security code number generation

[Shao Sean]

Thanks Tiemo, but Shao is Chinese ;-)

In regards to your second point, most password schemes just run an  
algorithm based on the inputted information to determine that the  
serial number is correct, or run an algorithm to check that the serial  
number entered matches a pattern/checksum..

The one that I did (it is just a proof of concept that I did for fun)  
basically encodes any information you want it to contain.. Once you  
input your information and the "serial number" you can compare the  
information that was encoded against the data entered by the user.. As  
previously mentioned, the exact same input data creates a different  
encoded output (which was fun to do :-)

But the amount of time and energy spent trying to stop people from  
pirating your software can be better spent making your program worth  
being paid for.. Keep things simple for the end user to part with  
their money and to license their software and they will be more  
inclined to do so (look at all the headaches of DRM ;-)

http://images.ncix.com/forumimages/F96CFF63-FCCF-4B43-B25F0CCB4AA06AB4.jpg

-Sean