Dotfuscator is a tool performing a combination of code
obfuscation
Obfuscation is the obscuring of the intended meaning of communication by making the message difficult to understand, usually with confusing and ambiguous language. The obfuscation might be either unintentional or intentional (although intent u ...
,
optimization
Mathematical optimization (alternatively spelled ''optimisation'') or mathematical programming is the selection of a best element, with regard to some criterion, from some set of available alternatives. It is generally divided into two subfi ...
, shrinking, and hardening on
.NET,
Xamarin
Xamarin is a Microsoft-owned San Francisco-based software company founded in May 2011 by the engineers that created Mono, Xamarin.Android (formerly Mono for Android) and Xamarin.iOS (formerly MonoTouch), which are cross-platform implementation ...
and
Universal Windows Platform
Universal Windows Platform (UWP) is a computing platform created by Microsoft and first introduced in Windows 10. The purpose of this platform is to help develop universal apps that run on Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile (discontinued), Windows 1 ...
apps. Ordinarily, .NET executables can easily be
reverse engineered
Reverse engineering (also known as backwards engineering or back engineering) is a process or method through which one attempts to understand through deductive reasoning how a previously made device, process, system, or piece of software accompli ...
by free tools (such as ILSpy, dotPeek and JustDecompile), potentially exposing algorithms and
intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...
(trade secrets), licensing and security mechanisms. Also, code can be run through a debugger and its data inspected. Dotfuscator can make all of these things more difficult.
Dotfuscator was developed by PreEmptive Solutions. A free version of the .NET Obfuscator, called the Dotfuscator Community Edition, is distributed as part of Microsoft's
Visual Studio
Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft. It is used to develop computer programs including web site, websites, web apps, web services and mobile apps. Visual Studio uses Microsoft software development platfor ...
.
However, the current version is free for personal, non-commercial use only.
References
Further reading
"Why and how to use Obfuscation for .NET with Dotfuscator" Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 Documentation
"Obfuscation and .NET" ''
The Journal of Object Technology
''The Journal of Object Technology'' is an online scientific journal welcoming manuscripts describing theoretical, empirical, conceptual, and experimental results in the area of software and language engineering, including
* programming para ...
''. Vol. 4, No. 4, May–June 2005. pp. 79–83.
''MSDN Magazine'' Miller Freeman
Miller Freeman, Inc., was a San Francisco-based publisher of trade books and business magazines, as well as a manager of trade and industry expositions. It was an innovative force in business technology and communications in the 1990s until i ...
. pp. 11–12.
''Reversing: Secrets of Reverse Engineering'' John Wiley & Sons
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., commonly known as Wiley (), is an American multinational publishing company founded in 1807 that focuses on academic publishing and instructional materials. The company produces books, journals, and encyclopedias, in p ...
.
"Review: PreEmptive Way To Obfuscate .Net Apps" ''
CRN Magazine
''CRN'' is an American computer magazine. It was first launched as ''Computer Retail Week'' on June 7, 1982, as a magazine targeted to computer resellers. It soon after was renamed ''Computer Reseller News''.
History and profile
Originally laun ...
''
''Windows Developer Power Tools'' O'Reilly Media
O'Reilly Media (formerly O'Reilly & Associates) is an American learning company established by Tim O'Reilly that publishes books, produces tech conferences, and provides an online learning platform. Its distinctive brand features a woodcut of an ...
.
"Dotfuscator expands its functionality" ''
InfoWorld
''InfoWorld'' (abbreviated IW) is an information technology media business. Founded in 1978, it began as a monthly magazine. In 2007, it transitioned to a web-only publication. Its parent company today is International Data Group, and its siste ...
''.
''Visual Basic 2008 For Dummies'' John Wiley & Sons.
''Professional Visual Studio 2010'' John Wiley & Sons.
External links
* https://news.microsoft.com/2004/07/19/preemptive-solutions-dotfuscator-will-ship-with-microsoft-visual-studio-2005/
* https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/dd551417.aspx
* http://www.dirkstrauss.com/visual-studio-2012-tips-part-5-protect-your-code-obfuscate/
* http://www.drdobbs.com/windows/enhanced-dotfuscator-ce-for-visual-stud/199901475
* https://web.archive.org/web/20110201004909/http://www.clevelandpress.com/dotfuscator2.htm
{{.NET Framework
Software obfuscation
.NET programming_tools
Microsoft Visual Studio extensions