Is this common trial software DRM now?

[Gonad the Barbarian]

I've had some software installed with a functionality timer that apparently survives a system restore. I can only guess it logs information from the installed machine to a server that it checks on program startup. This isn't a gripe about the enforcement as much me feeling uneasy about exactly what identifiable information collected and stored that's apparently unique to me and/or my machine. Anyone familiar with what kind of DRM this might be? I'm hesitant to name the software, I don't want this to come off as some backhanded way to subvert the DRM (and it's not, I don't need the specific features that expire), but I would like to get an idea of what kind of information is being collected. If the mods feel the need to lock this I understand, but I'm feeling kind of uneasy here, like I just found a long term virus or spyware infection.

 

[Ketchup]

I apologize ahead of time if this doesn't answer your question:

My eyes were opened at how much info Google and tracking cookies and giving away from my machine, a couple months back when I started digging into such things.

I will say that it comes down to you asking yourself "How much is said information worth?" I don't know what information you have provided them, but what they ask for probably would influence your answer. If they only have your name and a general location? Meh. Others (like said G-word) are probably have just as much info, if not more, but are better at being stealthy about it.

 

[JEDIYoda]

The time is coming when in order to get online or even use programs you have no choice but to accept the terms and conditions......whet ever they may be....

 

[dualsmp]

It could be something as simple as the program dumping a file somewhere that system restore doesn't touch. I know some commercial software is pretty sneaky about hiding files in various places so you can't reinstall the trial software or gain the full functionality of the program features again. You might try cleaning all your temp folders, maybe run CCleaner.

Other than that you might have to completely reinstall the OS if you are suspicious of this program, or find help as to what what specific files are left behind by this software.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

The partition was wiped and a ghost image was restored, but thinking about it more I may have installed (and subsequently uninstalled) the program before I made that image. I hope that's it, like I said I'm OK with it being expired, I'm just nervous why it still knows it.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Probably just a hardware "fingerprint" of things like your network card address.

 

[bbhaag]

Don't a lot of paid programs with free trials use the registry to determine when their program has been installed before? That might explain why a system restore didn't work.
Try uninstalling the program then run a registry cleaner and see if that helps. That's the only idea I have so I hope it gives you some insight.