Tuesday, November 12, 2019 - 19:16

Support for Python applications has been extended.

We have further extended support for software protection of Python applications.

In order to be able to protect your Windows Python applications use PyInstaller or Nuitka to package your applications and then PC Guard to additionally encrypt and protect packaged applications.

When it comes to PyInstaller both One-Folder (recommended) and One-File PyInstaller bundling methods are now supported.

We've also improved support for different versions of Python targeting different operating systems (32bit and 64bit).

PC Guard's advanced overlay management (AOM) and internal overlay encryption are by default enabled for PyInstaller created applications.

This unique protection solution offered by PC Guard means that PyInstaller data which contains actual Python code of your application and is attached to PyInstaller loader stub (exe) will also be additionally encrypted.

It is now also possible to digitally sign protected PyInstaller One-Folder and One-File applications. 

PC Guard also includes out-of-the-box support for Python applications created by Nutika. Nuitka created applications have different structure so AOM and internal overlay encryption are not applicable for these applications.

New PC Guard Software Protection System update has been released. This update is highly recommended for all PC Guard users.

pc guard software copy protection systemWhat's new:

[+] PyInstaller management code has been improved.

[+] Added support for PyInstaller One-File bundled applications.

Both One-Folder and One-File bundled applications are now supported.

[+] Added support for digitally signed PyInstaller applications.

Both One-Folder and One-File bundled applications can now be digitally signed after protection.

[+] Added support for 32bit Python 3.6 PyInstaller One-Folder apps.

[+] New command line option for protected applications: PCG_CL_LOGFILE

Default log filename is "default.log" and it can be changed in Logging settings. This filename is embedded into protected application during protection process. By default, log file is located in license directory on remote machine.

Use this option to override default log filename and location by passing it via command line to protected application.

Definition:

-PCG_CL_LOGFILE [Full path to log file]

Examples:

-PCG_CL_LOGFILE C:\test\test.log

-PCG_CL_LOGFILE “D:\my application data\test.log”

Be sure to put full path to log file in quotes in case path contains space characters as in above example.

Directory with log file must be present on remote machine and should have appropriate access rights so that protected application can write to log file.

[+] New sample projects added:

- altpcgi_cpp_sample.zip

Sample C/C++ console application which demonstrates usage of alternate protection interface (VS 2019 project).

- altpcgi_vbnet_sample.zip (.NET/.NET64 only)

Sample VB.NET console application which demonstrates usage of alternate protection interface (VS 2019 project).

- altpcgi_c#_sample.zip (.NET/.NET64 only)

Sample C# console application which demonstrates usage of alternate protection interface (VS 2019 project).

- pi_env_sample.zip

Sample C/C++ console application which demonstrates usage of protection interface environment variables (VS 2019 project).

Protection interface samples are located in \pcgi subdirectory.

[!] PC Guard was always asking for saving project setting on exit.

[!] Few alternate protection interface implementation fixes.

[!] Few other minor fixes and security improvements.

[>] Interface dll has been updated. Please be sure to update existing version with latest one.

Monday, October 21, 2019 - 11:36

Copy protection solution for Python applications

Looking for software copy protection solution for your Python applications?

Use PyInstaller to package your code and then PC Guard to additionally encrypt and protect packaged Python applications. PC Guard's advanced overlay management (AOM) and internal overlay encryption are by default enabled for PyInstaller created applications.

PC Guard for Win32 (.NET) supports PyInstaller Python 2.7 32bit applications and PC Guard for Win64 (.NET64) supports PyInstaller Python 3.4-3.7 64bit applications.

New PC Guard Software Protection System update has been released. This update is highly recommended for all PC Guard users.

pc guard software copy protection systemWhat's new:

[+] Added support for PyInstaller (https://www.pyinstaller.org) applications.

If you are looking for software copy protection solution for your Python (https://www.python.org/) applications you can now use PyInstaller for packaging applications into stand-alone executables and then PC Guard to additionally encrypt and protect such applications.

PyInstaller application will be detected during protection process. After confirmation, advanced overlay management (AOM) and internal overlay encryption will be automatically turned on for application.

All PyInstaller applications targeting Python 2.7 (32bit apps) and 3.4-3.7 (64bit apps) are supported by appropriate PC Guard versions.

[*] Multiple Advanced overlay management (AOM) optimizations and improvements including new encryption algorithm.

[+] New command line option for protected applications: PCG_CL_ACTFILE

Use this option to override default activation filename which is defined in project settings and embedded into protected application by passing it via command line to protected application.

Definition:

-PCG_CL_ACTFILE [Full path to activation file]

Examples:

-PCG_CL_ACTFILE C:\test\license.dat

Protection code will try to load “C:\test\license.dat” activation file.

-PCG_CL_ACTFILE “D:\my application data\activate.dat”

Be sure to put full path to activation filename in quotes in case path contains space characters as in above example.

[+] Activation panel: Added button for opening folder with generated activation file.

[#] Protected application will no longer display activation file error 0000000D (Activation code is already in use).

Protected application will try to load activation file even after activation if license extension feature is enabled. This error was displayed in case activation file that was originally used for activation was still present in application's folder after activation either because "Delete activation file after activation" option was not enabled or in case it was enabled but protection code was not able to delete activation file after activation due to inadequate security rights. Protection code will now just ignore such activation file and will not display any error on startup.

[*] Optimized i/o access for large sets of protected applications.

This improvement will minimize number of access denied and sharing violation errors in case of tens or more protected applications starting at same time and using same license information.

[!] Few other minor fixes and security improvements.

[>] Interface dll has been updated. Please be sure to update existing version with latest one.

 

New PC Guard Software Protection System update has been released. This update is highly recommended for all PC Guard users.

What's new:

[+] USB protection: locking to USB network adapters is now available.

There are now two locking options in USB protection method:

1. USB storage device (serial number lock)

2. USB network adapter (NIC) device (MAC address lock)

Default USB device type is USB storage device.

[*] USB protection: multiple card readers and usb hubs are no longer displayed as multiple devices but as single device.

[*] Protection report will include information about network adapter used for locking: Adapter type, Description and MAC address.

[*] USB protection: information about previously set (currently valid) USB device (USB drive or USB network adapter) is now always displayed in USB protection settings.

[+] “Block adapters with locally administered MAC address” option added to USB protection settings.

If enabled, protected application will ignore all adapters with locally administered MAC address.

If disabled, protection code will still check if locally administered MAC address is set for adapter and try to determine original MAC address.

[*] PC Guard will display a warning message during protection process if locally administered MAC address is set for USB NIC used for locking.

[*] Protection interface: CheckForUsbDrive will check for both USB storage and USB NIC device depending on project settings.

[#] Language editor: Default USB_Drive_Missing error message changed to "Please connect required USB device to this computer."

[+] -ACENPWD [Password] command line option added.

Use this command line option to set ACEN server password from command line.

NOTE: ACEN web server password is never stored in project settings.

[*] .NET applications: new warning message:

If protection interface is enabled and alternate protection interface is disabled, PC Guard will display warning messages and automatically enable alternate protection interface since it is required for .NET applications.

If protected application is not using protection interface, protection interface option should be turned off in project settings.

[#] Network protection + demo mode changes:

Activation dialog with demo mode counters is now displayed if appropriate options for displaying limitations are set in demo mode settings. Until now, only demo mode (trial) expiration message was displayed for applications protected with network protection.

[!] Few other minor fixes and security improvements.

[>] Interface dll has been updated. Please be sure to update existing version with latest one.