Activating the program via the Internet?

Question

PHP

Hello! I have a lot of questions) I'll be glad to any infe
I have an application on Autohotkey. I want to sell. Need protection. I want to make a start-up activation via the Internet.
Request for a php script, and entering an account and password into the database. So that in the future activation with the same data does not take place.
What is the best way to do this? Maybe something to read? How hard is it to hack? Does it make sense to bind to the poppy address?
Thank you!

Answer 1

Opened the sources of "applications on Autohotkey". Are they in the open?
Removed registration check.
Defense passed.

what could be the solution to this issue? I understand that everyone is hacked! but at least not so easy/cheap.

Obfuscate and package the code . Side effects: the weight of the executable will become smaller, and antiviruses may start to swear. Then you will have to sign the application or look for a packer that they do not swear at.
Before a request to the server, create a pair of one-time keys , and send the public key with a request so that it encrypts its response with this key.
It won't stop some more or less serious hacker, but it will take a bit of fiddling.

Answer 2

registered the licensed domain in hosts the
local web server returns the server response parsed in advance
protection passed

Answer 3

I found a video on YouTube, as a guy opens the source code of the autohotkey program.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loRgEy2EMvg
Although it took him 4 minutes, but at least it does not open in a notepad.
Plus, if you confuse the program code so that you have to understand the whole thing.
There will also be no updates and support.
In my case, I think this is enough.
Thank you all for taking the time to share your knowledge with me!