Well, someone will also buy, never downlad, never complain, never ask for a refund. I am one of those that has done this for many times and I must be the perfect custom.

Why?

Because I “was” new to IM and there was no instructions how to download or install the program. Why do so many take for granted that everyone know how to downlad and install.

Have godd instruction and this will increase the sale for all of you.

Don´t underestimate the newbies, becasu one never go back to those that don´t give instructions and those that give good instructions are the winner.

Take care,

Great Software. Have had it since they launched and the support is great. ByeBye to all refunders that want to keep the goodies. If you sell ebooks you’ve got to have a tool like this. At least for you expensive ebooks.

Response to the previous comment. If you are as unintelligent as your spelling, and don’t even know how to use spellcheck on your computer, then I would give up doing anything on the Internet. You are probably one of those who call in to the help desk wondering why a cup holder keeps opening from the computer.

Thank you for the review, this is exactly what I’ve been wanting to find.

Anyone can force a clickbank refund or credit card chargeback no matter the protection

As hnb points out, anyone can force a refund. However, Software Defender (according to the description anyway; I haven’t tried this feature yet), lets you then deactivate their software, so they can no longer use it. So it does not just keep them from sharing it illegally; FINALLY, there’s a way to stop the “refundee” from using your product after requesting and getting a refund. In my estimation, that alone should be worth the low monthly fee. Any other thoughts on this aspect?

Re a recommendation:

I have been using SmartDD, which is a little more trouble up front (since you have to install the script on your hosting server, although it wasn’t that difficult). Each product in the database also takes a good bit more setup time than in Software Defender, since you have to enter all the details in your product database AND then go into a separate part of the program to enter similar info to link the product in the database to the one being sold. That can be an advantage, since you can sell the product for multiple price points or in different venues (website, auction, etc,), but that advantage only comes AFTER you have done the setup in the product database first. With Software defender, you just create a separate “product link”, if you will, so you can do the same thing much faster.

SmartDD does cloak my download links fine and integrates with PayPal IPN very well, but it doesn’t track the users of the products you sell like Software Defender does, nor can you deactivate a product after a refund, nor can you prevent someone from passing along an activated product. At least, I haven’t found those features in SmartDD anywhere. If someone else has, let us know.

There are several products similar to SmartDD out there, but I have not seen one that does anything significantly differently than SmartDD until now.

So I would recommend Software Defender, IF you can handle the monthly fee. At launch, that is $19.95/month; later it will be $29.95/month. My thinking is that, if I prevent just one or two illegal downloads, or several dozens (or hundreds) of illegal copies being passed around, I am ahead of the game by not losing profits on those illegal products. Although many of those folks will not pay and download it legally anyway, the ones who see the value of it will.

If the monthly fee is too much for you, SmartDD (or something similar) at least gives you some reasonably good protection over not using anything.

Well, that’s my thinking. Anybody else have a different perspective? I am just starting to use Software Defender, so if I find some negatives (none so far), I’ll return and mention them.

Hi Don M,

Thanks for that info

Stacey

I have never tried one of the security programs that uses IP tracking because I have a problem with the concept.

Most, if not all high speed internet providers use dynamic IP’s. That means if you disconnect from the system, the next time you log on, you have a different IP. Mine changes regularly.

It doesn’t take much imagination to envision the potential for havoc and royally ticked off customers that could result from using a system like this.

I believe I’ll pass on it, thank you.

My understanding is that Software Defender uses the MAC address, not the IP address. While an IP address can be dynamic (changeable) or static (unchanging), a MAC address does not change (unless the PC user changes it deliberately, but most people don’t even know it exists).

Without getting too technical (I hope) and way oversimplifying, an IP address basically handles the software side of the network (or WWW, in this case) using TCP/IP. A MAC address essentially handles the hardware side. So they work hand-in-hand, but are not the same thing.

I can’t see why any average PC user would ever change their MAC address anyway, but if for some reason a user did change his/her MAC address, the next time they go to use the ebook / software / whatever that is protected by Software Defender, they will get a message that their key has been disabled, along with a message to contact the seller (and it gives the seller’s email address), so the situation can be resolved, although with a little inconvenience to the customer.

I hope this helps allay your concerns about the way Software Defender works. If anyone has a clearer explanation or can correct my understanding of the way this all works, let us know on here, but I think I have it right.

The monthly fee is a fair bit more than a competitive product.

That was a thoughtful and informative post, Don M. Thanks.

The deeper technical aspects of MAC (Media Access Control) addresses is little over my head. I realize it is burned onto all ethernet cards at the factory, and all modems have an ethernet card.

Using the MAC address would cut down on the havoc potential, but still restricts the customer’s use of a product they bought and paid for.

If I purchased such a product and replaced my modem or computer, I’d have to jump through hoops to get my access restored. If I want to put a copy on my laptop to read on a trip - more hoops.

Never having used a program like this, I don’t know if the buyer is even aware of the restrictions. My guess is it’s usually done without their knowledge.

Restricting a buyer’s use of a product is bad business and will bite you in the behind sooner than later. Doing it without the buyer’s knowledge is unforgivable.

If a seller makes his/her prospects aware of the restrictions up front, it will hurt sales. If the seller doesn’t make it known, and the buyer finds out the hard way, it won’t help the seller’s reputation one bit.

I would also want to check the legalities of restricting use without the buyer’s knowledge.

If I was the unknowing victim of such a setup, I would be so angry I’d blab it all over the forums after I demanded a refund.

Thanks, but I still pass.

SB, you have an excellent point. Upfront disclosure of the restrictions will impact sales; later discovery will make for unhappy customers. I’ll take this into consideration I get into using this product more. Thanks for the thoughts!

The comments re MAC v IP address are valid. You will change the MAC if you change computer, network card, modem etc. You will change the IP address by rebooting your ADSL/Cable modem ore every time you start your dial-up modem.

I looked at locking software to the hard drive number but it is easy to change.

I have been exploring security for years and think I have a solution in my current program but it is way too easy for any hacker to crack any program’s security. You are never safe from hackers.

Brent

Brent, you are absolutely right about hackers, they are a thorn. However, you have to remember one thing: hackers are not marketers.

Even though some may try to steal things to try and make money, my mother said something to holds true everyday of my life. “It’s never all about you”, she said.

I think the software does an adequate job of protecting what you have. Hackers are not marketers, and all shady marketers are not hackers. So, let’s make money and not worry about everything that could happen.

Hello All,

Rod Beckwith here, co-creator of Software Defender. Thanks for all the great comments about our system and digital security in general.

No system out there is perfect, however I can say that it has helped us drastically reduce piracy and refunds. There is no “havoc” with customers that want more than 1 license or whose machine decides to die.

Our customers have direct control over every aspect of this.

You see, I am not only the create of Software Defender, I am also the #1 customer. I had to create something like this because we were being taken advantage of and the solutions out there were not what we needed.

So, now you know the rest of the story,

Rod