iLOK warning

[bilrobins]

Hi

I've been using plugins with ilOK 'security' for some time and seen several folks saying that they will never use iLOK products again, etc.

I have, until now, been OK and wondered what the fuss is all about.

A couple of hours ago all of my iLOK plugins stopped working (just when I really need some of them). Nothing has changed on my computer and it is a very clean install, well maintained, etc. iLOK has decided that I now have a different computer (with no iLOK licenses) and my 'old' computer with all the licenses is inaccessible. I have contacted support who (worryingly) say that this can sometimes happen (Windows updates, etc). I now have to go through a process of reporting the 'old' computer unusable and all of the original plugin providers have to approve (individually) that the licenses can be disabled and re-enabled on the 'new' computer.

There is no guarantee that the providers will do this and (as it is a weekend) I suspect that I will be waiting for at least a few days (maybe more for some).

This has really put me off using iLOK in the future....

Just thought I'd put my experience out there.

CHEERS

[SLiC]

Sorry for your trouble

Yup- everything is good until it isnt...I made a similar post a year or so ago...a lot of licences were back in a few days but several take a few weeks, the longest took some chasing (via ilok) and was over a month. Most people posted to keep your licences on a dongle...it is safer but no less of a PITA and an ilok 3 is almost £50 and nothing to say you wont need an ilkok 4 in 6 months (my hardware dongle is a 1 and nothing much works on that now)

Main thing is not to buy anything that only gives you 1 licence - if you have 2 or 3 you can always be strait back up whilst you wait...

If ilok let you remove a computer and reissued back the licences there would be no problems at all....but that too easy!

[Frankie.T]

That's one of the reason i avoid iLok, and i strongly prefer to use software that use serial number or key file (with no challenge/response)
I'm tired to give money to have hassles just because i'm a legit customer, while who use pirated software do that without that hassles.

I had that kind of issues too, and i've learned the lesson, and i also went further so not just iLok, and what happened with Waves should have been a big warning to everyone, but i see people just to wake up when it's too late.

So i vote with my wallet respectful and user friendly companies that SELL me software instead of renting for something they can deny me or change whatever policy for whatever reason

[rageix]

I've had this happen as well after a BIOS update. It is unacceptable, and the fact that iLok just shrug it off is infuriating. But there is nothing you can you do, iLok doesn't care.

[ghettosynth]

Ok, let's be clear here. Most people, myself included, who like iLok use a dongle. The dongle avoids this mess because it doesn't change. Not using a dongle means that you are using challenge response against a computer ID and it's no different from any other computer ID in that many different kinds of changes will trigger a problem. I love iLok with a dongle, I would NEVER use computer authorization for iLok, not even for live work. Computer authorization has all the downsides of iLok combined with all of the downsides of C/R.

Can a dongle fail? Yes, is it rare, yes, it's super rare. Far more rare than your computer having an identity crisis.

[Ah_Dziz]

I keep all that junk on a hardware key and avoid new things that use iLok (originally got one for waves). I only have a couple plug-in that I really need that require iLok at this point, but with that being said, the hardware is far safer. It's a lame system but it's been stable in all my experience (15 years or so).

[RobGee]

I only use the dongle and never use machine authorisation. You’d be in the same situation if you had a hard drive/hardware failure without a backup.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I only use the dongle and never use machine authorisation. You’d be in the same situation if you had a hard drive/hardware failure without a backup.

Same. I'll use machine auths for demos only.

The permanent licenses end up on the hardware dongle. How many times have you had a PC, hard drive, or other component just randomly fail on you? It's insane to me that iLok machine auths would even be a thing.

But I thought I read someone say yesterday that you could remotely deactivate the old PC with iLok and get the licenses back. Is that not true? I have no idea.

[zvenx]

....
The permanent licenses end up on the hardware dongle. How many times have you had a PC, hard drive, or other component just randomly fail on you? It's insane to me that iLok machine auths would even be a thing.
.....

My thoughts too.
rsp

[plexuss]

I use iLok and I am not phazed by this anecdote. I also use not 1 but 2 keys for my licenses to help avoid the rare issue. Generally I agree with ghettosynth's post. Sorry this happened to you. Hope you get it worked out soon. I will continue to use and rely on iLok because it offers more benefits than risks to me.

[traz]

I agree ...I have 3 keys (oldest to the newest) (harddrive changes, motherboard changes, computer changes and windows changes) and never had a problem.

[JerGoertz]

I've used hardware iLok for over 20 years and have never had a problem with it.

[ATS]

I have nightmares about using machine authorization. I never used it and never will.

[skyscape]

iLOK is awful. Similar situation. Also a shout out to just how bad AIR's customer service is. All other developers reinstated my plugins within a few days (even this is frustratingly long), I've been waiting over a week for AIR. Nothing. It's a ridiculous system that needs to stop.

[Funky40]

Yup- everything is good until it isnt...

So true.

i have for example now USB Hub problems.
its only 2-3 brands where this leads to problems.
feels, like these would ping more often home (to my i-lok center on the PC, i´d guess)
2-3 brands make trouble, if i install a I-lok protected plugin, while my Host is running.

On the other side, i went thru two PC changes (Mac) within very short time.
Then you think I-lok was a godsend. ( having everything on the USB dongle)

FAct is: I could not live without these I-lok plugins !
and: the time it takes to restore everything else vs. a PC-change IS insane.

Main thing is not to buy anything that only gives you 1 licence - if you have 2 or 3 you can always be strait back up whilst you wait...

quoted for truth !
I look at you Zynaptic.

in fact, a VERY GOOD Argument vs. these screwed up dudes.