While hiding the splash screen is an idea. You also need to remember that if they show the registration number in the splash screen they probably show it in the About (under help) screen. Any tech worth his salt (and a few that arent) would know this. Short of copying the exe off into a back up and deleting them off the system or uninstalling them, there really isnt a way to keep them secure. If they log the numbers to the registry or in their own ini files that may not even be enough. If youre concerned about your liability I would suggest contacting the makers of the software you are concerned with and asking them what they suggest. If you identify find your registrations numbers out on the net. I would report them to the individual software makers. They will be far better financed to pursue the shop/employee. Most all computer shops will also have privacy/security policies/contracts that state they will not share your data. This may not stop them, but it will at least give you a way to prosecute. If you are in the USA you might look up the shop with the Better Business Bureau (I dont know if other countries have an equivalent organization) to see if there are any complaints against them. Uninstalling and scouring your registry is probably the only real safe option.

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