Asma’a Al-Hakimi

By Asma’a Al-Hakimi and Abu Bakar Md Sultan

Obfuscation is an encryption method. It allows the programmer to reform the code for protection. Obfuscation has promising chance to change the way of coding, where the programmer has the ability to program with any language, not necessarily English. Obfuscation, Unicode, and mathematical equations have the possibility to change strings and identifiers and to hide secret algorithms and business rules. Special dictionary is used for the string obfuscation to hide the logic of the program. The hybrid obfuscation technique will be implemented into a tool that automatically converts the code. It can be can be used for games and mobile applications for protection. With obfuscation, the application still has the ability to perform sufficiently and provide the desired output without any delays in performing timing. After obfuscating the source file, reverser still has the ability to break the object file but will not be able to read or understand and when obfuscation technique is complicated, reversing leads to error where original code disappears. In this chapter, hybrid obfuscation will be presented with examples, and obfuscation table is presented as well for future use.

Part of the book: Coding Theory Essentials

By Asma’a Al-Hakimi, Muhammad Ibrahim Ravi Bin Gobi and Misbah ul Iman

Reverse engineering poses a substantial threat to software and hardware systems, allowing unauthorized access to proprietary information, algorithms, and trade secrets. This chapter introduces a new cryptographic algorithm designed to thwart reverse engineering efforts. The research methodology involved conducting experiments to assess the technique’s efficacy, yielding promising results. It emphasizes the importance of integrating cryptographic methods as a preventive measure against reverse engineering. Through encryption, decryption, and obfuscation, developers can bolster their systems’ security and mitigate reverse engineering risks. The experiments validate the algorithm’s potential in safeguarding sensitive information and intellectual property. Reverse engineering involves analyzing and reconstructing a system’s design, code, or logic to gain unauthorized access or replicate its functionality, potentially leading to intellectual property theft, security breaches, and financial losses. The proposed technique significantly hampers reverse engineering attempts, making it challenging for attackers to understand the system’s logic or extract meaningful information.

Part of the book: Biometrics and Cryptography