Make a .DLL File Inaccessible

[NetJunkie]

I am using a DLL file as my license file for a VB.NET project and was wondering if there was a way to make it locked so notepad can't open it and edit the data stored in there. Thanks in advanced!

[adam_k]

You can (and should) encrypt it. If you encrypt it as a file (versus just the contents) then users won't be able to copy/paste it to another computer (except when using Ghost or similar software).

[NetJunkie]

How do I do this?

[NetJunkie]

Plus, when you say it will be unable to copy and paste from a computer to another computer, does this protect against them opening it and editing the data?

[adam_k]

it will get corrupted when edited, and it they won't be able to read it.
Give me a few mins to google a tutorial or something for you.

[NetJunkie]

Ok, thank you very much!

[adam_k]

I've found these:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/301070
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/security/SimpleEncryption.aspx
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/security/EncryptFile.aspx

I can't find the "encrypt and prevent copy/paste" solution I promised, although I am aware of software that uses this.
I was just wondering if this was achieved by using the computername or something similar as part of the key, but that wouldn't work with Ghost (I used to prepare workstations a while back and was using Ghost to copy HDDs and then assign them computer names and this would work without a problem, but wouldn't if you copied it using windows copy/paste). In case anybody is wondering all copies were legal with full licenses.