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Best way to protect indicator code in 2015

  • Post #1
  • Quote
  • First Post: Sep 22, 2015 9:10pm Sep 22, 2015 9:10pm
Hi,

I have an indicator that I am developing as part of a course I will be releasing soon, and I want to protect it from piracy. What's the best way to go about this? A developer I have just spoken to says that the default compiling in the latest versions of MetaTrader does a fairly good job, in fact this is what he says:

"The current version of MT4 does a good job of protecting indicators. They are now compiled, compressed and obfuscated, and maybe even encrypted, and cannot be reverse-engineered easily anymore (there are no programs at present that can do so automatically; so it would take a large amount of tedious, reverse-engineering of disambled code by hand). So it should probably not be necessary to put the code in a DLL. I recommend you confirm that for yourself though. And you might want to use a DLL for contacting an authorization server. Or, to create a key, we could simply hash their MT4 account number against a private key using a simple program on your webserver or your PC, and in the indicator code hash their MT4 account number with a public key and check the hash. This would provide good security so long as no-one cracks the hash checker code. MetaQuotes has some kind of indicator market place now too that is supposed to offer secure distribution of indicators."

So is it really necessary to go to any great lengths regarding encryption these days?

Many thanks,

Erron
Enter Signature
That's funny, it says that was my first post? I know I'm not prolific around the forums but I was certain I had posted here several times over the years.
Enter Signature
If I am not mistaken, the new MT4 builds (600+) have been cracked so .ex4 are decompilable.

That's a shame MT4 still not able to protect correctly their compiler.
MT4/MT5 EAs/Indicators/Alerts coder
Quoting FerruFx
If I am not mistaken, the new MT4 builds (600+) have been cracked so .ex4 are decompilable. That's a shame MT4 still not able to protect correctly their compiler.
You are not mistaken - a decompiler for the latest builds can be attained ( just did a goggle search ) so much for MetaQuotes and their secure code.
I thought that must be the case as I have had an increase in people wanting trials of software and not just 1 item but 3 to 6 items and I suspect they have the decompiler and are after free software which is the very reason I do not provide trials.
Trade what you see not what you hope
Quoting cja
{quote} You are not mistaken - a decompiler for the latest builds can be attained ( just did a goggle search ) so much for MetaQuotes and their secure code. I thought that must be the case as I have had an increase in people wanting trials of software and not just 1 item but 3 to 6 items and I suspect they have the decompiler and are after free software which is the very reason I do not provide trials.
Trials were never an option for me too !

I would be very curious to know if the encrypted versions available through the MQL market place are really protected ... Do you have infos about this ?
MT4/MT5 EAs/Indicators/Alerts coder
Quoting erron
That's funny, it says that was my first post? I know I'm not prolific around the forums but I was certain I had posted here several times over the years.
That is the FIRST post on this thread, and NOT your first post.

Good luck on your quest, and GREEN pips to you.
Quoting FerruFx
{quote} Trials were never an option for me too ! I would be very curious to know if the encrypted versions available through the MQL market place are really protected ... Do you have infos about this ?
I don't know if the encrypted versions through the MQL market are able to be decompiled however if they are secure ( conspiracy theory ) then
#1 Why is this security not available to us -( MetaQuotes protecting there own sales )
#2 It makes you think who released or developed the decompiler? -( MetaQuotes protecting there own sales )
Trade what you see not what you hope
Quoting cja
{quote} I don't know if the encrypted versions through the MQL market are able to be decompiled however if they are secure ( conspiracy theory ) then #1 Why is this security not available to us -( MetaQuotes protecting there own sales ) #2 It makes you think who released or developed the decompiler? -( MetaQuotes protecting there own sales )
You're asking the right questions
MT4/MT5 EAs/Indicators/Alerts coder
Quoting SmoothTrader
{quote} That is the FIRST post on this thread, and NOT your first post. Good luck on your quest, and GREEN pips to you.
lol, thanks. Who says I'm dumb...
Enter Signature
Hi,

I think that as for now the best solution is to put the code in a DLL and if possible obfuscate it.

For the licensing problem, some time ago I worked in a large software project that we had to protect against piracy too.

Our final solution was to create a tool that had to be run on the customer's machine. That tool then collected hard disk serial number, network mac address and some additional data, a file was generated from that info and sent to us, from that file we then generated a licence file that was sent to the customer which contained some encrypted keys to allow the software to run.

I think it's an alternative to web server scheme.

Good luck / BT
Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication.
The only way to completely secure your code is to not distribute it... if someone has enough time and inclination, code can be cracked.

As already stated, Metaquotes have made build 600+ much more robust and do offer additional encryption through the marketplace for those who want to use that service.

The DLL route probably remains the safest option (as it always has) but it does introduce its own headaches.

Has anyone actually seen build 600+ cracked? Since the start there have been scammers claiming to decompile build 600+ in return for some advance $$$, but to my knowledge nobody actually came up with the goods
if you put your EA in vps, won't that allow the VPS admin to steal your EA and decompile it?
Quoting erron
Hi, I have an indicator that I am developing as part of a course I will be releasing soon, and I want to protect it from piracy. What's the best way to go about this? A developer I have just spoken to says that the default compiling in the latest versions of MetaTrader does a fairly good job, in fact this is what he says: "The current version of MT4 does a good job of protecting indicators. They are now compiled, compressed and obfuscated, and maybe even encrypted, and cannot be reverse-engineered easily anymore (there are no programs at present...
Hi Erron, I use this free tool YPY MQ4 Code Protector Basic

Allso you can use free YPY MQ4 Code Protector online service for encryption and licensing a of source code in *.mq4 format
https://www.ypy.cc/code-protector-online-service.php
Attached File(s)
File Type: zip YPY_MQ4_Code_Protector_Basic.zip   2.0 MB | 2,705 downloads
File Type: pdf YPY_MQ4_Code_Protector_(English_user_guide).pdf   282 KB | 2,980 downloads
Just wondering if any of the mentioned methods in this post work and it is possible to protect mql code?
Quoting PMak
Just wondering if any of the mentioned methods in this post work and it is possible to protect mql code?
Hi PMak!

The only sure way to check the reliability of the protection is to order a break-in each protection from a professional hacker.

Preview the result of hacking and learning it the real cost of hacking, You will be able to understand what protection the most reliable.
  • Post #17
  • Quote
  • Last Post: Edited 8:51am Dec 4, 2020 8:21am | Edited 8:51am
Hi Erron!
Try this:
https://barmenteros.com/protect-mt4-...ms-simple-way/
https://www.mql5.com/en/articles/1572
https://www.metatrader5.com/en/metae...loud_protector
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