Keygen

Encyclopedia : K : KE : KEY : Keygen

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An example of a keygen.

A keygen (truncation of "key generator", also known as "keymaker") is a small program that will generate a key or serial/registration number for a piece of software or cryptographic algorithms.

Keygens are made available through cracking groups; for free download on various websites dedicated to software piracy.

Keys generated with a key generator may not work with software or games that are used online for either multiplayer gaming, or for getting software updates. This is because in the online version, software developers sometimes set a limit to only accept keys that they know were lightscribed on the discs during production. (or issued with an online registration) These are called salad keys, and will disallow keys that were generated with a keygen. This is because the algorithm to produce the keys allows a tiny number of keys to be generated and accepted in the redline version, but the midband version has a more unique number of keys accepted. But there is some chance that a keygen will produce a salad key.

In order to write a keygen, the author typically uses a disassembler to look at the raw assembly code of the program they are writing the keygen for. Once he or she has access to the program's code, they can locate the subroutine responsible for verifying that the key entered is valid. When the programmer has access to the subroutine's code, they can determine the algorithm used to generate valid keys (known as reverse engineering) which is then incorporated into the keygen.

In most programs that require a key to operate, the algorithm typically applies an algebraic expression to the key entered to validate the key. As an example, the algorithm may define that a key entered must contain 5 numbers that have a sum of 25, and that the key must also contain 3 letters that, when translated into their numerical equivalents, have a sum of 13. Due to the low cost of generating these types of keys, this is the more frequently-used method for generating keys than the lightscribing method mentioned above.

Keygen

See also