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History StarForce 4.xx
StarForce protection system version 4.70.0010.000
Improvements:
* New protection against disc emulation and copying (RMPS emulation), which blocks all known methods of such bypass of the protection system. This includes protection against the latest versions of Alcohol 120% and Daemon Tools.
Also this improvement is going to be included in the version 5.0 in the nearest days.
Fixes:
* False detection of disc emulators under Windows Vista (but not on all computers with such operating system).
28.06.2007
StarForce 5.0
Common improvements
· Protection against the method of cracking based on virtual machine substitution. This method was applicable for the disc protection and it did not depend on the quantity and size of the protected functions of the executable files. The current 4.7 version includes this protection as well.
· Protection drivers have gained CERTIFIED FOR WINDOWS VISTA logo.
· New module of executable files protection (currently it is not enabled by default and should be enabled optionally for protection projects). The advantages of the new files protection is an increased persistency to cracking and a free selection of exported functions for protection due to discarding most of the restrictions.
· New protection GUI. Only one style of windows is supported in the version 5.0 the standard Windows style. The only two things can be customized in such GUI: the window icon and a picture on the window (for instance, a company logo or a product poster), which is absent by default.
· Activation via SMS a new way of manual activation by using a mobile phone.
· A capability of direct protection of PDF, DOC and RTF files. The protected files can be viewed only by using a special application (a viewer), which is distributed along with the protection components. Currently such files can be protected with binding to computer only (similarly to FL ProActive).
· A capability of video files protection except for DVD Video format. The protected files can be played only by using a special application (a player), which is provided along with the protection project. The video files protection can be implemented by using any of StarForce FrontLine products with Pro protection level and by using other versions of protection (not only 5.0).
· The project and workspaces management tool is back in the Protection Studio.
· Significant improvements of the trial mode in terms of protection, compatibility and usability.
· PDB files are now supported for protection.
· When running the protect.exe file without additional parameters, a window appears now, which allows selecting and performing an operation needed (drivers installation/uninstallation, activation/deactivation, etc.).
Improvements of ProActive
· Now it is possible to create protection projects on the website. So if you usually have to protect many projects each month, now you can create protection projects for them yourself. Contact sales department to learn more about this possibility.
· The speed of reports generation has been significantly increased.
· The process of activation has become much user-friendly.
· A new format of Serial Numbers with digital signature. The length of such Serial Numbers is 26 characters. Moreover, it is possible to generate Serial Numbers of different formats for one protection project. It is more convenient for end users to use such Serial Numbers, as the number format and its relation to the protected application are determined without connection to the server during activation.
· A new service is added on the website for end users to view information on Serial Number parameters and statistics on its activations.
· Automatic redirection between ProActive websites 1.0 and 2.0 during manual activation. So the end users can go to any of the sites to get the activation key, regardless the protection version of their application.
· A new type of the report the report on activations for a period of time with details on batches of Serial Numbers.
22.05.2007
StarForce protection system version 4.70.007.001
Fixes:
* An error fixed: false emulator detection on computers with Intel® 965 chipset and with RAID controller installed.
* An error fixed: applications protected with disc binding did not run when logging on to computer without Administrator rights (using Guest account in particular).
* An error fixed: images of double-layer DVD discs were protected incorrectly. The maximum acceptable size of the disc was 6 GB. This led to an error when checking a double-layer disc, burnt by using a protected image with a greater size.
26.03.2007
StarForce protection system version 4.70.006.004
Whats new?
* Protection against protected files emulation, which has been working by means of process state substitution. This method of cracking was applicable to disc protection only and it didnt depend on the quantity of protected exported functions.
Fixes:
* An error fixed: protection of files containing overlays (extra data section in the end of the file) worked incorrectly. Now the option of overlay placement is located in another place in Protection Studio: Advanced section of the Project editor -> Tab with the filename -> File -> File protection -> Overlay position.
* An error of file system has been fixed: the function CreateDirectory was handled improperly.
24.01.2007
StarForce protection system version 4.70.005.006
Whats new?
* New complete protection against emulation and copying (RMPS emulation) performed by using the latest versions of Alcohol 120%, Daemon Tools and any other disc emulating software.
Fixes:
* When using DVD Keyless technology, the protection system couldnt read the key from the disc if the field following by the key in the disc system area wasnt empty (for instance, when creating disc images by using UltraISO, this field is always not empty). This error has been also fixed in the latest update of the version 4.5.
* Rare conflict of the protection driver sfsync with its older versions. This has been also fixed in the latest update of 4.5; and the fix was included into the drivers updater tool SFDRVUP, which is always available on StarForce website.
12.01.2007
StarForce protection system version 4.7
List of improvements:
* New unique technology of backup copy creation for products FrontLine Disc. If besides a licensed disc the consumer obtains a Serial Number, he can create and activate a backup copy of the licensed disc. It is especially recommended to use this technology when protecting PC games.
* New product FrontLine Universal: distributor-independent version. A single set of protected files different ways of further distribution (as on discs as well as via Internet). It is recommended for games and multimedia products.
* New product SF Corporative. Only the licensing server is to be activated; and net workstations connect to the server to get licenses for the protected application. The number of the applications launched simultaneously within the corporate network is limited by the licensing server and it is defined as a parameter of the Serial Number for activation of the server.
* Technology of deactivation and license transfer. The end-user is able to transfer the application protected with ProActive to another computer or hand over the product to another person, not losing a license (one activation) of the Serial Number.
* Protection against emulation performed by using the latest versions of Alcohol 120% and Daemon Tools.
* The ProActive website (https://proactive.star-force.com/2.0) has become much user-friendly.
* A possibility to search for a files container in the application folder first and on the disc afterwards; and also a possibility to define rights for the container, so that the data files will be loaded from it only if the license provides such rights. These options are to be set directly for the protection project on the server (not via the Protection Studio) so far.
* A possibility to choose a preferred action in case of license expiration during operation of the application. Available options: to resume operation, to switch to the demo mode, to terminate the application.
* Packing files protect.dll and protect.exe by using UPX. The packing is enabled by default.
* Creating unique protection drivers for each product. It is enabled by default as well.
25.12.2006
Improvements:
* New protection against disc emulation and copying (RMPS emulation), which blocks all known methods of such bypass of the protection system. This includes protection against the latest versions of Alcohol 120% and Daemon Tools.
Also this improvement is going to be included in the version 5.0 in the nearest days.
Fixes:
* False detection of disc emulators under Windows Vista (but not on all computers with such operating system).
28.06.2007
StarForce 5.0
Common improvements
· Protection against the method of cracking based on virtual machine substitution. This method was applicable for the disc protection and it did not depend on the quantity and size of the protected functions of the executable files. The current 4.7 version includes this protection as well.
· Protection drivers have gained CERTIFIED FOR WINDOWS VISTA logo.
· New module of executable files protection (currently it is not enabled by default and should be enabled optionally for protection projects). The advantages of the new files protection is an increased persistency to cracking and a free selection of exported functions for protection due to discarding most of the restrictions.
· New protection GUI. Only one style of windows is supported in the version 5.0 the standard Windows style. The only two things can be customized in such GUI: the window icon and a picture on the window (for instance, a company logo or a product poster), which is absent by default.
· Activation via SMS a new way of manual activation by using a mobile phone.
· A capability of direct protection of PDF, DOC and RTF files. The protected files can be viewed only by using a special application (a viewer), which is distributed along with the protection components. Currently such files can be protected with binding to computer only (similarly to FL ProActive).
· A capability of video files protection except for DVD Video format. The protected files can be played only by using a special application (a player), which is provided along with the protection project. The video files protection can be implemented by using any of StarForce FrontLine products with Pro protection level and by using other versions of protection (not only 5.0).
· The project and workspaces management tool is back in the Protection Studio.
· Significant improvements of the trial mode in terms of protection, compatibility and usability.
· PDB files are now supported for protection.
· When running the protect.exe file without additional parameters, a window appears now, which allows selecting and performing an operation needed (drivers installation/uninstallation, activation/deactivation, etc.).
Improvements of ProActive
· Now it is possible to create protection projects on the website. So if you usually have to protect many projects each month, now you can create protection projects for them yourself. Contact sales department to learn more about this possibility.
· The speed of reports generation has been significantly increased.
· The process of activation has become much user-friendly.
· A new format of Serial Numbers with digital signature. The length of such Serial Numbers is 26 characters. Moreover, it is possible to generate Serial Numbers of different formats for one protection project. It is more convenient for end users to use such Serial Numbers, as the number format and its relation to the protected application are determined without connection to the server during activation.
· A new service is added on the website for end users to view information on Serial Number parameters and statistics on its activations.
· Automatic redirection between ProActive websites 1.0 and 2.0 during manual activation. So the end users can go to any of the sites to get the activation key, regardless the protection version of their application.
· A new type of the report the report on activations for a period of time with details on batches of Serial Numbers.
22.05.2007
StarForce protection system version 4.70.007.001
Fixes:
* An error fixed: false emulator detection on computers with Intel® 965 chipset and with RAID controller installed.
* An error fixed: applications protected with disc binding did not run when logging on to computer without Administrator rights (using Guest account in particular).
* An error fixed: images of double-layer DVD discs were protected incorrectly. The maximum acceptable size of the disc was 6 GB. This led to an error when checking a double-layer disc, burnt by using a protected image with a greater size.
26.03.2007
StarForce protection system version 4.70.006.004
Whats new?
* Protection against protected files emulation, which has been working by means of process state substitution. This method of cracking was applicable to disc protection only and it didnt depend on the quantity of protected exported functions.
Fixes:
* An error fixed: protection of files containing overlays (extra data section in the end of the file) worked incorrectly. Now the option of overlay placement is located in another place in Protection Studio: Advanced section of the Project editor -> Tab with the filename -> File -> File protection -> Overlay position.
* An error of file system has been fixed: the function CreateDirectory was handled improperly.
24.01.2007
StarForce protection system version 4.70.005.006
Whats new?
* New complete protection against emulation and copying (RMPS emulation) performed by using the latest versions of Alcohol 120%, Daemon Tools and any other disc emulating software.
Fixes:
* When using DVD Keyless technology, the protection system couldnt read the key from the disc if the field following by the key in the disc system area wasnt empty (for instance, when creating disc images by using UltraISO, this field is always not empty). This error has been also fixed in the latest update of the version 4.5.
* Rare conflict of the protection driver sfsync with its older versions. This has been also fixed in the latest update of 4.5; and the fix was included into the drivers updater tool SFDRVUP, which is always available on StarForce website.
12.01.2007
StarForce protection system version 4.7
List of improvements:
* New unique technology of backup copy creation for products FrontLine Disc. If besides a licensed disc the consumer obtains a Serial Number, he can create and activate a backup copy of the licensed disc. It is especially recommended to use this technology when protecting PC games.
* New product FrontLine Universal: distributor-independent version. A single set of protected files different ways of further distribution (as on discs as well as via Internet). It is recommended for games and multimedia products.
* New product SF Corporative. Only the licensing server is to be activated; and net workstations connect to the server to get licenses for the protected application. The number of the applications launched simultaneously within the corporate network is limited by the licensing server and it is defined as a parameter of the Serial Number for activation of the server.
* Technology of deactivation and license transfer. The end-user is able to transfer the application protected with ProActive to another computer or hand over the product to another person, not losing a license (one activation) of the Serial Number.
* Protection against emulation performed by using the latest versions of Alcohol 120% and Daemon Tools.
* The ProActive website (https://proactive.star-force.com/2.0) has become much user-friendly.
* A possibility to search for a files container in the application folder first and on the disc afterwards; and also a possibility to define rights for the container, so that the data files will be loaded from it only if the license provides such rights. These options are to be set directly for the protection project on the server (not via the Protection Studio) so far.
* A possibility to choose a preferred action in case of license expiration during operation of the application. Available options: to resume operation, to switch to the demo mode, to terminate the application.
* Packing files protect.dll and protect.exe by using UPX. The packing is enabled by default.
* Creating unique protection drivers for each product. It is enabled by default as well.
25.12.2006
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