diff --git a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/CTCloudHttpClient.java b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/CTCloudHttpClient.java
index 0a7c69cdeecb263bffda33a6b227952914bbd518..cf93d58307b1347bc10fff1cb63e8b0371647bfc 100644
--- a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/CTCloudHttpClient.java
+++ b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/CTCloudHttpClient.java
@@ -158,16 +158,23 @@ public <O> O doPost(String urlPath, Map<String, String> urlReqParams, Object jso
                         // Parse Response
                         if (classType != null) {
                             HttpEntity entity = response.getEntity();
-                            String entityStr = EntityUtils.toString(entity);
-                            O respObj = mapper.readValue(entityStr, classType);
-                            return respObj;
-                        } else {
-                            return null;
+                            if (entity != null) {
+                                String entityStr = EntityUtils.toString(entity);
+                                if (StringUtils.isNotBlank(entityStr)) {
+                                    O respObj = mapper.readValue(entityStr, classType);
+                                    return respObj;
+                                }
+                            }
                         }
+
+                        return null;
                     } else {
                         LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, "Response Received. - Status Error {}", response.getStatusLine());
                         handleNonOKResponse(response, "");
                     }
+                    // transform all non-CTCloudException's into a CTCloudException
+                } catch (CTCloudException ex) {
+                    throw ex;
                 } catch (Exception ex) {
                     LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, "Error when parsing response from CyberTriage Cloud", ex);
                     throw new CTCloudException(CTCloudException.parseUnknownException(ex), ex);
@@ -191,7 +198,7 @@ public void doFileUploadPut(FileUploadRequest fileUploadRequest) throws CTCloudE
         if (fileUploadRequest == null) {
             throw new CTCloudException(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, new IllegalArgumentException("fileUploadRequest cannot be null"));
         }
-                
+
         String fullUrlPath = fileUploadRequest.getFullUrlPath();
         String fileName = fileUploadRequest.getFileName();
         InputStream fileInputStream = fileUploadRequest.getFileInputStream();
@@ -200,7 +207,7 @@ public void doFileUploadPut(FileUploadRequest fileUploadRequest) throws CTCloudE
         if (StringUtils.isBlank(fullUrlPath) || fileInputStream == null || contentLength == null || contentLength <= 0) {
             throw new CTCloudException(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, new IllegalArgumentException("fullUrlPath, fileInputStream, contentLength must not be empty, null or less than 0"));
         }
-        
+
         URI putUri;
         try {
             putUri = new URI(fullUrlPath);
diff --git a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/json/LicenseResponse.java b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/json/LicenseResponse.java
index a3a824788400e033cdf0776fbe6fcda2616bad0c..5a85778b60ec8c84375afd42b3514a6c69b5576c 100644
--- a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/json/LicenseResponse.java
+++ b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/json/LicenseResponse.java
@@ -32,18 +32,21 @@ public class LicenseResponse {
     private final Boolean hostChanged;
     private final Long hostChangesRemaining;
     private final BoostLicenseResponse boostLicense;
+    private final String errorMsg;
 
     @JsonCreator
     public LicenseResponse(
             @JsonProperty("success") Boolean success,
             @JsonProperty("hostChanged") Boolean hostChanged,
             @JsonProperty("hostChangesRemaining") Long hostChangesRemaining,
-            @JsonProperty("boostLicense") BoostLicenseResponse boostLicense
+            @JsonProperty("boostLicense") BoostLicenseResponse boostLicense,
+            @JsonProperty("errorMsg") String errorMsg
     ) {
         this.success = success;
         this.hostChanged = hostChanged;
         this.hostChangesRemaining = hostChangesRemaining;
         this.boostLicense = boostLicense;
+        this.errorMsg = errorMsg;
     }
 
     public Boolean isSuccess() {
@@ -61,4 +64,8 @@ public Long getHostChangesRemaining() {
     public BoostLicenseResponse getBoostLicense() {
         return boostLicense;
     }
+
+    public String getErrorMsg() {
+        return errorMsg;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/util/LicenseDecryptorUtil.java b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/util/LicenseDecryptorUtil.java
index f62b57d795559275f0329182904dc867fc9c1b83..26ebe793a4a93b0462dfb59b1cf67df849adf48d 100644
--- a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/util/LicenseDecryptorUtil.java
+++ b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctapi/util/LicenseDecryptorUtil.java
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 import java.security.spec.InvalidKeySpecException;
 import java.security.spec.KeySpec;
 import java.security.spec.X509EncodedKeySpec;
+import java.text.MessageFormat;
 import java.util.Base64;
 import javax.crypto.BadPaddingException;
 import javax.crypto.Cipher;
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@
 import javax.crypto.SecretKey;
 import javax.crypto.spec.IvParameterSpec;
 import javax.crypto.spec.SecretKeySpec;
+import org.apache.commons.lang3.ObjectUtils;
 
 /**
  * Decrypts the payload of boost license.
@@ -58,12 +60,12 @@ public static LicenseDecryptorUtil getInstance() {
 
     private LicenseDecryptorUtil() {
     }
-    
+
     public LicenseInfo createLicenseInfo(LicenseResponse licenseResponse) throws JsonProcessingException, InvalidLicenseException {
-        if (licenseResponse == null || licenseResponse.getBoostLicense() == null) {
-            throw new InvalidLicenseException("License or boost license are null");
+        if (licenseResponse == null) {
+            throw new InvalidLicenseException("License is null");
         }
-        
+
         DecryptedLicenseResponse decrypted = parseLicenseJSON(licenseResponse.getBoostLicense());
         return new LicenseInfo(licenseResponse, decrypted);
     }
@@ -78,6 +80,9 @@ public LicenseInfo createLicenseInfo(LicenseResponse licenseResponse) throws Jso
      * com.basistech.df.cybertriage.autopsy.ctapi.util.LicenseDecryptorUtil.InvalidLicenseException
      */
     public DecryptedLicenseResponse parseLicenseJSON(BoostLicenseResponse licenseResponse) throws JsonProcessingException, InvalidLicenseException {
+        if (licenseResponse == null) {
+            throw new InvalidLicenseException("Boost license is null");
+        }
 
         String decryptedJsonResponse;
         try {
@@ -101,6 +106,12 @@ public DecryptedLicenseResponse parseLicenseJSON(BoostLicenseResponse licenseRes
     }
 
     private String decryptLicenseString(String encryptedJson, String ivBase64, String encryptedKey, String version) throws IOException, GeneralSecurityException, InvalidLicenseException {
+        if (ObjectUtils.anyNull(encryptedJson, ivBase64, encryptedKey, version)) {
+            throw new InvalidLicenseException(MessageFormat.format(
+                    "encryptedJson: {0}, iv: {1}, encryptedKey: {2}, version: {3} must all be non-null",
+                    encryptedJson, ivBase64, encryptedKey, version));
+        }
+
         if (!"1.0".equals(version)) {
             throw new InvalidLicenseException("Unexpected file version: " + version);
         }
diff --git a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/Bundle.properties b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/Bundle.properties
index 3c86b5446dc4c97322b2d9a9847caa1694de8bba..44e71a4513faf8e99b7bb26b37a3aa624f9f7d91 100644
--- a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/Bundle.properties
+++ b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/Bundle.properties
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 CTLicenseDialog.title=Add a License...
 CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberLabel.text=License Number:
-CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberTextField.text=XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX
+CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberTextField.text=
 CTLicenseDialog.cancelButton.text=Cancel
 CTLicenseDialog.okButton.text=Ok
 CTLicenseDialog.warningLabel.text=
@@ -25,3 +25,4 @@ EULADialog.title=Cyber Triage End User License Agreement
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.licenseInfoMessageLabel.text=
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.disclaimer.text=<html>The Cyber Triage Malware Scanner module uses 40+ malware scanning engines to identify if Windows executables are malicious. It requires a paid subscription to use.</html>
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.purchaseFromLabel.text=For licensing information, visit
+CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberTextField.toolTipText=AUT-XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX
diff --git a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/Bundle.properties-MERGED b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/Bundle.properties-MERGED
index 0e888c7facf1375c12a0f927e486e3b38032b34b..d9876a8ed7fb131d2b7163a2007a49b81726bba9 100644
--- a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/Bundle.properties-MERGED
+++ b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/Bundle.properties-MERGED
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@
 
 CTLicenseDialog.title=Add a License...
 CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberLabel.text=License Number:
-CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberTextField.text=XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX
+CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberTextField.text=
 CTLicenseDialog.cancelButton.text=Cancel
 CTLicenseDialog.okButton.text=Ok
 CTLicenseDialog.warningLabel.text=
-CTLicenseDialog_verifyInput_licenseNumberError=<html>Please verify license number format of 'XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX'</html>
+CTLicenseDialog_verifyInput_licenseNumberError=<html>Please enter a license number</html>
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.hashLookupsRemainingLabel.text=
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.countersResetLabel.text=
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.maxFileUploadsLabel.text=
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_licenseAddDialogEnteredErr_title=License Number Alr
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_licenseAddDialogPatternErr_desc=Please verify that license number is of format 'XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX'
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_licenseAddDialogPatternErr_title=Invalid License Number
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_LicenseFetcher_apiErr_title=Server Error
+# {0} - licenseCode
+CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_LicenseFetcher_defaultErrMsg_desc=Error activating boost license {0}
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_LicenseFetcher_localErr_desc=A general error occurred while fetching license information.  Please try again later.
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_LicenseFetcher_localErr_title=General Error
 # {0} - expiresDate
@@ -63,3 +65,4 @@ EULADialog.title=Cyber Triage End User License Agreement
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.licenseInfoMessageLabel.text=
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.disclaimer.text=<html>The Cyber Triage Malware Scanner module uses 40+ malware scanning engines to identify if Windows executables are malicious. It requires a paid subscription to use.</html>
 CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.purchaseFromLabel.text=For licensing information, visit
+CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberTextField.toolTipText=AUT-XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX
diff --git a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTLicenseDialog.form b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTLicenseDialog.form
index e7cd2743a0764cbcbf22a4cfe04867d489ebe5ae..2ea57d43a8abce9be2971e3a6e9dfce09942d473 100644
--- a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTLicenseDialog.form
+++ b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTLicenseDialog.form
@@ -127,6 +127,9 @@
         <Property name="text" type="java.lang.String" editor="org.netbeans.modules.i18n.form.FormI18nStringEditor">
           <ResourceString bundle="com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/Bundle.properties" key="CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberTextField.text" replaceFormat="org.openide.util.NbBundle.getMessage({sourceFileName}.class, &quot;{key}&quot;)"/>
         </Property>
+        <Property name="toolTipText" type="java.lang.String" editor="org.netbeans.modules.i18n.form.FormI18nStringEditor">
+          <ResourceString bundle="com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/Bundle.properties" key="CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberTextField.toolTipText" replaceFormat="org.openide.util.NbBundle.getMessage({sourceFileName}.class, &quot;{key}&quot;)"/>
+        </Property>
       </Properties>
       <Constraints>
         <Constraint layoutClass="org.netbeans.modules.form.compat2.layouts.DesignGridBagLayout" value="org.netbeans.modules.form.compat2.layouts.DesignGridBagLayout$GridBagConstraintsDescription">
diff --git a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTLicenseDialog.java b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTLicenseDialog.java
index 3bff998901d0fc071686150e58c3eedf4c8d57df..99fc749dd739bb0923293896c70eb6ca24d09b44 100644
--- a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTLicenseDialog.java
+++ b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTLicenseDialog.java
@@ -18,18 +18,20 @@
  */
 package com.basistech.df.cybertriage.autopsy.ctoptions.ctcloud;
 
+import java.awt.Color;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 import javax.swing.event.DocumentEvent;
 import javax.swing.event.DocumentListener;
 import org.apache.commons.lang3.StringUtils;
 import org.openide.util.NbBundle.Messages;
+import org.sleuthkit.autopsy.corecomponents.TextPrompt;
 
 /**
  * License dialog
  */
 class CTLicenseDialog extends javax.swing.JDialog {
 
-    private static final Pattern LICENSE_PATTERN = Pattern.compile("^\\s*[a-zA-Z0-9\\-]+?\\s*$");
+    private static final Pattern LICENSE_PATTERN = Pattern.compile("^\\s*[a-zA-Z0-9-_]+?\\s*$");
     private String licenseString = null;
 
     /**
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ class CTLicenseDialog extends javax.swing.JDialog {
     public CTLicenseDialog(java.awt.Frame parent, boolean modal) {
         super(parent, modal);
         initComponents();
+        configureHintText();
         this.licenseNumberTextField.getDocument().putProperty("filterNewlines", Boolean.TRUE);
         this.licenseNumberTextField.getDocument().addDocumentListener(new DocumentListener() {
             @Override
@@ -56,13 +59,23 @@ public void removeUpdate(DocumentEvent e) {
             }
         });
     }
-
+    
+    private void configureHintText() {
+        TextPrompt textPrompt = new TextPrompt(
+                StringUtils.defaultString(this.licenseNumberTextField.getToolTipText()),
+                this.licenseNumberTextField);
+        
+        textPrompt.setForeground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
+        float alpha = 0.9f; // Mostly opaque
+        textPrompt.changeAlpha(alpha);
+    }
+    
     String getValue() {
         return licenseString;
     }
 
     @Messages({
-        "CTLicenseDialog_verifyInput_licenseNumberError=<html>Please verify license number format of 'XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX'</html>"
+        "CTLicenseDialog_verifyInput_licenseNumberError=<html>Please enter a license number</html>"
     })
     private void verifyInput() {
         String licenseInput = StringUtils.defaultString(this.licenseNumberTextField.getText());
@@ -165,6 +178,7 @@ public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
         getContentPane().add(cancelButton, gridBagConstraints);
 
         licenseNumberTextField.setText(org.openide.util.NbBundle.getMessage(CTLicenseDialog.class, "CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberTextField.text")); // NOI18N
+        licenseNumberTextField.setToolTipText(org.openide.util.NbBundle.getMessage(CTLicenseDialog.class, "CTLicenseDialog.licenseNumberTextField.toolTipText")); // NOI18N
         gridBagConstraints = new java.awt.GridBagConstraints();
         gridBagConstraints.gridx = 0;
         gridBagConstraints.gridy = 1;
@@ -177,7 +191,8 @@ public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
     }// </editor-fold>//GEN-END:initComponents
 
     private void okButtonActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {//GEN-FIRST:event_okButtonActionPerformed
-        this.licenseString = this.licenseNumberTextField.getText();
+        String inputText = this.licenseNumberTextField.getText();
+        this.licenseString = inputText == null ? null : inputText.trim();
         this.dispose();
     }//GEN-LAST:event_okButtonActionPerformed
 
diff --git a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.java b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.java
index 3c71bd3cbacb53462d1b0325398c5e0b1f768a8f..deff21d4230b27ec14282dac45ed4b06ce39f5c2 100644
--- a/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.java
+++ b/Core/src/com/basistech/df/cybertriage/autopsy/ctoptions/ctcloud/CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.java
@@ -608,6 +608,8 @@ private void acceptEula(LicenseResponse licenseResponse) {
     @NbBundle.Messages({
         "CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_LicenseFetcher_apiErr_title=Server Error",
         "CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_LicenseFetcher_localErr_title=General Error",
+        "# {0} - licenseCode",
+        "CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_LicenseFetcher_defaultErrMsg_desc=Error activating boost license {0}",
         "CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_LicenseFetcher_localErr_desc=A general error occurred while fetching license information.  Please try again later.",})
     private class LicenseFetcher extends SwingWorker<LicenseResponse, Void> {
 
@@ -629,10 +631,9 @@ protected LicenseResponse doInBackground() throws Exception {
         protected void done() {
             try {
                 LicenseResponse licenseResponse = get();
-                if (licenseResponse != null && licenseResponse.isSuccess()) {
-                    SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() -> acceptEula(licenseResponse));
-                } else {
-                    logger.log(Level.WARNING, "An API error occurred while fetching license information.  License fetch was not successful");
+                // if no result, show unauthorized
+                if (licenseResponse == null) {
+                    logger.log(Level.WARNING, "An API error occurred while fetching license information.  License fetch returned no result.");
                     JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(
                             CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.this,
                             CTCloudException.ErrorCode.UN_AUTHORIZED.getDescription(),
@@ -640,7 +641,30 @@ protected void done() {
                             JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
                     setLicenseDisplay(licenseInfo, null);
                     loadMalwareScansInfo(licenseInfo);
+                    return;
+                }
+                
+                // if not successful response 
+                if (!Boolean.TRUE.equals(licenseResponse.isSuccess())) {
+                    logger.log(Level.WARNING, "An API error occurred while fetching license information.  License fetch was not successful");
+                    // use default message unless error message specified
+                    String message = Bundle.CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_LicenseFetcher_defaultErrMsg_desc(licenseText);
+                    if (!StringUtils.isBlank(licenseResponse.getErrorMsg())) {
+                        message = licenseResponse.getErrorMsg();
+                    }
+                    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(
+                            CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel.this,
+                            message,
+                            Bundle.CTMalwareScannerOptionsPanel_LicenseFetcher_apiErr_title(),
+                            JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
+                    setLicenseDisplay(licenseInfo, null);
+                    loadMalwareScansInfo(licenseInfo);
+                    return;
                 }
+                
+                // otherwise, load 
+                SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() -> acceptEula(licenseResponse));
+                
             } catch (InterruptedException | CancellationException ex) {
                 // ignore cancellation; just load current license
                 setLicenseDisplay(licenseInfo, null);