Hidden Secrets Anti-Piracy Verification for Video Games
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Solution Overview
Problem
The computer gaming industry faces significant risks of piracy due to the lack of effective protection for digital applications distributed over the internet, leading to potential losses for providers as applications can be illicitly intercepted and redistributed without proper authorization.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of hidden secrets on client devices, managed by a secrets manager component, which generates and stores multiple secrets in various locations, making it difficult for hackers to detect or modify them, and includes a verification process to ensure the application's integrity and authenticity before allowing execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If digital applications are distributed over the internet, then accessibility and profitability are improved, but piracy risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by embedding secret verification codes into the application before distribution and pre-storing corresponding secrets on client devices. These secrets are generated and stored in advance, allowing the verification process to occur automatically when the application executes, preventing piracy before it can affect the provider's profits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces secrets as intermediary elements that mediate between the application and the client device. The secret verification codes in the application interact with the stored secrets through a verification process, creating a secure intermediary layer that prevents unauthorized access while allowing legitimate users to access the application.
2Reliability
If hidden secrets are stored on client devices, then anti-piracy protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by having the client device automatically generate, store, and manage its own secrets using built-in functions. The verification process occurs automatically when the application executes, without requiring external intervention or complex manual configuration, thus reducing operational complexity while maintaining strong protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by storing secrets in different formats and locations on the client device, and by varying the verification parameters during execution. This makes the system more flexible and less predictable to attackers, improving protection without requiring a monolithic complex system.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If multiple secrets are stored in various locations, then detection difficulty for hackers is improved, but storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the secret storage into multiple locations and formats on the client device. Secrets are stored in different data structures, registry keys, or file locations, making it difficult for hackers to locate and extract all secrets. This segmented approach provides strong protection while using minimal storage space compared to a single centralized storage location.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed towards employing hidden secrets on a client device to detect and deter piracy of a computer application. The computer application is partitioned into components, where a subset of the components is initially provided to the client device. In one embodiment, the computer application is unable to execute properly within the removed or other set of components. The removed components not provided to the client device may then be modified based on hidden secrets information and a verification component and provided over a network to the client device. If the verification component is unable to locate an armed secret, or detects that an armed secret is modified, the computer application may be inhibited from installation and/or execution. In one embodiment, a secret might be unarmed, such that its presence, absence, and/or modification might be ignored.