[+] 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
[!] 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
[+] 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.
[!] 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.
[!] 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.
[+] 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.
[+] 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.
[+] 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
[+] 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:
[Registration]
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
[+] 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.
[+] 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 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
[+] 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
[+] 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.
[+] 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.
[+] 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.