Protecting Flash source

bryan_sor · 10-03-2007, 03:57 PM

Is protecting your Flash source code a losing battle, or what do people use? I am looking at Flashpack, but don't know if it actually protects code from decompiling. What else have people used effectively to protect their code?

atomic · 10-03-2007, 07:27 PM

Old answer to an old question, yes most likely, it's a losing battle...
You can somewhat obfuscate your code, but that's about it...

http://www.genable.com/aso.html

CyanBlue · 10-03-2007, 07:28 PM

Yeah... You could do something about it but somebody is going to come up with a way to decompile the file sooner or later...

asf8 · 10-06-2007, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atomic

Old answer to an old question, yes most likely, it's a losing battle... You can somewhat obfuscate your code, but that's about it... http://www.genable.com/aso.html

1.) Just curious how does ASO compare to SWF Encrypt, is one better then the other?

2.) Also are there decompilers that currently crack SWF Encrypt or ASO ?

3.) Is the FREE lite version of ASO enough to secure ?

4.) Does either cause a slow down in SWF performace after obfuscating?

I know its a losing battle, just curious.

PS: Please dont do the joke again atomic ;-) (But if you have a method, please share ;-)

atomic · 10-06-2007, 03:41 AM

As I stated earlier, I'm all for decompilers and basically against any obfuscating software... Just tested ASO against my present version of Sothink(3.7) to see the outcome... Code is in fact obfuscated and doesn't make real sense, but the structure is still there, and some bright kids could probably make sense out of it...
Mind you if they're that bright, they don't really need a decompiler...

Still in the end, pictures, sounds, etc. are still available...

asf8 · 10-06-2007, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atomic

some bright kids could probably make sense out of it... Mind you if they're that bright, they don't really need a decompiler...

Still in the end, pictures, sounds, etc. are still available...

Yeah I know, so much for my questions by the way ;-) I know there is not much in the way of protection, and when someone does come up with some half baked solution they test it and run ;-).

Are you then saying your not that bright?
1.) Mind you if they're that bright, they don't really need a decompiler
2.) I'm all for decompilers and basically against any obfuscating software

Kidding!!!!!!!!!

PS: Funny one in the other thread atomic

asf8 · 10-06-2007, 05:08 AM

can you post an ASO swf for me to see ?

atomic · 10-06-2007, 05:15 AM

This one is...

http://francoisgill.110mb.com/flash/...7/demoobf.html

Mind you, the delay in the appearance of the thumbs was requested... It's not an obfuscating caused slowdown...

bryan_sor · 10-06-2007, 03:56 PM

Thanks atomic and everyone, excellent info. I'm sure you're right. If someone really wants it bad enough they can crack any type of protection. Just a matter of their desire and free time. In my case it's code I'm trying to protect - used to verify an encrypted password against the device id of the phone. I'm thinking an obfuscator will probably work well enough for 99% of my target audience.

bryan_sor · 10-06-2007, 04:03 PM

Also Atomic, did you think ASO is as good as any other obfuscator? It seems to be one of the most inexpensive, from the few I have looked at. I am also going to look at Flashpack and will share my thoughts. My first impression is it doesn't offer any protection, only makes install/delivery easier, but it does say it turns the swf file into an executable. I would think that would at least obfuscate the code, but their support didn't respond to an email I sent them regarding protection either.

10-03-2007, 03:57 PM	#1
bryan_sor Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4	Protecting Flash source Is protecting your Flash source code a losing battle, or what do people use? I am looking at Flashpack, but don't know if it actually protects code from decompiling. What else have people used effectively to protect their code?

10-03-2007, 07:28 PM	#3
CyanBlue Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 24,878	Yeah... You could do something about it but somebody is going to come up with a way to decompile the file sooner or later... __________________ CyanBlue / Jason Je / Macromedia Certified Flash Developer & Designer http://CyanBlue.FlashVacuum.com http://www.FlashVacuum.com http://tutorials.FlashVacuum.com Do NOT PM, Email or Call me... Your question belongs right in this forum...

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Password protecting flash.	jimboready	ActionScript 2.0	0	10-22-2005 05:42 PM
Flash MX Developers Exam	VitiminJ	General Chat	34	05-05-2004 02:27 PM
Streaming Flash Player 6	simail	Other Flash General Questions	7	04-03-2002 12:14 PM
Flash MX seminar	Tink	ActionScript 1.0 (and below)	5	03-17-2002 05:41 AM
Php, Javascript, and Flash 5 browser detect and more!	Redline01	Server-Side Scripting	2	08-11-2001 02:09 AM

10-03-2007, 07:27 PM	#2
atomic Banned by AS.org Staff Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montréal, Québec Posts: 14,075	Old answer to an old question, yes most likely, it's a losing battle... You can somewhat obfuscate your code, but that's about it... http://www.genable.com/aso.html


<a href='http://d1.openx.org/ck.php?n=ac86e9f0&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://d1.openx.org/avw.php?zoneid=36053&source=_blank&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&n=ac86e9f0' border='0' alt='' /></a>

10-06-2007, 03:41 AM	#5
atomic Banned by AS.org Staff Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montréal, Québec Posts: 14,075	As I stated earlier, I'm all for decompilers and basically against any obfuscating software... Just tested ASO against my present version of Sothink(3.7) to see the outcome... Code is in fact obfuscated and doesn't make real sense, but the structure is still there, and some bright kids could probably make sense out of it... Mind you if they're that bright, they don't really need a decompiler... Still in the end, pictures, sounds, etc. are still available...

10-06-2007, 05:08 AM	#7
asf8 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,223	can you post an ASO swf for me to see ?

10-06-2007, 05:15 AM	#8
atomic Banned by AS.org Staff Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montréal, Québec Posts: 14,075	This one is... http://francoisgill.110mb.com/flash/...7/demoobf.html Mind you, the delay in the appearance of the thumbs was requested... It's not an obfuscating caused slowdown...

10-06-2007, 03:56 PM	#9
bryan_sor Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4	Thanks atomic and everyone, excellent info. I'm sure you're right. If someone really wants it bad enough they can crack any type of protection. Just a matter of their desire and free time. In my case it's code I'm trying to protect - used to verify an encrypted password against the device id of the phone. I'm thinking an obfuscator will probably work well enough for 99% of my target audience.

10-06-2007, 04:03 PM	#10
bryan_sor Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4	Also Atomic, did you think ASO is as good as any other obfuscator? It seems to be one of the most inexpensive, from the few I have looked at. I am also going to look at Flashpack and will share my thoughts. My first impression is it doesn't offer any protection, only makes install/delivery easier, but it does say it turns the swf file into an executable. I would think that would at least obfuscate the code, but their support didn't respond to an email I sent them regarding protection either.