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Application & OT Security · Intermediate

Code Obfuscation

Transforming code to make it harder to read and reverse engineer while preserving its behavior.

Definition

Techniques include renaming identifiers, control-flow flattening, string encryption and inserting junk code. Tools include R8/ProGuard for Android and commercial protectors. Obfuscation slows attackers but does not protect secrets embedded in the app.

Example

R8 renames classes and methods in a release build, making decompiled code harder to follow.

Exam tip

Obfuscation is not encryption and not a substitute for keeping secrets off the client.

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