A study & review on code obfuscation

Abstract

This paper presents a technical study review of code obfuscation. To address this, we discuss the need and methods of code obfuscation. We analyze the different techniques which are used to thwart reverse engineers and to protect against malicious code injection and attacks. Obfuscation, in software technology, is the deliberate act of creating an obfuscated code, that is difficult for humans to understand. Code obfuscation is a protective mechanism which is used to reduce the attack activities on a software system. It is a behavior preserving program transformation which aims to make a program unintelligible to automated program comprehension tools. Code obfuscation is convenient in situations where depending on cryptographic techniques is not enough; this is normal in remote execution situations where the software is executed on an unforeseen exposed hostile environment, such as the new computing platforms: cloud-computing paradigm and smart phones.