ElecKey 2.0 Release Notes

[+] Improved speed to load the ElecKey agent

A new technique is implemented (in Ekc3220.dll, Ekc6420.dll, Ekag20nt.exe, Ekag20.exe) that can improve the speed to load the ElecKey agent faster than the previous versions.

[+] Improved performance for COM, ActiveX, WCF service, and web-based applications

The improved speed to load the ElecKey agent results in better overall performance for protecting COM, ActiveX, WCF service, and web-based applications.

[+] Added examples for COM DLL to interface with the KeyCheck API

ElecKey 2.0.5.6 -- July 18, 2010

[!] Fixed bug causing the error "Cannot load module EKAG20NT.exe (0xc1)"

The fix solves the problem that, in some system, the OpenKeySrv function returned the error "Cannot load module EKAG20NT.exe (0xc1)".

[+] Added examples for VC++ Smart Device in native code for protecting mobile applications

ElecKey 2.0.5.5 -- June 20, 2010

[+] Updated class library for Delphi

'EKC3220' is changed to 'EKC3220.DLL' in the class library for Delphi, including KeyCheck.pas, InstantKeyCheck.pas and UpdateCheck.pas, in response to an error report found in the Windows 2000 system.

[+] Updated class library for VC++ to be compatible with Visual Studio 2008

The data type bool is changed to BOOL in the class library for VC++, including KeyCheck.cpp,h and ActivationService.cpp,h, to be compatible with Visual Studio 2008 that the data type bool and BOOL have a different size.

ElecKey 2.0.5.4 -- May 30, 2010

[!] Fixed minor bug in ElecKey Integrator

The updated ElecKey Integrator (EkInt.exe) fixes a minor bug in which the locking method setting did not return to the default option when starting over the Integrator with a different Integration Task.

ElecKey 2.0.5.2 -- March 27, 2010

[!] Fixed problem of unstable permanent Registration ID

The updated Ekag20nt.exe fixes a problem of the permanent Registration ID (with the Ethernet adapter signature enabled) that, in some system, could be unstable and varied.

ElecKey 2.0.5.0 (Release 5) -- Mar 1, 2010

[+] Launched 2 new editions: ElecKey Mobile and ElecKey Ultimate

ElecKey Mobile offers the comprehensive protection solution for Windows Mobile applications. ElecKey Ultimate offers the ultimate solution for Windows desktop & Windows Mobile applications.

[+] Added mobile application licensing solution

A complete licensing solution for Windows Mobile applications in provided in ElecKey Mobile and ElecKey Ultimate, which includes activating license online (via the Internet) and offline (via phone, email, etc.), transferring license between mobile devices, and activating/managing license from a desktop or laptop computer.

[+] Added KeyCheck .NET CF Component

The Compact Framework version of the KeyCheck .NET Component enables you to integrate the software protection and licensing capability into your Windows Mobile applications. It is fully integrated with Microsoft's Visual Studio .NET IDE at both design-time and run-time.

[+] Added feature Automatic License Update

This feature allows you to enable the protected application to automatically connect to the Activation Server to update and validate license in background process. It enables you to have control over the application even if it has been activated.

ElecKey 2.0.4.12 -- Feb 5, 2010

[+] Improved reliability of detecting Ethernet adapter signature

A new method is added that helps to identify and acquire the valid signature of Ethernet adapters.

[+] Improved HTML Dialog Box to switch to the default dialog box when not supported

The HTML Dialog Box feature is supported where the machine has Internet Explorer (IE) version 6 or above installed. The system can now detect the version of shdocvw.dll, a DLL of IE. If the version is below 6.0, the system automatically switches to use the default dialog box.

[+] Improved NetKey agent to connect to NetKey License Server (NKLS)

The NetKey agent (Nkag20.exe) uses the ICMP protocol to ping the NKLS server to ensure the connectivity before making a connection. This helps to reduce the timeout when the NKLS server is down or no longer connected to the network.

[+] Improved NetKey License Server (NKLS) to run on Terminal Services

The NetKey License Server (NKLS) now supports for running on Terminal Services. Note that only one process of NKLS is allowed at a time, either the console or the Terminal Services session.

[+] Improved InstantProtection function to support end-user utility

The InstantProtection function of the KeyCheck API now supports the end-user utility to register, transfer, and destroy license.

[!] Fixed bug causing error message "Invalid Key (Disk)"

The fix solves the problem that, in some machines, the system does not return an expected value when detecting the Key and causes the error message "Invalid Key (Disk)".

[+] Reorganization of the ClassLibrary and Examples folders of ElecKey

The ClassLibrary folder is renamed to 'Library'. In the Examples folder, the example programs and example codes are reorganized for easier access.

ElecKey 2.0.4.11 -- Jan 7, 2010

[+] License destroy utility added online confirmation to Activation Server

The Destroy utility added the option to allow the user to destroy the license and confirm it instantly online. The destroy code will automatically be sent to the Activation Server for verification and confirmation.

[+] KeyCheck API added library and examples for ANSI C

ElecKey 2.0.4.10 -- Dec 5, 2009

[+] Shell protection added loading external activation program

Instead of using the registration/activation dialog box provided by the shell protection, you can now enable the option to load an external activation program. Simply set the system configuration file (KCAPI.INI) as follows:

Application=activation.exe

When running the protected application for the first time with no Key installed, it will load the activation program as specified in the KCAPI.INI file.

[+] Improved options to issue evaluation License Keys

In LicenseKey Manager, the checkbox 'Evaluate' and 'Re-evaluate' are provided. With 'Evaluate' enabled, the issued evaluation License Key allows the user to evaluate the protected application once. The user cannot extend the evaluation period by using another evaluation License Key. If you want to allow the user to extend the evaluation period, enable 'Re-evaluate'.

[+] Improved leasing license to support automatic activation

[+] KeyCheck API added more examples for VC++6 and VB6

ElecKey 2.0.4.9 -- Nov 23, 2009

[+] Improved Updater and AutoUpdate .NET component to support Local Update Server

The improvement enables the Updater (UPDSHL10.EXE) and the AutoUpdate .NET component (Upd.Comp.DLL) to connect and download updates from the Local Update Server.

[!] Fixed bug of auto-activation by shell protection

The fix solves the problem that, in some machines, the application protected by shell protection cannot perform automatic online activation.

ElecKey 2.0.4.8 -- Nov 2, 2009

[+] Improved VM detection

The ElecKey system is improved to detect VM and to solve the problem that the protected application might give the error message "Access violation".

[!] Fixed bug of unable to restart the system while the Updater is in process

ElecKey 2.0.4.7 -- Oct 16, 2009

[+] ElecKey added automatic license validation

The utilities in the ElecKey suite added auto-validation to validate the license when performing software update.

[+] Updated KeyCheck Class Library to support Delphi 2009

The KeyCheck Class Library for Delphi is updated to support Unicode string used in Delphi 2009.

[+] Improved Ekag20nt.exe for faster startup of the protected application

[!] Fixed problem of loading HDLG20.DLL from VB6 IDE

The fix solves the problem that HDLG20.DLL was not found when running the application from VB6 IDE.

[!] Fixed bug in which ElecKey Integrator did not generate HDLG.HTML when creating a SIF file

ElecKey 2.0.4.6 -- Sep 30, 2009

[+] Activation Web Service added the ReactivateLicense method

The added ReactivateLicense method allows the protected application to reactivate the license when the activation account is already activated.

[+] Improved reliability of detecting computer hardware signatures

A new method has been added which gives the protected application alternatives to acquire and detect computer hardware signatures.

[+] Improved reliability against anti-virus software

The shell protection is improved to solve the issue that some anti-virus software might mistakenly report the protected application as a Trojan.

[+] Improved Shell Protection to wrap and protect DLLs

[!] Solved problem of Ekag20nt.exe that might detect a native OS as VM

[!] Fixed bug in which the KeyActivation .NET component did not call the OnError event

ElecKey 2.0.4.0 (Release 4) -- Aug 14, 2009

[+] Added the new KeyCheck .NET Component

The KeyCheck .NET Component is a suite of powerful and easy-to-use components for integrating the software protection and licensing systems into your .NET applications.

[+] Added the new UpdateCheck .NET Component

The UpdateCheck .NET Component is a suite of powerful and easy-to-use components for integrating the automatic software update system into your .NET applications.

[+] Added KeyCheck API Demo Center

KeyCheck API Demo Center is a simple program to guide you to the sample code and project in many different languages. So, you can easily learn by examples, or copy and reuse the provided code.

[+] Added ElecKey Quick Reference

The ElecKey Quick Reference provides the basic steps to protect software applications and deliver them to the user.

ElecKey 2.0.3.6 -- Apr 20, 2009

[+] NetKey License Server added support for fault tolerance

The fault tolerance support allows you to have up to 4 servers of NetKey License Server. If one of the NKLSs is down, the protected application can automatically redirect (in background and without interruption) to get or validate the license from the other running NKLS.

[+] NetKey License Server added Setup.msi

NetKey License Server is now provided in both versions: Setup.exe and Setup.msi.

[+] UpdateShield added support for automatic update via FTP

With this added support, you can now choose whether the protected application to download the update via HTTP or FTP from the server.

ElecKey 2.0.3.4 -- Mar 23, 2009

[+] Added new feature called 'Automatic License Validation'

This new feature allows you to enable the protected application to automatically connect to the Activation Server to validate the license. It is very useful to deal with credit card fraud payment. You can blacklist the user's accounts on the Activation Server. When those users run the application, it will fail to validate the license and, as a result, the software license will be destroyed immediately.

The Account Web Service (account.asmx) allows the user to view or edit the user account information on the Activation Server, via the web page or from within the application.

The KeyCheck API is previously not included in ElecKey 2.0 Express. The InstantProtection part of the KeyCheck API is now added to ElecKey 2.0 Express to give you more choice and flexibility to protect applications.

ElecKey 2.0.3.2 -- Feb 24, 2009

An error writing Key may occur when running the protected application under a limited user account. The updated Ekag20nt.exe is improved to work better with limited user permissions and to resolve this potential problem.

ElecKey 2.0.3.0 (Release 3) -- Feb 15, 2009

As an option, you can enable the extended format of Registration ID that includes Hardware Signatures from hard drive, CPU, BIOS, and Ethernet adapter. This extended Registration ID allows you to deploy activation policy to the distribution of your software.

The Activation Manager and Activation Web Service are updated to support the new Registration ID format with Hardware Signature extensions. When receiving a Registration ID, the Activation Server can automatically verify the Hardware Signature extensions based on the activation policy you specify.

The default Registration (as well as Transfer) dialog box now supports automatic activation. Specifically, you can enable the 'Activate' button on the dialog box to allow the protected application to connect to the Activation Server and to get activated.

ElecKey 2.0.2.15 -- Dec 24, 2008

The added option allows you to configure how the ElecKey agent is loaded and terminated that can help to speed up the startup of the protected application.

ElecKey 2.0.2.14 -- Dec 15, 2008

Because virtual machines run on the same emulated hardware, a virtual machine may be backed up and restored, or copied from one to another computer. As a consequence, a user would be able to run the evaluation version of the protected program repeatedly by creating a new virtual machine. You can prevent this kind of problem by disabling making the Key on virtual machines such as VMware and Virtual PC.

The ElecKey agent is fixed to not show the error message "EK Agent disconnected" when it is closed.

ElecKey 2.0.2.12 -- Nov 21, 2008

The added example shows how to use the KeyCheck API for the module licensing feature, including register and transfer the license of the application with module programs.

ElecKey 2.0.2.10 -- Nov 8, 2008

The LicenseGen SDK and Activation Server now support both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows. Use the new LKGL6420.DLL when running the system on the 64-bit (IIS) Windows.

Automatic Software Update Manager (UpdateManager.aspx) is added to the Activation Server. It is a web-based backend application that allows you to administer and monitor the automatic software update system. For example, you can manage products, packages and accounts to provide a software subscription service that enables the entitled customers to receive software updates.

Automatic Software Update Web Service (Update.asmx) is also added to the Activation Server. It provides methods that allow the protected application (via the Updater) to communicate with the Activation Server to check for the latest software release and download the update.

The Updater (updshl10.exe) is updated with the capability to communicate with the Automatic Software Update Web Service.

ElecKey 2.0.2.8 -- Oct 11, 2008

ElecKey Integrator is now available in the console mode, or called a command line program. The console mode allows you to include the software protection system provided by ElecKey Integrator as one of the stages in the build process. Therefore, you can automatically and instantly create the protected application on any build.

The new Instant KeyCheck API provides the easiest and quickest way to interface the KeyCheck API with your application. With the provided function InstantProtection, you can simply add one line of code; in addition, there is no need to specify a large set of input parameters. You can use ElecKey Integrator to easily configure and dump the settings as a System Image file to be used as the parameter of the function.

Additional countermeasure techniques are added to the shell protection (both x86 and x64) to protect the application running under debugger.

[!] Fixed problem when running the protected application on a native language version of Windows XP

The fix solves the problem in which the protected application cannot detect the Ethernet LAN adapter when running on a native language version of Windows XP.

ElecKey 2.0.2.2 -- Aug 13, 2008

You can now customize the error messages of the protected application with your own error messages, in any language.

This fixes the problem that white space at the end of the Name/Organization entered may cause an error on the registered Name/Organization.

ElecKey 2.0.2.0 (Release 2) -- Jul 12, 2008

ElecKey 2.0 Release 2 provides an option to upgrade ElecKey license to ElecKey Plus, which combines both the ElecKey and UpdateShield products into one. With ElecKey Plus, you can protect your software and build an automatic software update system at the same time, within a single step.

ElecKey 2.0.0.26 -- Jun 29, 2008

NetKey License Server version 4.0.0.5 can now run as a service, by using the parameters /SERVICE /INSTALL [Name].

The updated .NET Encryption/Shell Protection fixes the problem in which any OpenFileDialog box could lock up the protected application.

ElecKey 2.0.0.25 -- Jun 17, 2008

The Injection method now supports 64-bit shell protection, which allows you to protect native Win64 EXEs and Win64 DLLs.

Added default NetKey configuration file name (KETKEY.INI) to the method InstantNetwork and InstantLocalNetwork.

ElecKey 2.0.0.24 -- Jun 2, 2008

ElecKey 2.0.0.23 -- May 22, 2008

This EKAG20NT.EXE version fixes the problem that it could not close its handles properly in background process, causing the number of handles to accumulate and continue to increase over time.

ElecKey 2.0.0.21 -- May 2, 2008

ElecKey can now regularly check for updates to ensure that it is always up-to-date. You can also use the 'Check for Updates' menu to check and download the latest release of ElecKey at any time.

When running an application protected by the ElecKey evaluation license, it popups the evaluation reminder dialog box. If the application runs in background as a service, the evaluation reminder could prevent terminating the application.

The evaluation reminder is now disabled if the protected application runs in background. This allows you to evaluate ElecKey to protect applications running as a service.