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I am considering putting my new windows application on the internet for sale. I have developed an anti-piracy scheme that I believe is formidable, but my concern is this : Is it possible for users or perhaps some informed person or other programmer to decompile my application's executable an by so discovering the source code.
I develop with Visual studio 2008 and I also deploy with it. The application is package by the set up project into an MSI file.
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Maximilien 14-Sep-11 15:11pm    
If the application is "worthy" it will be hacked and broken into; don't loose sleep over it.

If they're motivated, yes. Any program can be reverse engineered. Managed applications are the simplest, and unmanaged applications are the most difficult, but it can still be done.
 
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Gbenbam 14-Sep-11 12:07pm    
Is my c++ windows application written native win32 approach and not MFC nor CLI nor .NET a managed or unmanaged application?

What level of sophistication must such a person possess. Can a visual studio C++ compiler be used to reverse engineer. How readily available is the tool for reverse engineering is it something that every Dick and Harry has or something that is difficult to possess? If it is difficult to possess, I can take my chances.
Gbenbam 14-Sep-11 13:12pm    
Thanks I find your response most useful. I checked google and found out my application is an ummanaged code. I'll take my chances.
CPallini 15-Sep-11 8:29am    
Concise and exact. My 5.
There are two ways to "reverse engineer" something.
The first is buy one and "dismount it" to see how is made.
The second is use it, look what it does, and create something that does the same.

According to the European directive about the sofrware patents, a user that:
- has its own coputer
- has its own licence to use a software
- wants to produce another software that interoperate with some of them

- has the full right to do whatever he wants to "study" how a software works and
- every license denying that, is invalid respect to the law and cannot be used to acquire whatever right from the user.

U.S. is less categorical, but there are sentences that in defense of "concurrency".

That said, stop worry about this paranoia, and ask to be payed for the support, not for selling copies of a same single master.
Processors works by copying bytes from the time they had been invented. Pretending the "exclusive" means have not well understood what the physical nature of the software is.
 
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Chuck O'Toole 14-Sep-11 15:42pm    
Now there's something to ponder, "physical nature of the software". This will require beer and a porch swing. :)
Emilio Garavaglia 14-Sep-11 17:12pm    
Yes, and a good lecture.
Stefan_Lang 15-Sep-11 12:54pm    
"- has the full right to do whatever he wants to "study" how a software works and"
This is not quite correct - any such user only has that right in sofar as it is *neccessary* for him to make it interoperable with the other software. And even that is only permissible if the original author does not or can not provide an update that fixes this problem, so, technically, the author is allowed to forbid reverse engineering under the premise that at the same time he guarantees full interoperability with other software, or guarantees to provide updates for that purpose when needed.

Of course, nobody in their right mind would want to go to that length, especially when the software in question is huge. The implied effort of maintaining your 'guaranteed interoperability' is not worth such a minor impediment to piracy. It's not like pirates will care whether they're allowed to reverse-engineer or not...
It's incredibly easy. People do software cracking for relaxation in much the same way as others do Sudoko puzzles.

OllyDbg is both free ($) and freely available, as is .NET Reflector. You can get a reduced functionality version of IDA Pro also for free with a perpetual license. Naturally there is a reverse-engineered copy available too, that includes not only a dissasembler (i.e producing ASM output), but also a decompiler (producing valid C code)

At the risk of seeming unpleasant, might I enquire what it is that gives you the impression that you have written a "formidable" anti-piracy system, when you are yet to understand clearly many of the important and relevant theories and practises related to reverse-engineering? I suggest you apply for a job at Microsoft, Adobe, or particularly Activision, SafeDisc or SecuRom - they'd love to have somebody able to provide a functional and effective anti-piracy scheme.


The last time I played with OllyDbg, I was able to *in ten minutes* locate and change a SINGLE byte in a $40 program to remove the need to purchase a license. $240/hr!! I'd love to see a programmer get that kind of money with so little effort.
 
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I have developed an anti-piracy scheme that I believe is formidable.
Given some of your previous questions I would be intrigued to know more.
 
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