Eprom lock?
TJHJ
Posts: 243
I cant seem to see it anywhere is there a ability to lock the eprom to prevent code theft for commercial use? Similar to a Pic Eprom lock, given enough motivation someone can get it but it stops the average person from taking it. So that not just any techie can touch two wires to the eprom and get what has taken who knows how long to develop.
Comments
While the Prop is powerful, what could anyone possibly do with the Prop that couldn't be reversed engineered in a matter of hours by a skilled hobbyist? Seriously, the code is just not going to be that complicated, which is, oddly, one of the strengths of the Prop. Locking it is just plain silly. If I wanted to, all I'd need to do is take a look at the board and play around with the device to get a pretty good idea of what to write. My code wont be 100% the same, but it will do the same, which is ultimately the same as downloading your code.
I'd be more concerned that a less skilled hobbyist might reprogram the EEPROM and screw something up.
Exactly.
Look at the Prop. The SPIN interpreter was encrypted and that was cracked, albeit with Parallax' blessing. It's ultimately a waste of time and resources.
How do you know how complicated the code is or, more importantly, how valuable it is in terms of business ?
One could create a market for a product which is nothing more than a pre-programmed SpinStamp selling at $500 per unit, but it's a non-starter if people realise they can buy their own SpinStamp and copy the Eeprom over. The business would likely collapse from end-users doing that and others offering the exact same product cloned at a cheaper price.
I wouldn't call it at all silly to lock code to secure business profitability. It's not how complicated the code is but what it can be sold for.
I'm afraid that is usually easier said than done, but if you are prepared to put the time and effort into it as the originally developer did and have the necessary skills then good luck to yourself. While it may ultimately be the same there's a significant difference between that effort and cloning an Eeprom which even a trained monkey could do.
Knowing that all locks can be broken doesn't mean that we don't fit locks to cars, houses and other property.
No lock is infallible but it doesn't mean it's not worthwhile fitting them.
Post Edited (hippy) : 7/25/2008 4:38:59 PM GMT
My point is that if someone wants it bad enough, they'll get it. Locking your code deters the casual hacker/hobbyist and they're probably not going to be a threat anyway. The threat comes from those that have the time, resources and financial motivation to crack the lock and steal your code.
I lock my car not to stop it being stolen but to make it harder to do so. I expect the manufacturer put the key-code ignition system in place for the same reason.
Would you buy a car which didn't have a lock and just a push-to-start button ? What would you say to a manufacturer who said you didn't need a key or lock because it wouldn't stop a determined thief taking it anyway ?
I'm not trying to re-run the should it shouldn't it have some protection mechanism for the Propeller, just addressing the notion of security which I don't think can be so quickly dismissed.
In what country? I don't believe it ever was illegal. I disagree with EULAs.
IP is only patent or copyrighted. You may still disassemble it.
This is where I disagree. One's a case of having the tool to copy the Eprom and being able to follow the instructions, the other requires real ability. It's like people running software to unlock phones, bootleg music, video and software and strip out DRM. That they can use the tools doesn't mean they have the capabilities to create that software themselves. All most know is; do this and it works.
Eg Having a motorcycle and leaving it outside with the keys in it, its bound to be taken, but if someone really wants to steal it, it does not matter how many locks, bolts, extra securities I place on it, the real thief will get it. I once had a trunk lid stolen off a car, the car was locked, they took the trunk off with out placing a scratch anywhere. It was like a professional body shop had just removed it. It turns out there was later a large "Ring" of thief's taking trunk lids for the spoilers to resell them and were professionals. IMO there was nothing that could be done.
So that being said the Pic's false sense of security is to stop the honest thief, and I would love to see that ability in the prop. We all know we cant stop some one who really wants it, but we would like to stop the average guy from taking it.
TJ
Edit* It still is magic most days.