how to protect exe?

[nokmaster]

hello, how to protect a exe file?

let say the exe contains

Text1.Text = "YOUR NAME"

you compiled it in .exe

and then open the .exe into Hex Workshop

u will see the YOUR NAME in the Hex workshop

how to prevent this? i don't want to show the YOUR NAME in hex

thanks..

[yrwyddfa]

There are lots of (illegal) ways to reverse engineer other people's software.

If you want to stop simple hex editing, then you'll have to encrypt the string.

Possibly stick it in a res file, and decrypt as and when you need it (or at program start up)

Depending on what you're storing a Caeser Cipher might even be enough.

[I_Love_My_Vans]

Is this in IDE mode, or at runtime?

[nokmaster]

@I_Love_My_Vans

it is a runtime apps... (standalone)

thanks...

[divined]

yes. but then you just defer the problem as to where to store the encryption key! If decryption is to be done automatically, at least!

[I_Love_My_Vans]

I jjust tested this when the text is loaded on runtim, and it cannot see what is going in at all.

Try loading the text on runtime.

ILMV

[nokmaster]

@I_Love_My_Vans

how to do that?

thanks...

[yrwyddfa]

yes. but then you just defer the problem as to where to store the encryption key! If decryption is to be done automatically, at least!

Using a caesar cipher only requires a LONG. So the fact that this key is a number wouldn't be immediately obvious inside a hex editor.

[Mark Gambo]

. . . and then open the .exe into Hex Workshop . . .

Thanks, I was looking for a good Hex Editor and here is the link for all others that are interested: http://www.bpsoft.com/

[nokmaster]

@all

i find this code it works.......

how to create this into opening a file like CommonDialog

Private Sub Command1_Click()
 
    A = "."
    Open Text1.Text For Binary As #1
    Seek #1, 25
    Put #1, , A
    Close #1
    MsgBox "The File, ''" & Text1 & "'', Was Protected from being decompiled!", vbOKOnly, "Decompile Protection Attempt Successful!"
End Sub
 
 
 
Private Sub Dir1_Change()
 
    File1 = Dir1
    Text1 = Drive1 & "/" & Dir1
End Sub
 
 
 
Private Sub Drive1_Change()
 
    Drive1 = Dir1
End Sub
 
 
 
Private Sub File1_Click()
 
    Text1 = Dir1 & "\" & File1
End Sub
 
 
 
Private Sub File1_DblClick()
 
    Command1_Click
End Sub

[Hack]

Is this what you mean?

Private Sub Command1_Click()
With CommonDialog1
  .CancelError = True
  ' Set filters
  .Filter = "Text Files (*.txt)|*.txt|"
  ' Display the Open dialog box
  .ShowOpen
End With
    A = "."
    Open CommonDialog1.FileName For Binary As #1
    Seek #1, 25
    Put #1, , A
    Close #1
    MsgBox "The File, ''" & CommonDialog1.FileName & "'', Was Protected from being decompiled!", vbOKOnly, "Decompile Protection Attempt Successful!"
    
End Sub

[wildcat_2000]

what you are intending to do remains quite vague to me.

if you only want to avoid other people reading directly from your compiled .exe you have to pack it.

i use ASPack for various reasons i won't detail here. just know that this is the only packer that does not have an automated 'unpacker' out there.

cheers,

wc.