Few methods can be utilized to stop piracy in a relatively secure way. A good example is server-side implementation of applications another is encryption in which the whole decryption or execution process occurs in specific hardware. Those options both offer very good software protection against reverse engineering since the attacker suffers a serious problem reaching the code. But, there are some serious drawbacks to these techniques. Server-side implementation performs worse than if run locally and hardware implementation requires the end-user to have particular hardware.
There are more security options available however, one of which is code obfuscation. However, code obfuscation is quite a means of earning reverse engineering economically infeasible concerning resources and time needed. Needless to say, the employed techniques have to have the ability to stave off attacks with de obfuscator tools.
Code obfuscation is difficult to define: It is not encryption nor can it be scrambling of code. In actuality, the technique used to generate code that is still perfectly comprehensible and executable by computers, but is very hard for people to understand. From a computer viewpoint, the technique looks like a translation, or simply creating code in a really different way, without altering the actual performance of the program.
Given enough time and perseverance, an experienced attacker will always locate vulnerabilities that enable reverse engineering a program. However, code obfuscation is used to generate the attack too costly in time and resources, so that even the seasoned cracker can give up or move away.
Various kinds of obfuscation can be implemented, depending on the format where the software is distributed. After the source code of a program is dispersed, source code obfuscation is frequently applied. Byte code obfuscation is put on Java byte code and MS.NET binary code obfuscation can be applied to all applications compiled to native code.
C++ languages require another approach to compilation. While c++ code obfuscator achieves platform independence, it also makes applications easy to decompile and reverse engineer. Thus, authors often grab to obfuscation methods for improved software protection. However, authors must obfuscate without changing a program’s logic. Indeed, the objective is to protect rather than to deform.
Binary code obfuscation can be also known as code morphing. It obfuscates the machine language or object code as opposed to the source code. Binary code obfuscation techniques change code in binary level, hence from the compiled executable. But, code obfuscation can also serve another master and it is particularly interesting that it also works in favour of the poor men who use the technique to guard their vireo, Trojans and the likes, from discovery. Now, envision code obfuscation is even often utilised to protect cracked applications against re-cracking by their buddies.