Word VBA obfuscation?

[KR]

I have a Word VBA project that (by necessity) will be deployed in a single
file. As a result of my user's need for one-file deployment/distribution, I
think that throws out add-in's, DLLs, and most other methods of securing my
code.

While I will use the simple password protection, I was wondering if there
are any cheap (or free, I'm doing this project for a non-profit organization
for free) tools that support obfuscation on Word VBA. I figure that way,
even if someone decides to poke into the VBA using a password cracker, the
code will still be much harder to interpret.

I appreciate any advice or suggestions!
Thanks,
Keith

 

[Howard Kaikow]

Well, if they are getting the project for free, I'd say you have even more
reason to protect your efforts.
Insist on using a VB 6 DLL.

Point out them that the code will also run faster and be secure from
tampering.

It is all too easy to get around the VBA project password "protection".
Takes less than 5 minutes, without a password cracker.

Write code that installs the DLL,

 

[Marcel]

Well, if they are getting the project for free, I'd say you have even more
reason to protect your efforts.
Insist on using a VB 6 DLL.

Point out them that the code will also run faster and be secure from
tampering.

It is all too easy to get around the VBA project password "protection".
Takes less than 5 minutes, without a password cracker.

Write code that installs the DLL,

Hi,

How do I create a DLL from a Word VBA project in Word?

Regards,

Marcel

 

[Howard Kaikow]

You would need to purchase VB 6 and create the DLL in V B 6.
MSFT no longer sells VB 6, but you should still be able to find the product
at online vendors such as www.atomicpark.com.

Also, see http://www.standards.com/VB/UsingVisualBasic6.html.

 

[Marcel]

Hi,

I've seen a method in VBA to create a dll can this be used to create such
file?

I have also VB.NET 2003 this can create a dll as well?

Regards,

Marcel

 

[Howard Kaikow]

If you have the developer edition of Office 2000 or Office XP, you can
create a DLL, but IMHO it is easier, and better, to use VB 6.

In .NET, you can compile a .NET DLL, but all you can do is obfuscate, the
code not the same degree of protection as a VB 6 compiled DLL.

 

[Chris Shelley]

When you do comple your application in VB.NET, make sure you compile a
retail version and don't send them the debug version with the .pdb file.