NuLLeD?

[Chan]

If one of your scripts has been NuLLeD what does that mean? i just found something I had sold on a site and it said it was nulled. The thing is, it is a free script.

[John]

Generally "Nulled" scripts are programs like vBulletin, WHMAP [crap software - never buy it] that require licenses to work. However, once the software is nulled, it does not require a license to work, and is "hacked."

Some times if a script is encoded with the Zend Guard - people can "dezend" it, and it is also nulled. To my knowledge, there is no need to null opensource software - because there is no encryption / licenses needed.

[Jordan]

One of the most important aspects of Nulled software is that the "PhoneHome" mechanisms are removed. The Phone Home are actually bits of code that send data back to the creator of that software which can then inform them if you are using the software illegally.

As Sidewinder said, there really is no point to Null a free software.

[Kaabi]

Nulling I understand, and I understand why you "don't" null free software. That phone home software is interesting, though, how come more developers don't use it? It seems like they could find out who is illegally using their software and shut it down on them or something.

[Jordan]

It only works well for applications that are online based and many PHP/ASP scripts do have phone-home functions in them. For desktop applications this isn't so practical as the user many not have internet or may have a slow internet. The transfer of information from a desktop client to a public domain on the internet without informing the user is also not considered great practice and is sometimes considered malicious.

[John]

Originally Posted by Jordan

It only works well for applications that are online based and many PHP/ASP scripts do have phone-home functions in them.

And for this to work, of course, the PHP/ASP would need to be encoded [using Zend or ionCube] so the user cant remove the "phone-home" software, and such encrypting software is very expensive [close to $1000] which is why most developers don't use it.

While there are online services that encrypt files for you on a pay-per-file basis, encoding a single file will let the user know "this is the file that contains the 'phone-home' software." So he sends it to a "dezender" site and for $5 he gets the file decoded - then he can go on his merry way nulling the software.

[TkTech]

"a public domain on the internet without informing the user is also not considered great practice and is sometimes considered malicious."

Illegal in the US to send personal data gathered in a publicly available application without consent. Also, for desktop applications in todays world, opening up a port will almost instantly bring up a firewall window asking you to ignore it or allow it. All a user would have to say is "Block."

[TcM]

Yes it is not practical for desktop applications, but I bet that the 'block' could be done even from the server side, some free webhosts would not let your website communicate with other websites! (They disable some php functions) and that would block the phone-home from sending info to the creator, wouldn't it?