How obstructed is compiled app?

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
1

Hey,

I had a quick question. Let’s say I had an encryption routine in my app. Once compiled, how difficult would it be for someone to be able to read the routine and key? I don’t really know much about the binary that is generated.

Any information on this is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
~David [import]uid: 6678 topic_id: 1495 reply_id: 301495[/import]

2

Also, this question is for both iOS and Android, so any information on the obstruction factor of both would be great. [import]uid: 6678 topic_id: 1495 reply_id: 4192[/import]

3

Does anyone have any insight on this? I’m looking to run a contest, and I’d really like to know the level of difficulty someone would have actually decompiling the app and viewing elements of the source code. The actual game assets don’t matter, only the viewability of the actual source. [import]uid: 6678 topic_id: 1495 reply_id: 4266[/import]

4

Hi DFox,

I was looking through the content of an IPhone app and so far could not detect the LUA sources. I was 100% sure I saw them montzhs ago but now I can’t see them.

Cheers
Michael Hartlef

http://www.whiteskygames.com
http://www.twitter.com/mhartlef [import]uid: 5712 topic_id: 1495 reply_id: 4267[/import]

5

Hmm, interesting. I definitely don’t think the code is in there. I’m just worried about what the code is compiled in to, how readable it would be to someone trying to view the source. Because from what I’ve heard iPhone apps can sort of be decompiled. [import]uid: 6678 topic_id: 1495 reply_id: 4282[/import]

6

Hi,

everything can be scanned. There is no safe way to protect things when it comes to computers.
I would not waist my time about this.

Cheers
Michael Hartlef

http://www.whiteskygames.com
http://www.twitter.com/mhartlef [import]uid: 5712 topic_id: 1495 reply_id: 4283[/import]

7

Well, I’m sure it’s possible, but I’m looking to find out how much time someone would realistically have to spend to do it. I’m talking about finding something like an encryption key within the compiled code. I’m guessing this is fairly difficult and then when you put a development layer like Corona over it, it becomes even more complex. But I’m not positive. [import]uid: 6678 topic_id: 1495 reply_id: 4284[/import]

8

The system we use is not obvious, but it’s not full encryption either (which would be slow).

I’m not sure how you’re using the key. But if you do some reasonable obfuscation on the key (meaning, alter it in the source, and then decode it at runtime), it’d be pretty difficult for someone decipher it… but not impossible. [import]uid: 54 topic_id: 1495 reply_id: 4299[/import]

9

OK, got it. Thanks a ton. [import]uid: 6678 topic_id: 1495 reply_id: 4305[/import]