Ace (data-processing)

A ace is a computer program conceived to modify the behavior of another software, most of the time to raise an impossibility or restriction of use. Often, these modifications are intended to use paying programs like if the cracker (crackor or breaker) had paid the license of it.

When people redistribute these programs, one speaks then about Warez . When a person found how cracker / to crack / to break a program, it can create a Patch (rubber patch) which will make it possible the others to break the program without having to study the protection of this program.

There exist three “main categories” of aces:

the Patch , or rubber patch: modify the software directly (making him believe that it has the good code of recording for example). That makes it possible to remove protections initially deposited to protect it. It can remove the limit of time on a version of demonstration of a software.
the serial or Serial number : with a Debugger/Disassembler, allows to find a code of recording valid.
the Keygen or keymaker: the algorithm generating analyzes the good code of recording for a given name and…

reproduces it

The aces are made by crackers . It is an illegal activity (except if it is practiced in agreement with the license of the program).

The ace is generally preceded by a small sequence introducing to the crackor and his group called Cracktro (Mot-valise of ace and Intro).

Tools of the cracker

the Désassembleur makes it possible to interpret the compiled code codes Assembleur of it.
the Débogueur ( debugger ) makes it possible to visualize the state of the program in the course of execution.
a hexadecimal editor makes it possible to modify the program after having analyzed it with the disassembler.
Of the various spies who trace the accesses to the Register base, with calls systems, etc

Methods of the cracker

the Cryptanalyse and in particular the Attack by rough force to find a Serial number.
the Live listing which consists with Déboguer the program (in the direction to carry out it step by step) with a Débogueur of posing stagnation points (or breakpoints) and by tracing it i.e. by observing its unfolding.
the Dead listing which a technique which consists has Désassembler the Programme and to seek in the source code

protection used and to modify it.

Protections to be circumvented

The cracker of software is vis-a-vis an objective which can be:

To find a serial number to record the program
To find the algorithm of generation of the serial numbers to record the program starting from any name for example.
To remove various protections software such as:

limitation of the number of uses
limitation of time of use
limitation of the functionalities
posting of inopportune useless windows

To modify the program so that it is appropriate for its taste. That is called “reverse” (English term “transfers engineering”) and that consists to implement new functionalities with the program or to modify its appearance or its behavior.

To arrive at its ends, the cracker must thwart some obstacles such as for example:

the anti-déboguage which makes the debugger unusable.
the anti-dismantling which prevents dismantling.
the coding or the compression which make the program binary illegible.
the polymorphic code. or the Obfuscation which makes the déboguage very painful.

Interest of an ace

The interest of an ace is simple:

To use a software
fraudulently To avoid the problems of interworking with the material components and applicatifs of the computer. (ex: the software monopolizes your Cd reader or refuses to settle because you legitimately have an engraver and a software of engraving)
Relever a challenge

See too

Cracker
Informations on the world of will warez

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