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Delphi Programming question

Hello everybody,

I'm wondering how to create a Delphi 32bits program (MyApp.exe) to modify an application (App.EXE) for
which I don't have the source code so that this application ask you a password (and a username optionally) before you can launch it.

In order to be more precise, I've already developed such a password function (Mypasswd) which is available in a DLL (MyLib.DLL). How can I modify App.EXE so that it execute the function Mypasswd from MyLib.DLL and then accept to launch only when the result of the call to MyPasswd is true.

I know that modifying another companies executable is illegal... but I know too that's possible and I'm curious
to learn the tip...

Another way to solve my problem could be to write a program that scans for any given executable, and override the start of it, by intercepting the windows messages... If they enter the correct password, you continue to process the file, if they don't, you stop the application
from running.... The problem with this solution, is that this special pgm must always run in background. How to be sure that is the case and that the user cannot stop this pgm...

Any help or information (a source code example) is welcome.

Thanks in advance for your help

Sevy

avj

Well I wouldn't bother with the executable as such, but rather move it out of the way by renaming the original application (APP.EXE for example) to some nice inconspicuous one (musthave.dll), and to give your app (myapp.exe) the name of the original application (APP.EXE). this application would than check
password and launch the original file (now musthave.dll) when
ok.

d4jaj1

I am curious about your password application, as I'm building an app that sorely needs better security. I'd rather use someone else's component rather than writing an elaborate security scheme myself. Can you tell me about it? My email is Jay.Jackson@mci.com.

Thanks

rammstein

Hopefully the answer from d4jaj1 won't satisfy you, as this is one of the worst protection-schemes I have ever seen. If you really want to take a look at how cracker's are working you should take a look at
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/fravia/
There are also some very powerful protectionschemes.

There are many programs on the market such as 20/20's Softsentry or TimeLock or whatever that alter any given *.exe into a somehow 'password-protected' version. Those wrappers arent really worth the money. If you want to test a protection wrapper try http://www.hallogram.com/sentry/

BTW... it takes something from 5 to 30 minutes to remove a 'wrapperprotection'.

sevy

ASKER

Sorry, but that do not answer my question at all. Moreover,
what avj propose is not a good protection schemes and what a
mess if you have plenty of apps to protect...

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

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