Method and apparatus for validating software use on an apparatus

An apparatus for validating software usage, the apparatus comprises:

• a processor for executing instructions stored in a memory to operate the apparatus to:
• collect data when a piece of software is running on the apparatus and the piece of software is being used by a user, wherein the collected data includes data indicative of one or more user activities;
• periodically generate a data packet containing the data collected when the piece of software is running to obtain a plurality of the data packets;
• sending each data packet for verification to verify that the data packet is generated according to predetermined rules governing the periodic generation of the data packet;
• sending a plurality of the verified data packet for
• checking that the collected data contained in the plurality of the verified data packet determine whether the user is using the software during the time of collection of the collected data, and for
• checking whether the checked collected data contained in the plurality of the verified data packet have similarity with past collected data that exceeds a predetermined level of similarity,
• wherein software usage by a user is deemed to be validated if it is determined that the user is using the software and no past collected data exceeding the predetermined level of similarity is found.