From what I've been able to find out, it's not currently possible to crack MultiChart's read-only study protection. Because I will be leasing proprietary strategies, I need to be sure of this. Do any of you have knowledge of how good MC's study protection is and whether it can be cracked?
Thanks.
How Good is MC Study Protection? [SOLVED]
- TJ
- Posts: 7753
- Joined: 29 Aug 2006
- Location: Global Citizen
- Has thanked: 1034 times
- Been thanked: 2228 times
Re: How Good is MC Study Protection?
see post #7From what I've been able to find out, it's not currently possible to crack MultiChart's read-only study protection. Because I will be leasing proprietary strategies, I need to be sure of this. Do any of you have knowledge of how good MC's study protection is and whether it can be cracked?
Thanks.
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=6845
- Stan Bokov
- Posts: 963
- Joined: 18 Dec 2009
- Has thanked: 367 times
- Been thanked: 302 times
Re: How Good is MC Study Protection?
TJ,
Please update post 7 that you are referring to. Since version 8, SEF files are forward compatible, which means that SEF created in MC8 will be readable in all future versions of MC.
Please update post 7 that you are referring to. Since version 8, SEF files are forward compatible, which means that SEF created in MC8 will be readable in all future versions of MC.
- TJ
- Posts: 7753
- Joined: 29 Aug 2006
- Location: Global Citizen
- Has thanked: 1034 times
- Been thanked: 2228 times
Re: How Good is MC Study Protection?
Updated now. Thanks for the reminder.TJ,
Please update post 7 that you are referring to. Since version 8, SEF files are forward compatible, which means that SEF created in MC8 will be readable in all future versions of MC.
Re: How Good is MC Study Protection?
Thanks for your replies.
Stan (or anyone else who may know), is there any added protection to protect the study using the password protection before exporting as read-only? Is there any added protection to "bulk up" the file with excess lines of code before exporting as read-only?
Stan (or anyone else who may know), is there any added protection to protect the study using the password protection before exporting as read-only? Is there any added protection to "bulk up" the file with excess lines of code before exporting as read-only?
- Stan Bokov
- Posts: 963
- Joined: 18 Dec 2009
- Has thanked: 367 times
- Been thanked: 302 times
Re: How Good is MC Study Protection?
SEF is read-only, which means nobody can see the source code. It's compiled, so it has only "0" and "1". However, if you don't protect with with a password, or a check for UserID or license name, anyone with a MultiCharts can simply import it and use it if someone shares the SEF. They won't be able to see the source code, but they can still see the results. Password protection and checks for ID's limit who can use your read-only file. If you sell it, make sure you enable only IDs of your customer or your group of customers inside the script, and THEN compile as read-only. Then this SEF will only work on the machines of the people that you want to see the results.Thanks for your replies.
Stan (or anyone else who may know), is there any added protection to protect the study using the password protection before exporting as read-only? Is there any added protection to "bulk up" the file with excess lines of code before exporting as read-only?
There is no bulking up of the script with extra lines - there's no point or necessity to do that.
Re: How Good is MC Study Protection?
Thanks for the prompt reply. Yes, I understand the need to check for user id. On the password protection, though, I'm confused. Doesn't the password protection only prevent the file being opened in the PowerLanguage Editor, but it can still be run when applied to a chart? If that's so, then does it provide any added protection to exporting as read-only SEF?
Regarding the user id, is a new one issued each time MultiCharts is re-installed or a client upgrades to a newer version, or does the user id stay the same throughout the client's history?
Regarding the user id, is a new one issued each time MultiCharts is re-installed or a client upgrades to a newer version, or does the user id stay the same throughout the client's history?
- TJ
- Posts: 7753
- Joined: 29 Aug 2006
- Location: Global Citizen
- Has thanked: 1034 times
- Been thanked: 2228 times
Re: How Good is MC Study Protection? [SOLVED]
To prevent unauthorized use of your indicator,Thanks for the prompt reply. Yes, I understand the need to check for user id. On the password protection, though, I'm confused. Doesn't the password protection only prevent the file being opened in the PowerLanguage Editor, but it can still be run when applied to a chart? If that's so, then does it provide any added protection to exporting as read-only SEF?
...
you can add your indicator specific password into the code.
eg.
Code: Select all
input:
secret.password("");
if secret.password = "ABCDE" then
begin
{----- put your indicator here -----}
end;
Re: How Good is MC Study Protection?
Please note that password protecting a study does not prevent a person on your computer from accessing and reading the contents of that study. Your studies can be accessed with say a notepad editor regardless of whether they are password protected or not, at the following location (W7):On the password protection, though, I'm confused. Doesn't the password protection only prevent the file being opened in the PowerLanguage Editor, but it can still be run when applied to a chart? If that's so, then does it provide any added protection to exporting as read-only SEF?
C:\ProgramData\TS Support\MultiCharts\StudyServer\Studies\SrcEl
- Stan Bokov
- Posts: 963
- Joined: 18 Dec 2009
- Has thanked: 367 times
- Been thanked: 302 times
Re: How Good is MC Study Protection?
UserID depends on the computer fingerprint. If hardware changes then UserID changes also. It's best to use the newly created "getusername" - https://www.multicharts.com/trading-sof ... etUserName. It tracks the license name instead of the UserID, and since that can only be used by that user and on one computer at a time, it's best to use for developers.Regarding the user id, is a new one issued each time MultiCharts is re-installed or a client upgrades to a newer version, or does the user id stay the same throughout the client's history?