Patent ID: 8578510

Claim:
An apparatus useable in managing access to digital content, comprising: a network interface component for receiving and sending information over a network; a processor, in communication with the network interface component that includes machine instructions that cause the processor to install an application onto the apparatus, the application being configured to perform operations, including: sending a first portion of an application to a client device, wherein the application is unable to execute fully absent a second portion of the application; sending a secrets manager to the client device, wherein the secrets manager is configured to generate and to store a plurality of different secrets on the client device separate from the secrets manager and the application, at least one of the secrets being stored as a visible text file, and wherein the secrets manager is distributed separately from the application; receiving from the secrets manager information about the plurality of stored secrets; employing the information about the plurality of stored secrets and secrets verification code to modify the second portion of the application; sending the second portion of the application to the client device wherein the secrets verification code is configured to search for and examine the plurality of different secrets and employ a result of the search and examination to detect an attempt to pirate the application, and if an attempt to pirate is detected, to further inhibit execution of the application.