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javasecurityjardecompiling

Does coverting a JAR file to an executable secure it for distribution?

I've made an application in Java, and I've converted the application jar file to an .exe using software to prevent extraction, since we know that JAR files can be easily extracted and de-compiled.

Can anyone please tell me whether converting the .jar file to .exe is safe enough for distributing to any clients.

Solution

  • Well, there are two kinds of EXE generators:

    1. Ones that attack a minimal JRE to your JAR file
    2. Ones that convert your code to native code

    well both are harder to decompile that pure JAR file, but 2nd ones are more secure.

    Well as far as I know native compilers are all commercial, so if you need a free converter, you just have 1st option. In that case I recommend you to use a (non flow) obfuscator (such as yGuard) first, and then convert the obfuscated JAR file to EXE.