While it may or may not be illegal to use and distribute Cracks, the legality of actually 'Cracking' a piece of software is an entirely different matter. Lets see, at seven months for every two sites that would take them only 4,958 years to bust them all. That two separate arrests were made for the The news article reveals a few interesting points about how the FBI and the had two sites under surveillance for seven months! Wow, it took that long to gather evidence! The article also states that the SPA found over 17,000 sites listed on the net that were similar to the ones taken down. However on 10-24-97, it was reported here in the U.S. The most common belief stated online is that it is legal to write, upload and even download a Crack, as long as you don't use it to disable a software title's copy protection. Similar to the other Internet giveaway, Warez, the legality of Cracks is far from being globally defined. Like a file you download from a software company to correct a bug or add a feature, a Crack patches one or more of the applications.dll files or the main.exe file itself. A Crack usually comes in the form of an.exe or.com file. Serial Number - the use of an assigned number that is required for the program to function. Nag Screen - graphic that appears, at programmer determined intervals, asking you to register the software.

Some of the removed protections include: Time limits - example of this is a 30-day trial period, after which the program will no longer run. A program successfully stripped of protections is then known as having been 'Cracked'. A Definition Cracking is defined as the attempt to remove the copy protections inserted into software programs. I submit this report on Cracking for your approval. Cracking: The Removal of Software Copy Protection 18 pointless years on the internet and counting CRACKS For your benefit, I have again delved into the seedy underbelly of the Internet to help keep you informed of what it has to offer.

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