Hybrid Algorithm to Protect Java’s Code from Reverse Engineering

Abstract—Reverse engineering (RE) is a process that begins with disassembly, which attempts to translate machine language code to assembly code. This process creates a potential opportunity for theft of source file via software by allowing the attacker to discover secrets of the original code, which leads to financial crisis to the author. Anti-reverse engineering is the implementation of techniques that delay the attempts of prohibited (RE). This study is to discuss the impact of RE, and propose best solution for it. Total five different java applications are used for the experiment. Findings from the experiment reveals that all java applications are possible to be broken and there is no 100% protection, The goal of this research is to propose a new method that protects java’s source file during implementation phase to reduce readability, and increase security, by delaying RE to certain time, whereas the reverser feels frustrated to continue breaking.

Index Terms—Anti-reverse engineering, intellectual property reverse engineering, software security.

The authors are with the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia (e-mail: selfemoon@ gmail.com, abakar@upm.edu.my).

[PDF]

Cite: Asmaa M. Alhakimy and Abu Bakar Md. Sultan, "Hybrid Algorithm to Protect Java’s Code from Reverse Engineering," Lecture Notes on Software Engineering vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 11-16, 2015.