Question

Must I "obfuscate" my VB.NET program?

Asked by: garyLittle

I understand that VB.NET does not create a machine language compiled exe. I have heard after compilation that it is run from a type of 'psuedo code' version. If that is so then some extremely sensitve algorithms will not be protected.
Is this so?

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Asked On
2006-09-13 at 06:12:27ID21987723
Tags

obfuscation

Topic

Microsoft Visual Basic.Net

Participating Experts
2
Points
250
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: FarzadAPosted on 2006-09-13 at 06:17:39ID: 17511652

Hi garyLittle,
No. VB.NET create EXE file but this exe file don't run standalone and needs .NET Framwork on the target machine. It is like Java that Java byte code (class) file is run by Java Interpreter. In both class file of Java and EXE file of VB.NET you haven't source code so your algorithms will be protected.

-FA

 

by: doobdavePosted on 2006-09-13 at 07:11:03ID: 17512078

Hi,

Although the code is indeed compiled iinto an .exe file.
It is extremely easy to get back to the source code (or a very close likeness to it), using what is known as REFLECTION.
Download Lutz roeders .NET reflector and try against your exe, and you will notice that your algorithms are indeed quite easily exposed to anyone who is determined to get at them...

Hope to help.

Best Regards,

David

 

by: FarzadAPosted on 2006-09-13 at 07:43:24ID: 17512389

Sourcer and Decompiler may be availabe for many languages such as Visual Basic 6.0, Java, Foxpro

-FA

 

by: garyLittlePosted on 2006-09-13 at 10:07:28ID: 17513714

Thank you both for your help. This seems like a VERY GREAT WEAKNESS. I remember now that a few years ago I had decided that this problem was what kept me from converting. I thought by now that MS would have done something to fix it. Apprently not.
Does anyone else feel bothered by this glaring weakness??
Gary

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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