Using VBA to add an activation code to an application

[neelsfer]

I need to add an activation code to an application when it is opened for the first time by a client.

Many moons ago i used a Keygen program.
On opening the VBA app it created a code that i fed into the keygen program, a keygen code was then created and this was given to the client to activate my application.

I would be great full if somebody has an idea to protect my application.


Any suggestions or examples that i should look at?

[zmbd]

neelsfer:
As access is insecure by design, it would be very difficult to do something like this internally.
You should take a read thru the Microsoft Access / VBA Insights Sitemap Look for the AES, SHA2, and RC4 articles. These may provide some methods for encrypting something vital to the application - say a query, store the encrypted query sql within a table... have serial number in the table and so forth.
A little bit outside of what I normally do.
Hopefully, you'll get a few more hits on this thread.

[neelsfer]

zmbd can one use VBA to Save a date or a unique code in the Registry, and somehow link an activation code to it when installing the first time?

[zmbd]

Yes there are some general registry commands available within the VBA that you can use... I am however, on my way out the door, I'll see if I can find them for you... seems to me it was "SaveSettin gs" you might open the VBAE and in a sub enter that keyword, select, F1 it.

[zmbd]

here you go: Use the GetSetting and SaveSetting Functions to Read and Write Registry Settings


There are also various methods using API calls, once such uses the WMI... neither of which am I very knowledgable about; however, there is an insight article about the WMI in the same place as the others I refered you to.