Anti-tamper software protects your applications by making it harder for hackers to access and change the code. Tampering is one of the biggest application security risks and is directly related to four of the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top Ten security risks.
If hackers access your code, they can introduce vulnerabilities, access sensitive data, or steal your intellectual property. Implementing anti-tampering software safeguards your applications from security risks that can lead to legal, financial, and reputational damage.
Code tampering is when someone gains unauthorized access to your application’s source code for malicious purposes, such as repacking your application to sell illegally or injecting malware to steal data from your users.
Some common methods hackers use to gain access to your code include:
If hackers bypass your authentication, they can gain remote access to your application, which they can use to install a backdoor for persistent access or a rootkit to inject malware.
By hooking or overriding critical security features, such as logging systems and intrusion detection features, attackers can blind your security infrastructure and achieve unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Hackers can change the software logic that your application uses to check credentials or license keys, allowing them to subvert your authentication measures.
Some malicious actors’ end goal is to execute unauthorized code, such as spyware or ransomware, on your system.
Before an attacker can compromise your code, they need to understand it. Hackers reverse engineer your code by reconstructing it so they can figure out where the weak points are and how it works. They can use this information to steal your proprietary data or further exploit your application.
Your control flow and communication protocols are critical in carrying out security measures. If attackers can change them, they can intercept communication or force the application to allow tampered inputs.
Hackers can target the code responsible for validating licenses or enforcing paywalls to pirate your application. They may also tamper with your application to jailbreak it so it will run on devices it shouldn’t.
If you have a widespread application or a trustworthy reputation, bad actors may try to piggyback on it by repackaging your product with malware. When unsuspecting users download the repackaged app, they may unwittingly install spyware that will steal their credentials.
Cybersecurity is a constantly escalating “arms race” because hackers quickly respond to security measures by developing more sophisticated attacks. As a result, anti-tampering mechanisms also become increasingly sophisticated.
Anti-tampering software includes measures such as:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is behind many proactive advancements in anti-tamper defense due to its ability to quickly analyze large datasets and identify patterns. AI-powered programs can identify anomalies in how your application is accessed and adapt security protocols in real time based on suspicious behavior. With AI, you can reduce your response time to attacks from days to seconds. These programs can learn from each incident and reinforce weak spots proactively.
Anti-tamper and copy protection software protect your applications from malicious actors, but each serves a different purpose. Copy protection measures are designed to prevent unauthorized use or copying of your application. It’s primarily a means of enforcing usage restrictions.
Anti-tampering software protects your software from reverse engineering and malware. Its main focus is to protect your code from attackers.
Anti-tampering software is widely used across industries where data security and protection are of the utmost importance. Industries that are governed by strict regulations, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), use anti-tampering software to ensure compliance:
In addition to regulations, many use cases are driven by intellectual property and profit protection. Video game developers, such as Epic Games, use anti-cheat software to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage. Software and media companies like Netflix implement anti-tampering to enforce licensing agreements and protect their digital rights.
Cybersecurity requires a multi-layered approach to combat different threats. Anti-tampering software uses several different methods to protect your applications.
The following features work together to thwart tampering attempts on your software applications:
Code obfuscation is a means of disguising your binary code without changing its function, so it’s harder for hackers to understand and exploit. It does this by:
In traditional cryptography, the key is stored and processed in a protected environment. White-box cryptography assumes that an attacker has full access to the code and environment, so it stores and processes the key in a way that doesn’t expose it.
Anti-tamper technologies can trigger a proactive response, such as shutting down or restoring the original code in case of unauthorized modifications during execution. It performs these runtime integrity checks using countermeasures such as:
Code encryption hides your applications’ internal logic, sensitive data such as license keys and credentials, and longer code segments and functions. It only allows decryption during runtime or after the application has passed integrity and debugging checks.
Hackers often debug software to reverse engineer it and find weaknesses. If anti-tampering software detects debugging activity, it can shut down the web or mobile app to protect it. Some common anti-debugging measures include:
Your applications need to be protected at all stages. Anti-tamper protection software works at all stages of development.
Static application tools work from the earliest stages of development, right up until deployment. They can be incorporated into your integrated development environment to provide immediate feedback and enforce best coding practices.
Static application security testing (SAST) tools protect your code at rest through:
Dynamic application security testing (DAST) tools protect your executable code. They continuously monitor the runtime environment for any signs of tampering using measures such as:
Hybrid tools offer elements of both static and dynamic security tools. They combine multiple mechanisms to protect your application during rest and at execution with:
Developers should use anti-tamper protection at all phases of the software development lifecycle. You can include it from the time you begin building an application. The following steps will help you identify how to get started with anti-tamper software.
Use code scanners such as Kiuwan SAST to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before hackers can exploit them. Hire ethical hackers to attempt to break into your system and report any flaws they find. Finding weak spots in your code can help you determine what tools you need and develop more secure coding practices.
When you’re comparing tools and providers, consider how the tools will fit in with your team and your processes. Some factors to think about include:
For the best value, look for advanced anti-tampering tools that work with multiple applications, modules, languages, and environments. For example, PreEmptive is an excellent tool for desktop, iOS, Android, cloud, and IoT applications. It supports .NET, MAUI, Java, Android, and JavaScript, offering your DevSecOps teams flexibility.
Modern cybersecurity is so complex that it requires a comprehensive approach. This shift left movement tackles security earlier to find and fix bugs and flaws in software components by:
Security needs to be a top priority for everyone in your organization. Make it a habit to test your protection regularly by:
Using anti-tampering software such as Dotfuscator can help you build more resilient applications through a multi-layered approach to app obfuscation. Multiple lines of defense keep your users safer and protect your reputation and bottom line.Don’t leave security as an afterthought. Contact us today for a free trial and experience Dotfuscator’s protection hands-on.