How can one stop people decompiling their source code into C# code? I understand you can do that with any language (like C++ > ASM) yet a C++ program can't be decompiled to C++ can it? It just seems a bit silly, for instance if you try to sell game engines, it seems pointless as it would be quite easy to hack. And surely it would make piracy easier? [edited by - template on April 29, 2003 10:52:05 PM]

there is a utility called "Dotfuscator" that comes with VS.NET 2k3 (and probably the standalone .NET 1.1 framework) that supposedly "obfuscates" C# code so that it makes it more difficult to decompile to something useful. I would imagine it''s a good start, but the .net CLR probably makes it very difficult to have code that is 100% *completely* protected.

Excellent, thanks a lot :D

it seems native C++/C code is safer than is other forms of .net cil decompilation. there are ways to protect yourself http://www.remotesoft.com has a program which will transform your exes and dlls into uncompliable versions.
there is a review at

http://www.eggheadcafe.com/articles/20021213.asp

It is expensive though. If programming in C++ you can try encrypting your own resource files and keep all strings somewhere so you can encrypt them in the code itself if your really worried.

Its seems to me obfuscators add a layer of difficulty but in the end as far as safety goes you are fooling yourself more than anyone else.

you should read these sites in order to draw your own conclusions.