home machine, and maybe a laptop as
well.
Since
the ByteShield™ system actually controls number of users, not number
of installations, end users are not constrained from installing on
multiple machines. The publisher can choose how many of those
installations can be activated, thereby effectively limiting the
number of machines. That means an end user is able to install
the application wherever needed. Each instance must be
activated, and when that occurs, the system will validate how many
active instances are allowed. Activation permissions can be
given to new machines as needed.
Can an end user trick the
use of a trial copy by setting back their system clock or changing
the Registry key that contains the time stamp?
No, because all parameters are
stored on the ByteShield™ Verification Server. There are no license files
or date files to hack. Setting back the clock or changing
registry settings for time stamps - none of these tactics will
work. Trial periods and term licenses are safe from
tampering.
Can't an end user just
make a copy of the application once it is activated and running on
the local computer?
No, even after
the PC application or PC game is "completed" by the ByteShield™ activation, there are
additional protective measures that prevent copying or
cloning.
If the end user computer
fails, how does the end user recover the
application?
It is simple to
recover from a failure - just re-install from the physical media or
do another download. The ByteShield™ Verification Server maintains all the user
information.
If the end user computer
fails, is the end user's data encrypted and
unrecoverable?
No - ByteShield™ does not affect application
data in any way. No data will be in an encrypted form or
wrapped in any way.
What happens if the publisher or ByteShield™ goes out of business?
The ByteShield™ server could be set-up to push out a patch to either remove ByteShield™ only or replace it with some other protection.
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