Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Programming Discussion : PHP: Mask PHP Code

[KMyers]

Hello,

I am trying to develop a PHP based script that I am planning to release free. I am not planning on making this open source. I would like to find a free way to mask the PHP Code to prevent it from being stolen. Any ideas?

[Xeentech]

You're looking for something like:

SourceGuardian or IonCube. I think Zend has one too.. but I don't know the URL off the top of my head.

[KMyers]

Yes, but I would perfer something free

[Xeentech]

Google.

[Tyler]

In short, all encoders can be broken. But any free one is exceptionally easy to break.

I strongly suggest ionCube, even though it's paid. They have an online version one where you pay only per file, which is actually quite affordable. Nevertheless, it's not free.

[KMyers]

Originally Posted by Xeentech

Google.

Dude,

I did not post this because I was too lazy to search online (I actually did that part first). I wanted other peoples opinions on encoders first.

[Harzem]

ioncube has an online encoder, which you can encode files for as low as $0.5 per file. That's closest you will get to a free encoder.

[markhard]

i don't think there is a free php encoder. if you don't want to release the code then why not host it on your server so you don't have to distribute the code.

anyway as suggested above, it's better to go with ioncube.

[BasicCX]

You may also have a look at Nu-Coder: h t t p : / / nusphere.com/products/nucoder.htm

But it's not free.

[jvandeboom]

I would suggest to not focus on and/or spend an overwhelming amount of time on trying to mask your code.

The more you mask the code (whether it be zend, ioncube, etc..) the more complicated things will become. While many hosts have zend or ioncube installed by default you will still have some people who do not have it and who may not be able to get it.

Also - while Ioncube offers run-time loaders they will not work with the latest default installs of PHP.

If someone really wants to crack your code they will be able to if they spend enough time (or simply send it to one of the junk companies that do this as a service)

[Stacie]

Originally Posted by KDisk

Hello,

I am trying to develop a PHP based script that I am planning to release free. I am not planning on making this open source. I would like to find a free way to mask the PHP Code to prevent it from being stolen. Any ideas?

What is the point of releasing program for free but protecting the source?

Just seems silly for a PHP application.

[Harzem]

Originally Posted by Stacie

What is the point of releasing program for free but protecting the source?

Just seems silly for a PHP application.

Maybe he put an advertisement, which brings income from the free application. Maybe he doesn't want people to remove the copyright notice. Maybe he spent days coding a certain part, and doesn't want anyone else get the credit for it. Maybe this is the "lite" version of s script he is selling commercially.

I can think of a thousand reasons why someone may offer a free script with code protection.

[Stacie]

Originally Posted by Harzem

Maybe he put an advertisement, which brings income from the free application. Maybe he doesn't want people to remove the copyright notice. Maybe he spent days coding a certain part, and doesn't want anyone else get the credit for it. Maybe this is the "lite" version of s script he is selling commercially.

I can think of a thousand reasons why someone may offer a free script with code protection.

Advertisement within PHP code? Caring if people remove copyright notice?

Let's be serious here; if software is something that is worth stealing it will be reverse engineered.

[M Bacon]

Try:
http://www.byterun.com/free-php-encoder.php
http://www.freephpencoder.com/

Good luck!

[Harzem]

Originally Posted by Stacie

Advertisement within PHP code? Caring if people remove copyright notice?

Let's be serious here; if software is something that is worth stealing it will be reverse engineered.

So even WHMCS doesn't need encoding, because it will be reverse engineered anyway... Is that what you mean?