[fysiks]

Originally Posted by Depresie Yes, it is possible, i just found a way to encrypt them in such way to work only on one game server..

I don't believe you. Please explain what you think will work.

[Kowalsky]

Depresie, I couldn't agree more. He is a complete scumbag. He has his own website where he is selling AMXX plugins without providing the source code and binding his plugins by IP. Later on when the plugin is sold, he doesn't support the users. (I am not one of the users but I know many client that suffered from him). But what's the point of bying pure amxx? Ehh, I don't understand it. If you really found out the way to encrypt models, don't tell it here. He will use it to his advantage to sell them on his website... Same as those amxx plugins. What a scumbag... Besides I am not sure about the quality of the code he is offering, most likely it is trashy..

[ddhoward]

Originally Posted by Depresie encrypt

If you are "encrypting" files which the client must use, then the client must be provided with a way to decrypt said files in order to use them.

Any encryption done would either

1. make the files unusable
2. isn't actually "encryption"
3. require that the decryption key would be freely passed around to every client who joins the server.
   • Further, the game client would need to support the decryption.

I'm going to guess that we're dealing with option B here.

[klippy]

It isn't really encryption, but I saw something strange a few years ago. Ovidius sent me some zombie server where I joined and everything looked okay. But, someone reported to him that he couldn't join a server that uses these same resources that zombie server did (they would get a client crash or something, I don't remember, it just wasn't working). When I looked at the model file with a hex editor, it contained some ASCII art in it separated by a lot of whitespaces from other data.
How and why does that work? I have no idea, but it looks like "protecting" models to be used only on one server is really possible. HL/GoldSrc engine is strange indeed.

[Depresie]

I won't explain here how it works, since we have enough restrictions and bullshit on the internet...

My way is different from the one Klippy is talking about, i doesn't crash clients or servers that are using the exact files, here is what it actually does

Makes the .mdl file unable to be decompiled/edited/opened by such programs as half life model viewer
If the file will be used on another server, it won't be rendered, it would be a blank model

It requires Amxmodx and model editing

I'd like to share this "discovery" only for knowledge, but i am afraid i can't since there are too many morons on the internet who are trying to comercialize anything that they can

@ddhoward

a and the first half of c, also maybe b

[gabuch2]

Originally Posted by Depresie I won't explain here how it works, since we have enough restrictions and bullshit on the internet... My way is different from the one Klippy is talking about, i doesn't crash clients or servers that are using the exact files, here is what it actually does Makes the .mdl file unable to be decompiled/edited/opened by such programs as half life model viewer If the file will be used on another server, it won't be rendered, it would be a blank model It requires Amxmodx and model editing I'd like to share this "discovery" only for knowledge, but i am afraid i can't since there are too many morons on the internet who are trying to comercialize anything that they can @ddhoward a and the first half of c, also maybe b

How many servers are using this method to protect their content? IMHO this knowledge can be used to adapt the current decompilers to bypass all the restrictions.

[Depresie]

None are using this method to protect their content, since im the only one who knows it...
But there are other two, but not fully functional

1. Forbids decompiling all the model ( the model can be used on other servers )

2. Forbids opening the model in any .mdl viewer ( the model can be used on other servers )

But my method, i never seen it anywhere before... it forbids both opening/editing the model and using it on other servers that don't know the "key" to make it work ( the key is based strictly on server side plugin )

[OvidiuS]

Originally Posted by KliPPy It isn't really encryption, but I saw something strange a few years ago. Ovidius sent me some zombie server where I joined and everything looked okay. But, someone reported to him that he couldn't join a server that uses these same resources that zombie server did (they would get a client crash or something, I don't remember, it just wasn't working). When I looked at the model file with a hex editor, it contained some ASCII art in it separated by a lot of whitespaces from other data. How and why does that work? I have no idea, but it looks like "protecting" models to be used only on one server is really possible. HL/GoldSrc engine is strange indeed.

Since the thread is revived, here is the model from that server: https://mega.nz/#!T4AEUSyL!SEA3KIub-...hbZ0lWujhiv-yg
Maybe it will help someone on creating their own "protection".

[Arkshine]

HLMV can open it. It doesn't seem protected. But well, I would guess you would need to just alter some offset in the table to skip textures location, or something similar which can be easily fixed with a plugin.

[Depresie]

@Ovidius
Interesting, i never seen that before, but it's useless, it can be easily fixed

I didnt try to decompile it with model viewer, but even if the texture part would keep you from decompiling it, you can just export the textures, and then decompile the model bypassing textures

Also i think it would work even like that on a server.. didn't test tho..