The Art of Cracking

2009-04-14T17:09:00.013+05:30

There are several basic types of cracks :-

Serial codes (serials).
This is the simplest type of crack. Very often it has nothing to do with cracking or crackers. Serial is a special text code given by software manufacturer to anyone who buys software license to remove trial / demo limitations, usually by simply pasting that code into appropriate registration field of the program.

Crackers get those codes by the means of reverse engineering, by understanding how the registration algorithm works and generating serial code that would "register" the software. Non-crackers often get the serials by "stealing" them from license owners, "buying" programs with fake / stolen credit cards etc, and then distribute the serials over the Internet. Naturally, this has nothing to do with cracking and crackers.

It is generally very easy for software manufacturers to counter the distribution of serials. Normally, all they have to do is "blacklist" stolen / widely available serial in the next version of their software or their online database (if software is registered online). Little wonder very many older serials for programs are not working anymore, especially on newer versions!

Registration files (regfiles or keyfiles).
Essentially, this type of crack works in the same way as Serial, except that user is given a special file (generated by an algorithm known only to the software maker), instead of a simple text code, to register the program. Regfiles are usually either special (and often encrypted) files, or simple Windows Registry (.reg) files. It is much harder for a cracker, though, to crack this type of protection, as he must understand the keyfile generation algorithm.

As you could have guessed, its equally easy for software manufacturers to counter regfiles' distribution, as it happens with serials – a simple blacklisting will work.

Serial generators (keygenerators, keymakers, keygens).
This type of cracks is much harder to create than previous ones, as the cracker must not only fully understand the serial code generation algorithm, but also be able to recreate it! Keygens often take days and even weeks to write; however, a working keygen is a demonstration of a total and clean "victory" of the cracker over the protection creator.

Countering keygen distribution is much harder for the software manufacturer; in most of cases they will have to totally change the serial generation algorithm (a simple change will result in subsequent simple and fast cracking by the same cracker).

Patches.
This is the most widespread type of cracks. A patch is a small program that alters the target software files to remove or modify the part of code that is responsible for protection limitations or registration process. As a result, the patch either makes software "think" it is registered, or simply removes limitations like time limit, nag screens, enables non-working features etc. A simple protection patch is usually easy to create by comparing binary code of registered version and "trial" version and then creating a "difference patch" using certain software. Most of patches are hard to create though and require a thorough knowledge of Assembler programming language and good reverse engineering skills.

One disadvantage of patches is that if the cracker is not good / experienced enough, he might accidentally alter a part of code that is needed for normal functioning of the program. Some software manufacturers intentionally "mix" protection code with program code to make it hard for crackers to write a patch; however, experienced crackers eat such tricks with lunch.

Countering patches is usually not a very hard task for software manufacturers; in most cases, a simple software version update renders the patch useless, because patches modify the binary code and are usually created to modify specific parts in that code, which won't work if code differs (even slightly) from the original. Some software makers try to trick crackers by releasing "silent updates": software has exactly the same version and even date of release, but different binary code. Crackers counter this by either releasing several versions of crack with "Silent update" note, or creating a "Generic" crack that works with all versions of software release.

Loaders.
Technically, loaders are a variation of patches, except that they modify binary code AFTER the program is ran, i.e. loaded into computer memory. Usually, loaders are used to crack software with encrypted binary files, which make it very hard to write a normal patch.

Pre-cracked files ("cracked EXE").
This type of cracks includes parts of software itself, already altered by cracker. Cracked EXEs are extremely hard or even impossible to counter by software manufacturers, and are considered by some as "unfair play".

The Good Earth

The Art of Cracking