I am experimenting with software copy protection ideas and now I have the following problem.
I have a trial version of my application. Trial data are stored in a certain file and also in some certain registry keys. Of course I know that user can break this trial protection by using some registry and file monitoring and backup tools but I want at least protect against some simple hacks like date-time changes and using Windows System Restore.
The problem is that Windows System Restore wipes out all my application files and also the trial data. I know that System Restore does not affect User's documents folder but I not want to store the trial datafile there, because it is too obvious.
Is there any way I can stop System Restore to remove my trial data file?
Why not store it in the user's doc application folder?
Application folder
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb425869.aspx
Security through obscurity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_through_obscurity
Other option is the use of the application settings
Best practice to save application settings in a Windows Forms Application