Introduction
Have you ever wondered how hackers can crack software, games, or malware? Or how cybersecurity experts can defend against such attacks? If so, you might be interested in learning about reverse engineering, which is the process of analyzing a software system to understand its structure, functionality, and behavior. Reverse engineering can be used for various purposes, such as enhancing software security, making software compatible with third-party components, maintaining legacy code, and so on.
One of the best ways to learn reverse engineering is by solving crackmes. A crackme (often abbreviated by cm) is a small program designed to test your reverse engineering skills. They are programmed by other reversers as a legal way to crack software, since no intellectual property is being infringed upon. Crackmes usually have some protection mechanisms that make them hard to analyze or modify. The goal of solving a crackme is usually to find a password or serial number that makes the program display a success message.
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In this article, I will guide you through the steps of creating and solving a simple crackme using some of the best tools for reverse engineering. You will learn how to use tools like IDA Pro, x64dbg, API Monitor, Fiddler, and more to inspect, debug, and manipulate binary files. You will also learn some common techniques used by software protectors and crackers, such as anti-debugging, anti-disassembly, obfuscation, encryption, checksums, etc. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how software works under the hood and how to reverse engineer it.
Creating a crackme
The first step in this tutorial is to create our own crackme. This will help us understand how software protection works and what challenges we might face when trying to solve other crackmes. Creating a crackme is also fun and rewarding, as you can test your own skills or challenge others with your creation.
Choosing a programming language and platform
The first thing we need to decide is what programming language and platform we want to use for creating our crackme. There are many options available, but some factors we might consider are:
The level of difficulty we want to achieve. Some languages are easier to reverse engineer than others. For example, .NET languages like C# or VB.NET can be easily decompiled back to source code using tools like dnSpy or ILSpy. On the other hand, languages like C or C++ produce native code that is harder to analyze and modify.
The availability of tools and libraries. Some languages have more support for adding protection mechanisms or features to our crackme. For example, C and C++ have many libraries and frameworks for implementing anti-debugging, encryption, compression, etc. .NET languages have tools like ConfuserEx or Dotfuscator that can obfuscate and protect the code.
The target audience and platform. We might want to create a crackme that is compatible with different operating systems or architectures. For example, we can use Java or Python to create a cross-platform crackme that can run on Windows, Linux, or Mac. We can also use assembly language to create a crackme that is specific to a certain processor or platform, such as x86, x64, ARM, etc.
For this tutorial, we will use C++ as our programming language and Windows as our platform. C++ is a popular and powerful language that produces native code that is hard to reverse engineer. Windows is the most widely used operating system and has many tools and resources for reverse engineering.
Adding basic functionality and user interface
The next step is to write a simple program that asks for a password and checks it. We will use Visual Studio as our IDE and compiler. Visual Studio is a free and comprehensive tool for developing Windows applications. You can download it from .
To create our project, we need to follow these steps:
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Open Visual Studio and select Create a new project.
Choose Console App as the project template and C++ as the language.
Name the project CrackMe1 and choose a location for it.
Click Create to generate the project.
We will see a file called CrackMe1.cpp in the Solution Explorer window. This is where we will write our code. We can delete the default code and replace it with the following:
using namespace std; int main() // Declare a variable to store the user input string input; // Print a welcome message cout > input; // Check if the input matches the password if (input == "secret") // Print a success message cout
This code does the following:
It includes two header files: iostream and string. iostream provides input and output functions, such as cout and cin. string provides string manipulation functions, such as == and !=.
It uses the std namespace, which contains common C++ features, such as cout and cin.
It defines the main function, which is the entry point of the program.
It declares a variable called input of type string, which will store the user input.
It prints a welcome message using cout, which stands for console output.
It gets the user input using cin, which stands for console input.
It checks if the input matches the password using ==, which compares two strings for equality.
It prints a success or failure message depending on the result of the comparison.
It pauses the program using system("pause"), which executes a command line instruction that waits for a key press.
It returns 0 from the main function, which indicates that the program exited normally.
To build and run our program, we need to follow these steps:
Select Build from the menu bar and click Build Solution. This will compile our code into an executable file called CrackMe1.exe in the Debug folder of our project location.
Select Debug from the menu bar and click Start Without Debugging. This will run our program in a console window.
We will see something like this:
Welcome to CrackMe1! Please enter the password: secret Correct! You solved it! Press any key to continue . . .
Congratulations! We have created our first crackme. However, it is very easy to solve, since anyone can guess or find the password by looking at our source code. Let's make it more challenging by adding some protection mechanisms.
Adding some protection mechanisms
To make our crackme harder to solve, we need to add some protection mechanisms ()) // Print a message and exit cout
Now, if we try to run our crackme under a debugger, we will see something like this:
Welcome to CrackMe1! Please enter the password: secret Debugging is not allowed!
This is a simple but effective way to deter casual debuggers. However, there are ways to bypass this check, such as patching the binary file, using a debugger plugin, or using a different API function. We will see how to do that later when we try to solve our crackme.
Adding anti-disassembly
Another way to make our crackme harder to solve is to use encryption. Encryption is the process of transforming data into an unreadable form using a secret key. The encrypted data can only be decrypted back to its original form using the same or a different key. Encryption can be used to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data, such as passwords, messages, files, etc.
We can use encryption to protect our crackme's code from being disassembled by tools like IDA Pro or Ghidra. These tools can convert the binary code into assembly language, which is more readable and understandable by humans. However, if the code is encrypted, the tools will not be able to recognize it and will produce gibberish or incorrect output.
To encrypt our crackme's code, we need to follow these steps:
Choose an encryption algorithm and a key. There are many encryption algorithms available, such as AES, DES, RC4, etc. Some are more secure and complex than others. For this tutorial, we will use a simple algorithm called XOR (exclusive OR), which performs a bitwise operation on two inputs and produces an output that is different from both inputs. For example, 1010 XOR 1100 = 0110. The key is a secret value that is used by the encryption and decryption functions. For this tutorial, we will use a single byte as our key, such as 0x42.
Encrypt the code section of our crackme's binary file using the algorithm and the key. The code section is where the executable instructions of our program are stored. We can use a hex editor like HxD or Hex Workshop to open our crackme's binary file and locate the code section. We can also use tools like CFF Explorer or PEiD to inspect the file's structure and find the code section's offset and size. We need to apply the encryption algorithm to each byte of the code section using the key. For example, if the first byte of the code section is 0x55 and our key is 0x42, we need to replace it with 0x55 XOR 0x42 = 0x17.
Add a decryption function and a loader to our crackme's binary file. The decryption function is the inverse of the encryption function. It takes the encrypted code and the key as inputs and produces the original code as output. The loader is a small piece of code that runs before the main program and calls the decryption function with the correct parameters. We need to write these functions in assembly language and insert them into our crackme's binary file using a hex editor or an assembler like NASM or FASM. We also need to modify the file's entry point address to point to the loader instead of the main function.
Here is an example of how our crackme's binary file might look like before and after encryption:
Before encryption
After encryption
... 55 push ebp 8B EC mov ebp, esp 81 EC 04 01 sub esp, 104h 00 00 53 push ebx 56 push esi 57 push edi 8D BD FC FE lea edi, [ebp-104h] FF FF B9 41 00 00 mov ecx, 41h 00 B8 CC CC CC mov eax, 0CCCCCCCCh CC F3 AB rep stosd ...
... 17 ; encrypted byte (55 XOR 42) C Here is an example of how to write a decryption function and a loader in assembly language:
; Decryption function decrypt: ; Get the address and size of the code section mov esi, [esp+4] ; esi = code section address mov ecx, [esp+8] ; ecx = code section size ; Loop through each byte of the code section decrypt_loop: ; Check if we reached the end of the code section cmp ecx, 0 je decrypt_end ; Decrypt the current byte using XOR and the key mov al, [esi] ; al = current byte xor al, 0x42 ; al = decrypted byte (using 0x42 as the key) mov [esi], al ; store the decrypted byte back to the code section ; Increment the address and decrement the size inc esi dec ecx ; Repeat the loop jmp decrypt_loop decrypt_end: ; Return from the function ret ; Loader loader: ; Call the decryption function with the code section address and size as parameters push 0x401000 ; code section address (can be found using CFF Explorer or PEiD) push 0x1000 ; code section size (can be found using CFF Explorer or PEiD) call decrypt ; call the decryption function ; Jump to the original entry point of the program (the main function) jmp 0x4011A0 ; original entry point address (can be found using CFF Explorer or PEiD)
We can insert these functions into our crackme's binary file using a hex editor or an assembler. We also need to modify the file's entry point address to point to the loader instead of the main function. We can use CFF Explorer or PEiD to find and change the entry point address.
Now, if we try to disassemble our crackme using IDA Pro or Ghidra, we will see something like this:
... 401000 17 db 17h ; encrypted byte (55 XOR 42) 401001 C9 db 0C9h ; encrypted byte (8B XOR 42) 401002 D1 db 0D1h ; encrypted byte (EC XOR 42) 401003 E1 db 0E1h ; encrypted byte (A3 XOR 42) 401004 E5 db 0E5h ; encrypted byte (A7 XOR 42) 401005 E7 db 0E7h ; encrypted byte (A5 XOR 42) 401006 E9 db 0E9h ; encrypted byte (AB XOR 42) ...
This is a much more difficult code to understand and modify. However, there are still ways to bypass this encryption, such as finding and disabling the decryption function, using a memory dump, or using a different disassembler. We will see how to do that later when we try to solve our crackme.
Adding obfuscation
The final technique we will use to make our crackme harder to solve is obfuscation. Obfuscation is the process of making the code harder to understand, even if it is disassembled correctly. It involves changing the names of variables, functions, classes, etc. to meaningless or misleading ones, removing comments and documentation, using complex or unusual logic, etc. The goal of obfuscation is to make the code look like gibberish or nonsense.
We can use obfuscation to hide or confuse the password and the success message in our crackme. For example, we can use some tricks like:
Using string literals instead of variables. For example, instead of declaring a variable called password and assigning it a value of "secret", we can just use "secret" directly in our code.
Using hexadecimal or binary notation instead of decimal. For example, instead of using "secret" as our password, we can use "\x73\x65\x63\x72\x65\x74" or "\x1110011\x1100101\x1100011\x1110010\x1100101\x1110100", which are equivalent representations in hexadecimal and binary.
Using arithmetic operations instead of string concatenation. For example, instead of using "Correct! You solved it!" as our success message, we can use "Cor" + "rect! You " + "solved it!", which is equivalent but more complicated.
Here is an example of how our crackme's code might look like after obfuscation:
using namespace std; int main() // Declare a variable to store the user input string input; // Print a welcome message cout > input; // Check if the program is being debugged if (IsDebuggerPresent()) // Print a message and exit cout
This code is more difficult to understand and modify than the original one. However, there are still ways to deobfuscate it, such as using string analysis, pattern matching, or logic simplification. We will see how to do that later when we try to solve our crackme.
Solving a crackme
Now that we have created our crackme, let's see how we can solve it. Solving a crackme involves using various tools and techniques to analyze and manipulate the crackme's binary file. The goal of solving a crackme is usually to find a password or serial number that makes the program display a success message. Alternatively, we can also modify the crackme's code to always display the success message, regardless of the input.
To solve our crackme, we need to follow these steps:
Analyze the crackme with static tools. Static tools are tools that can inspect the crackme's binary file without running it. They can provide information about the file's structure, format, sections, imports, exports, strings, etc. Some examples of static tools are IDA Pro, CFF Explorer, PEiD, etc.
Debug the crackme with dynamic tools. Dynamic tools are tools that can run the crackme under a controlled environment and trace its behavior. They can provide information about the file's execution, memory, registers, breakpoints, etc. Some examples of dynamic tools are x64dbg, API Monitor, Fiddler, etc.
Find the password or bypass the check. Using the information gathered from static and dynamic analysis, we can either find the correct password or modify the crackme's code to always display the success message.
Analyzing the crackme with static tools
The first step in solving our crackme is to analyze it with static tools. Static tools can inspect the crackme's binary file without running it. They can provide information about the file's structure, format, sections, imports, exports, strings, etc. This information can help us understand how the crackme works and what protection mechanisms it uses.
Using IDA Pro
One of the most powerful and popular static tools is IDA Pro. IDA Pro is an interactive disassembler that can convert binary code into assembly language. It can also provide features like graphs, cross-references, comments, renaming, etc. IDA Pro can handle many different file formats and architectures.
We can use IDA Pro to open our crackme's binary file and see its disassembly. We will see something like this:
; int __cdecl main(int argc, const char argv, const char envp) public main main proc near var_104= byte ptr -104h push ebp mov ebp, esp sub esp, 104h push ebx push esi push edi lea edi, [ebp+var_104] mov ecx, 41h mov eax, 0CCCCCCCCh rep stosd ...
This is the assembly code of our crackme's main function. We can see that IDA Pro has recognized some of the C++ features, such as the function name, the parameters, and the local variables. However, we can also see that the code is encrypted, as we can see many bytes that do not correspond to valid instructions. For example, 17h, C9h, D1h, etc. These are the bytes that we encrypted using XOR and the key 0x42.
We can also see that IDA Pro has failed to recognize the decryption function and the loader that we added to our crackme's binary file. These functions are located at the beginning of the code section, before the main function. However, IDA Pro has not disassembled them correctly, as it has treated them as data instead of code. For example, we can see something like this:
... 401000 db 17h ; DATA XREF: .text:004011A0o 401001 db 0C9h ; DATA XREF: .text:004011A1o 401002 db 0D1h ; DATA XREF: .text:004011A2o 401003 db 0E1h ; DATA XREF: .text:004011A3o 401004 db 0E5h ; DATA XREF: .text:004011A4o 401005 db 0E7h ; DATA XREF: .text:004011A5o 401006 db 0E9h ; DATA XREF: .text:004011A6o ...
This is actually the code of our loader, but IDA Pro has not recognized it as such. This is because we changed the entry point address of our crackme's binary file to point to the loader instead of the main function. IDA Pro has followed the original entry point address and started disassembling from there, ignoring the code before it.
This shows that our encryption and obfuscation techniques have worked well, as they have made our crackme harder to disassemble and understand. However, there are still ways to overcome these challenges, such as using different disassembly options, finding and disabling the decryption function, or using a memory dump. We will see how to do that later when we debug our crackme with dynamic tools.
Using CFF Explorer
Another useful static tool is CFF Explorer. CFF Explorer is a tool that can inspect and edit the structure and format of executable files. It can provide information about the file's header, sections, imports, exports, resources, etc. It can also modify some of these attributes, such as changing the entry point address, adding or removing sections, etc.
We can use CFF Explorer to open our crackme's binary file and see its structure and format. We will see something like this:
This is the CFF Explorer interface. It has a tree view on the left that shows the different components of our crackme's binary file. It has a hex view on the right that shows the raw data of our crackme's binary file. It also has a toolbar on the top that provides some options and features.
We can use CFF Explorer to find some useful information about our crackme's binary file, such as:
The file type and format. We can see that our crackme's binary file is a PE (Portable Executable) file, which is the standard format for Windows executables. We can also see some details about the PE header, such as the signature, machine type, number of sections, timestamp, etc.
The entry point address. We can see that our crackme's binary file has an entry point address of 0x401000, which is where our loader is located. We can also see that this address corresponds to the code section (named .text), which is where our executable instructions are stored.
The code section address and size. We can see that our crackme's binary file has a code section (named .text) that starts at 0x401000 and has a size of 0x1000 bytes. This is where our encrypted code is stored.
The import table. We can see that our crackme's binary file imports some functions from some DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries), such as kernel32.dll and msvcrt.dll. These are libraries that provide common Windows features and C++ runtime support. We can also see some details about each imported function, such as its name, ordinal , and address. For example, we can see that our crackme's binary file imports the IsDebuggerPresent function from kernel32.dll, which is used for anti-debugging.
We can also use CFF Explorer to modify some attributes of our crackme's binary file, such as:
Changing the entry point address. We can change the entry point address of our crackme's binary file to point to a different location, such as the main function or the decryption function. This might help us bypass the encryption or the loader.
Adding or removing sections. We can add or remove sections from our crackme's binary file, such as adding a new section with our own code or removing the code section with the encrypted code. This might help us inject or delete some functionality.
Editing the import table. We can edit the import table of our crackme's binary file, such as adding or removing some imported functions or changing their names or addresses. This might help us change the behavior of some functions or introduce some errors.
CFF Explorer is a very handy tool for inspecting and editing executable files. However, it is not enough to solve our crackme, as we still need to run it and see how it behaves. For that, we need to use dynamic tools.
Debugging the crackme with dynamic tools
The second step in solving our crackme is to debug it with dynamic tools. Dynamic tools are tools that can run the crackme under a controlled environment and trace its behavior. They can provide information about the file's execution, memory, registers, breakpoints, etc. This information can help us understand how the crackme works and what protection mechanisms it uses.
Using x64dbg
One of the most powerful and popular dynamic tools is x64dbg. x64dbg is an open-source debugger that can run and control executable files. It can provide features like disassembly, memory dump, register view, stack view, breakpoints, tracing, etc. x64dbg can handle both 32-bit and 64-bit executable files.
We can use x64dbg to open our crackme's binary file and see its execution. We will see something like this:
This is the x64dbg interface. It has a disassembly view on the top left that shows the assembly code of our crackme's binary file. It has a memory dump view on the bottom left that shows the raw data of our crackme's binary file. It has a register view on the top right that shows the values of the CPU registers. It has a stack view on the bottom right that shows the values of the stack memory. It also has a toolbar on the top that provides some options and features.
We can use x64dbg to find some useful information about our crackme's execution, such as:
The entry point address and code. We can see that x64dbg has recognized the correct entry point address of our crackme's binary file, which is 0x401000, where our loader is located. We can also see that x64dbg has disassembled the code correctly, unlike IDA Pro. We can see the code of our loader, which calls the decryption function and jumps to the original entry point.
The decrypted code section. We can see that x64dbg has decrypted the code section of our crackme's binary file, as it runs the decryption function before the main function. We can see the decrypted code in the memory dump view, which matches the original code that we wrote in C++.
The user input and the password. We can see that x64dbg has captured the user input and the password in the memory dump view, as they are stored in the stack memory. We can see that the user input is stored at address 0x28FFC8 and the password is stored at address 0x28FFB8. We can also see that the password is "\x73\x65\x63\x72\x65\x74", which is the hexadecimal representation of "secret".
We can also use x64dbg to modify some attributes of our crackme's execution, such as:
Setting breakpoints. We can set breakpoints on certain instructions or addresses, which will pause the execution of our crackme when they are reached. This will allow us to inspect and modify the state of our crackme at that point. For example, we can set a breakpoint on the instruction that compares the user input and the password, which is at address 0x4011D7.
Changing register values. We can change the values of the CPU registers, which store temporary data and control flags. This will affect the outcome of some instructions or conditions. For example, we can change the value of the ZF (zero flag) register, which indicates if the result of an operation is zero or not. This will affect the result of the comparison between the user input and the password.
Editing memory values. We can edit the values of the memory, which store permanent data and code. This will affect the behavior of our crackme or its output. For example, we can edit the value of the password in the memory, which is at address 0x28FFB8.
x64dbg is a very handy tool for debugging and controlling executable files. However, it is not enough to solve our crackme, as we still need to find or bypass the password and display the success message. For that, we need to use some techniques and tricks.
Finding the password or bypassing the check
The final step in solving our crackme is to find or bypass the password and display the success message. There are two ways to achieve this goal: finding the correct password or modifying the crackme's code to always display the success message, regardless of the input.
Finding the correct password
One way to solve our crackme is to find the correct password that makes the program display the success message. To do this, we need to use the information that we gathered from static and dynamic analysis, such as:
The password is stored in the stack memory at address 0x28FFB8.
The password is "\x73\x65\x63\x72\x65\x74", which is the hexadecimal representation of "secret".
The password is compared with the user input using the == operator, which checks for equality.
Using this information, we can deduce that the correct password is "secret". We can enter this password in our crackme and see if it works. We will see something like this:
Welcome to CrackMe1! Please enter the password: secret Correct! You solved it! Press any key to continue . . .
Congratulations! We have solved our crackme by finding the correct password. However, this might not always be possible or easy, as some crackmes might use more complex or unknown passwords, encryption algorithms, or comparison methods. In that case, we might need to use another way to solve our crackme: bypassing the check.
Bypassing the check
Another way to solve our crackme is to bypass the check that compares the user input and the password and displays the success or failure message. To do this, we need to modify the crackme's code to always display the success message, regardless of the input. To do this, we need to use some techniques and tricks, such as:
Patching the binary file. Patching is the process of changing some bytes in the binary file to alter its behavior. We can use a hex editor or a debugger to patch our crackme's binary file. For example, we can patch the instruction that compares the user input and the password, which is at address 0x4011D7, and change it from "cmp eax, edx" to "nop", which means no operation. This will skip the comparison and always set the ZF (zero flag) register to 1, which indicates that the result of an operation is zero. This will make the program think that the user input and the password are equal and display the success message.
Injecting code. Injecting code is the process of adding some new code to the binary file to execute some custom functionality. We can use an assembler or a debugger to inject code into our crackme's binary file. For example, we can inject some code that prints the success message and exits the program, and insert a jump instruction at the beginning of the main function to redirect the execution to our injected code. This will skip the entire logic of the crackme and always display the success message.
Using plugins or scripts. Plugins or scripts are extensions or add-ons that can enhance the functionality of a tool or a program. We can use plugins or scripts for our debugger or disassembler to automate some tasks or perform some actions. For example, we can use a plugin or a script for x64dbg or IDA Pro that can find and disable the decryption function, deobfuscate the password and the success message, or patch the binary file.
Using these techniques and tricks, we can bypass the check and display the success message without knowing or entering the correct password. We will see something like this:
Welcome to CrackMe1! Please enter the password: anything Correct! You solved it! Press any key to continue . . .
Congratulations! We have solved our crackme by bypassing the check. However, this might not always be possible or easy, as some crackmes might use more advanced or unknown protection mechanisms, encryption algorithms, or comparison methods. In that case, we might need to use more sophisticated tools or techniques.
Conclusion
In this article, we have learned how to create and solve a simple crackme using some of the best tools and techniques for reverse engineering. We have learned how to use tools like IDA Pro, x64dbg, CFF Explorer, etc. to inspect, debug, and manipulate binary files. We have also learned some common techniques used by software protectors and crackers, such as anti-debugging, anti-disassembly, obfuscation, encryption, checksums, etc.
However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more tools and techniques that can be used for reverse engineering, as well as many more types and levels of crackmes that can be created and solved. Reverse engineering is a vast and fascinating field that requires constant learning and practice. It can be challenging but also rewarding, as it can help us improve our software security, compatibility, maintenance, and understanding.
If you are interested in learning more about reverse engineering and crackmes, here are some resources that you might find useful:
: A website that hosts many crackmes of different types and levels for you to download and solve.
: A website that provides many tutorials, articles, books, videos, etc. on reverse engineering and related topics.
: A question-and-answer website where you can ask and answer questions about reverse engineering.
: A subreddit where you can discuss and share news, resources, tools, etc. about reverse engineering.
I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about crackmes and reverse engineering:
What is a keygen?
A keygen (short for key generator) is a program that can generate valid passwords or serial numbers for a crackme or another software program. A keygen is usually created by analyzing the algorithm or logic that checks the validity of the input in the target program. A keygen is often considered a more elegant and sophisticated way of solving a crackme than patching or injecting code.
What is a patch?
A patch (short for patch file) is a file that contains changes to be applied to another file. A patch is usually created by comparing two versions of a file (such as an original and a modified one) and recording the differences between them. A patch can be used to fix bugs or add features to a software program, or to crack a crackme or another software program by changing its behavior or output.
What is a debugger?
A debugger is a tool that can run and control a software program under a controlled environment and trace its behavior. A debugger can provide features like disassembly, memory dump, register view, stack view, breakpoints, tracing, etc. A debugger can be used to find and fix errors in a software program, or to analyze and modify a crackme or another software program.
What is a disassembler?
A disassembler is a tool that can convert binary code into assembly language. Assembly language is a low-level language that directly corresponds to the instructions executed by the CPU. A disassembler can provide features like graphs, cross-references, comments, renaming, etc. A disassembler can be used to understand the structure, functionality, and behavior of a software program, or to analyze and modify a crackme or another software program.
What is encryption?
Encryption is the process of transforming data into an unreadable form using a secret key. The encrypted data can only be decrypted back to its original form using the same or a different key. Encryption can be used to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data, such as passwords, messages, files, etc. Encryption can also be used to protect the code of a software program or a crackme from being disassembled or modified. 44f88ac181
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