AxProtector

AxProtector provides automatic protection for your executable, libraries (dlls), data, media, or video files with minimal effort on your part. In most cases, you don't even have to change your source code.

Not just a “wrapper,” AxProtector encrypts and rearranges your executable (binary) file. On program load, the program starts only if the required CodeMeter license is available. No license? The user will see an error message, customized by you.

AxProtector supports automatic protection of Win 32, Win 64, .NET, Java, MacOS/X, Linux (32- and 64-bit), Windows CE, and VxWorks applications and dynamic (shared) libraries.

Using AxProtector, you can create your encrypted file for distribution to your customers and leave licensing decisions to the sales and marketing departments. You don't need to change a single line of source code – AxProtector works on your finished application.

Once you’ve created your protected version, that same binary can be licensed by users, time, network access, usage count, and even more – again, all without changing your source code or re-using AxProtector. Once the binary is protected with AxProtector, your sales department can create virtually any kind of license to use with that protected executable. And since AxProtector uses AES 128-bit encryption, your application can never be used without a valid license.

“Classic” wrappers are easy to crack: all they do is move the original entry point (OEP) to a new security section. A cracker can just start the application, set a breakpoint, dump memory to fix up the OEP, recreate an executable out of the memory dump, and have a crack, ready to be executed without any protection.

Here’s how AxProtector encrypts and rearranges the structure of a Windows PE executable:

Any cracker who tries to dump the memory after an AxProtector-protected executable has been loaded will find it can’t be cracked by dumping as the dump will crash.

Why does AxProtector work so well? Three key reasons:

  1. AxProtector encrypts code, data, and resources in your executable. Nothing is left in plain-text for a cracker to use.
  2. AxProtector creates a scenario where code execution occurs both before and after the OEP, making it impossible for a crack based on patching around the OEP.
  3. AxProtector integrates debugging detection in your protected application, shutting down the license if a debugger is detected. Once the license is locked, only you (the ISV) can unlock it.