Free Open-Source EAs (Protected) – Who Can Break Them? | Forex Factory

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Free Open-Source EAs (Protected) – Who Can Break Them?

  • #1
  • First Post: Sep 12, 2025 9:08pm Sep 12, 2025 9:08pm
These two EAs are free and open source from MetaQuotes, but I’ve added my protection to them. I’d be seriously impressed if anyone manages to crack them. It’s a challenge. I want to see how strong my protection template actually is, so I’m putting them out here to test it. Thanks.
Attached File(s)
File Type: ex4 MACD Sample.ex4   16 KB | 148 downloads
File Type: ex5 ExpertMACD.ex5   117 KB | 207 downloads
  • #2
  • Sep 12, 2025 10:25pm Sep 12, 2025 10:25pm
Have you been able to crack or decompile post build 600+ ex4/5's in the first place?
In a practical sense there hasn't been any public proof of post 600+ ex4/5 decompilations, so there doesn't seem to be a need for anti crack/decompilation efforts.
  • #3
  • Sep 12, 2025 11:09pm Sep 12, 2025 11:09pm
Quoting jeanlouie
Have you been able to crack or decompile post build 600+ ex4/5's in the first place? In a practical sense there hasn't been any public proof of post 600+ ex4/5 decompilations, so there doesn't seem to be a need for anti crack/decompilation efforts.
It's really messy to adjust my protection template to make it compatible and compile with a pre 600 build but I'll post the installer for MT4 when it first came out in 2005, for a pre 600 build (pre 2014) compile, in case others want to compile their source with a pre 600 build and test their template against reverse engineering.
Attached File(s)
File Type: zip 2005 mt4setup.zip   2.8 MB | 196 downloads
  • #4
  • Sep 13, 2025 6:23am Sep 13, 2025 6:23am
Quoting jeanlouie
Have you been able to crack or decompile post build 600+ ex4/5's in the first place? In a practical sense there hasn't been any public proof of post 600+ ex4/5 decompilations, so there doesn't seem to be a need for anti crack/decompilation efforts.
Total misinformation. It's like a religious dogma. They keep repeating it, even though it hasn't been true for many years.
There are forums (I'm not gonna write them down here) that are swarming with build600+ decompiled/hacked ex4s (and ex5s too).
  • #5
  • Sep 13, 2025 7:05am Sep 13, 2025 7:05am
Quoting WM4X
{quote} Total misinformation. It's like a religious dogma. They keep repeating it, even though it hasn't been true for many years. There are forums (I'm not gonna write them down here) that are swarming with build600+ decompiled/hacked ex4s (and ex5s too).
Yeah, like why shouldn't ex4 or ex5 files be impossible to decompile?
It's just the matter of tools and knowhow.
Anything can be decompiled as long as one can access the binary code...
And, the binary code is right there in your RAM...
It's just the question of if it's worth the time and effort?

PS. I know, you will say that's contradictory to my footer note!!!
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #6
  • Sep 13, 2025 7:07am Sep 13, 2025 7:07am
Quoting WM4X
{quote}...There are forums... that are swarming with build600+ decompiled/hacked ex4s (and ex5s too).
Are the decompilations freely doable and publicly accessible? If not then it's not practical, 600+ has been out for 10years, and in that time 0 decompiled files of post 600+ have found their way onto common free public forums or even mql5.com. So while it may be doable, its still prohibitive, ie not practical.
  • #7
  • Sep 13, 2025 7:07am Sep 13, 2025 7:07am
Quoting BestTraderEv
{quote} Yeah, like why shouldn't ex4 or ex5 files be impossible to decompile? It's just the matter of tools and knowhow. Anything can be decompiled as long as one can access the binary code... It's just the question of if it's worth the time and effort?
That's exactly right.
  • #8
  • Sep 13, 2025 7:13am Sep 13, 2025 7:13am
Quoting jeanlouie
{quote} Are the decompilations freely doable and publicly accessible? If not then it's not practical, 600+ has been out for 10years, and in that time 0 decompiled files of post 600+ have found their way onto common free public forums or even mql5.com. So while it may be doable, its still prohibitive, ie not practical.
They gather groups and pay the programmer collectively. A group can consist of up to a hundred or more people. This way, the "programmer" benefits, and the members get the code cheaply. Only those who are members of the group receive the cracked code. I won't go into further detail, but that's the gist of it. Unfortunately, it has been operating for many years.
  • #9
  • Edited 7:25am Sep 13, 2025 7:14am | Edited 7:25am
Quoting jeanlouie
{quote} Are the decompilations freely doable and publicly accessible? If not then it's not practical, 600+ has been out for 10years, and in that time 0 decompiled files of post 600+ have found their way onto common free public forums or even mql5.com. So while it may be doable, its still prohibitive, ie not practical.
I mean, yes?
Again, it's the question of knowhow.
There is at least one free, public, reverse engineering tool available.
Not specific to MQL, though.
But, MQL is just a slightly modified C++...
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #10
  • Edited 8:03am Sep 13, 2025 7:24am | Edited 8:03am
Quoting Th3W1z4rd
These two EAs are free and open source from MetaQuotes, but I’ve added my protection to them. I’d be seriously impressed if anyone manages to crack them. It’s a challenge. I want to see how strong my protection template actually is, so I’m putting them out here to test it. Thanks. {file} {file}
It's pointless.
If anyone really wanted, they would crack any code.
Question is why bother?
You can use all kinds of preventions, even license codes, expiry dates, etc.
Or, you can even create an online confirmation bot associated directly with a specific broker's account for the specific subscriber.
Or whatever similar idea.
Anyways, you will always need to include that specific protection code inside your ex4/ex5 file....
And if that can be cracked, the protection can be removed.
And, anything can be cracked...

Also, what's the challange if there is no prize?
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #11
  • Sep 13, 2025 8:11am Sep 13, 2025 8:11am
Quoting Th3W1z4rd
These two EAs are free and open source from MetaQuotes, but I’ve added my protection to them. I’d be seriously impressed if anyone manages to crack them. It’s a challenge. I want to see how strong my protection template actually is, so I’m putting them out here to test it. Thanks. {file} {file}
I may not say I’m good at coding, but what matters is:
How Much Are You Going to Pay?
In the end, you have to give people at least some motivation—otherwise, why would anyone bother trying to challenge or break your protections?
Theory of Everything is Liquidity...https://www.youtube.com/@FxArt.Trader
  • #12
  • Sep 13, 2025 10:11am Sep 13, 2025 10:11am
Quoting FxArt.Trader
{quote} I may not say I’m good at coding, but what matters is: How Much Are You Going to Pay? In the end, you have to give people at least some motivation—otherwise, why would anyone bother trying to challenge or break your protections?
Whoever cracks it, I’ll post the protection template here. That should be street-cred already because it’s an insanely difficult protection to crack.
  • #13
  • Edited 10:42am Sep 13, 2025 10:31am | Edited 10:42am
Quoting Th3W1z4rd
{quote} Whoever cracks it, I’ll post the protection template here. That should be street-cred already because it’s an insanely difficult protection to crack.
Since they can not only hack it, but also decompile it (meaning that instead of ex4/ex5, they actually have mq4/mq5 source code), no matter how "insanely difficult" your protection is, they can easily remove it. Even a relatively novice "programmer" can remove the protection from an mq4/mq5 source code.
  • #14
  • Sep 13, 2025 10:52am Sep 13, 2025 10:52am
Quoting WM4X
{quote} Since they can not only hack it, but also decompile it (meaning that instead of ex4/ex5, they actually have mq4/mq5 source code), no matter how "insanely difficult" your protection is, they can easily remove it. Even a relatively novice "programmer" can remove the protection from an mq4/mq5 source code.
But I didn’t post the source code for the protection.
  • #15
  • Edited 11:16am Sep 13, 2025 11:02am | Edited 11:16am
Quoting Th3W1z4rd
{quote} But I didn’t post the source code for the protection.
Of course, but there's no need for that. That's exactly what I'm talking about. The people I mentioned will decompile the source code from your ex4/ex5 files with more or less effort, and from then on they can do whatever they want with the code.
Of course, there is a way to protect your program, but it's not the "insanely difficult" protection of your ex4/ex5. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.
  • #16
  • Sep 13, 2025 11:32am Sep 13, 2025 11:32am
Quoting Th3W1z4rd
{quote} But I didn’t post the source code for the protection.
What is it that you don't understand???
If anyone is willing to take the effort to dump the binary code running in the RAM of their computer, they will have the code and they can find the part which is the protection part, and simply remove/delete it.
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #17
  • Sep 13, 2025 1:24pm Sep 13, 2025 1:24pm
Quoting Th3W1z4rd
{quote} Whoever cracks it, I’ll post the protection template here. That should be street-cred already because it’s an insanely difficult protection to crack.
Well, once it is cracked, it actually loses its value.

I’m not blaming you because you obviously can’t afford, like Google, to pay hackers to hack their software and then pay to neutralize the ways they were hacked—I know Google has done this before.

From my point of view, nothing is uncrackable. Something might be very hard to crack, but one day someone will find a way to hack it. It’s a matter of time and having the motivation.

If you see Metatrader files being hacked, it’s only because people think or believe that the indicator or expert advisor is some kind of money-printing machine, and that’s why they decompile the files. Otherwise, there’s no other motivation behind this.

In any case, I think continuing this discussion won’t benefit me much, at least, and I hope your code provides the protection you desire.

Wishing you success and profitable trades.
Theory of Everything is Liquidity...https://www.youtube.com/@FxArt.Trader
  • #18
  • Sep 13, 2025 5:09pm Sep 13, 2025 5:09pm
Quoting FxArt.Trader
{quote} Well, once it is cracked, it actually loses its value. I’m not blaming you because you obviously can’t afford, like Google, to pay hackers to hack their software and then pay to neutralize the ways they were hacked—I know Google has done this before. From my point of view, nothing is uncrackable. Something might be very hard to crack, but one day someone will find a way to hack it. It’s a matter of time and having the motivation. If you see Metatrader files being hacked, it’s only because people think or believe that the indicator or expert...
Yeah, you’re right, I can’t afford it. But I posted it as a challenge and anyone would be seriously impressed if they were able to get past the protection template. The protection template that I would post, which anybody would think is impressive and how they were able to crack it, would be, again, very impressive.
  • #19
  • Sep 13, 2025 5:11pm Sep 13, 2025 5:11pm
Quoting BestTraderEv
{quote} What is it that you don't understand??? If anyone is willing to take the effort to dump the binary code running in the RAM of their computer, they will have the code and they can find the part which is the protection part, and simply remove/delete it.
Yes, but let’s see if it’s possible because there are various levels of protection that I personally don’t think is possible. But let’s see if there is a master out there.
  • #20
  • Sep 13, 2025 5:18pm Sep 13, 2025 5:18pm
Quoting Th3W1z4rd
{quote} Yes, but let’s see if it’s possible because there are various levels of protection that I personally don’t think is possible. But let’s see if there is a master out there.
This forum probably doesn't have that capability, but that's not what this forum is about. However, there are forums where they do exactly that. If you have a profitable EA, they will figure out how to crack it even without you offering them a "trial-crack".
Please understand: you cannot protect your ex4/ex5 files this way. You need to do it differently.
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