Code obfuscation is the process of concealing or disguising the source code used in software development to thwart reverse engineering. In general, an executable file contains a list of instructions written as a program for a computer to execute, along with all necessary supporting data. If source code is made available to software developers, they may discover vulnerabilities and create workarounds.
Since they can examine the source code before using it, many developers favor open-source packages. But what if they find something harmful inside of it? In that instance, they are unable to get in touch with the author without disclosing their own identity and are even unable to verify that this action was carried out by another person rather than them simply adding false information to their copy.
Code obfuscation increases the difficulty of reverse engineering code and is increasingly utilized to safeguard intellectual property. As a result, both software developers and sellers can gain greatly from this technique.
List of benefits of Android app obfuscation:
1) Preventing piracy and unauthorized access: Would-be pirates find it more challenging to “crack” the program and use it without acquiring a license when the source code is obscured or hidden, especially if they are unable to read the source code at all. Furthermore, only those who are desperate enough will continue with the procedure, leading to higher sales, because the majority of legitimate consumers are unwilling to put up additional effort simply to crack open an application, even if they have full access credentials.
2) Better for the brand: In a market where everything is replicated, businesses are concerned about maintaining their good name. A visible code makes it simple for someone to hack into the software and alter its content or algorithm, which might damage both the seller’s and the product’s reputations. This risk is increased if criminal gangs decide to issue viruses that contain brand-related symbols. In order to prevent people from stealing their intellectual property by merely looking at it without first understanding how it works, businesses frequently decide to obfuscate their source code.
- Upholding high standards: When publishing software programs under an open-source license, certain guidelines must be adhered to, one of which is that the source code must be made accessible to everyone. Not allowing anyone else to see one’s source code may be advantageous because it prevents such errors from happening in the first place. However, there have been instances where groups change the original code to include viruses and malware rather than just releasing a patch with a fix, which could further harm the company’s reputation.
4) Hide security flaws: Obfuscating information contained within an application makes it more difficult for those who may want to access it illegally because it is much harder to find exploits that would allow them into the file, in addition to preventing unauthorized access. Let’s say some software stores user information plainly on local disks. In that case, this information becomes public and could possibly result in identity theft or the sale of sensitive data. Obfuscating this file, however, makes it more challenging for thieves to locate the crucial information and steal it, lowering the value of vulnerable software on the black market.
5) Making code reuseable: Developers frequently need to repurpose code that they either generated themselves or obtained from another source when working on numerous projects at once. When using open-source material, there is always the possibility that someone has tampered with it or removed parts that were meant for its functionality, which could result in errors. However, using open-source material has a number of benefits, including time savings and the ability to focus on other issues rather than having to start from scratch every time. Developers will be more dependable and save you time by not having to constantly check when source code is obfuscated, which makes it harder for others to change the materials they are working on.
6) Preventing the theft of intellectual property. Source code is the intellectual property of software firms since they spend a lot of time polishing it before exposing their product to the market, but the same is true with open-source content. Imagine, for instance, that someone uses hacking or another method to access someone else’s file. In that instance, they might utilize the knowledge in it to create a program that is inferior to theirs and steal clients who would have benefited from the service they provide. They can’t steal their intellectual property and utilize it in their own products since they keep their code safe and challenging for others to access.
7) Lower risk of malware: While it might seem unfair that bigger companies can afford to pay for obfuscating source code but smaller ones can’t, there is a benefit to this because those who can’t afford it might be targeted by criminal organizations. For instance, anything objectionable may be injected if someone utilized an exploit in one’s software to insert illegal information without changing any other aspects of the application. Unknown if this is a result of the software or the fact that they downloaded it illegally. This is less likely to happen if your file doesn’t contain any publicly known vulnerabilities since no one wants to risk getting caught, However, adopting open-source content makes it possible for anyone to make adjustments that allow for these kinds of things, so criminals might figure out how to access them and utilize them.
8) Preventing reverse engineering: Obfuscation code makes it harder for someone to obtain data who might not have good intentions to do so. For instance, a clause that states that the source code will be kept secret unless express permission is granted by the other party may be included in a contract that a business enters into with a client, implying that the code should not be shared with anyone else. It would be more challenging to acquire this material if someone tried to reverse-engineer it.