Learning Perl suggests that this isn't just a Perl problem. Even if you compile an executable binary, someone with sufficient motivation and ingenuity could decompile it. It might not look the same as the source (almost certainly won't). But to someone with the right background, it will be legible and the secrets will no longer be obscured.

The book also suggests that a restrictive license and staff of lawyers might be a better form of security, in that the plausible threat of facing civil litigation probably serves as a better demotivator than some form of obfuscation.

Of course I'm just paraphrasing, and probably missing something important in all that. To get it directly from the llama's mouth, refer to the 6th edition of Learning Perl.


Dave

In reply to Re: Decrypt source before interpreter by davido
in thread Decrypt source before interpreter by Anonymous Monk

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