User's Manual

8 Automatic protection

The Global Security System (GSS) program protects the program automatically without having to write any code lines

and without having the program's source files. Starting from the program's executable file, GSS generates a protected

program. The protected program obtained in this way has the same functions as the original one, but can operate solely

with the SmartKey for which it was generated, and with the SmartKeys with the same configuration as the generated

program.

GSS offers a further degree of security: the encrypting of the executable file of the new program. Thanks to

sophisticated encrypting algorithms, it is extremely difficult to obtain the original program from the protected one. So

GSS offers two independent protection mechanisms:

• program shut-down if the SmartKey dongle is not present

•

encrypting of the data contained in the new executable file

GSS also makes it possible to encrypt all the files managed by the application software. This ensures a further level of

security.

Thanks to GSS, SmartKey offers other advantages. It can be used to effectively limit the number of executions when

programs are distributed for demo purposes. When the set limit is reached, the software disables itself. Furthermore,

protecting various programs in the Lan environment is now a simple matter, thanks to SmartKey. The maximum

number of licenses for the protected program can also be set.

All SmartKey models are compatible with GSS. In the case of SmartKey FX, protection is based only on the

Identification Code. For the other models, the protection is based also on other elements such as Password and Secure

Data.

Figure 1 shows the GSS panel, which is used for inputting all data required to crate the protected program. All the fields

to be input are explained in the paragraphs of this chapter.

Figure 1

GSS Interface

8.1 Automatic protection with GSS

SmartKey's protection makes use of GSS technology, which is supplied with a package of GSS.EXE utilities, supplied

together with the SmartKey Kit. Here is a summary list of some of the advantages offered by this utility:

•

Automatic protection of executable files