Question about reverse engineering/cracking

Desidero · 11-05-2009, 09:47 PM

Do any of you know of any good resources on the subject? I'm not sure where to begin, but it's a topic I've been interested in for a long time and I decided I'd like to learn something potentially useful instead of screwing around in my free time. Obviously, I've Googled it and such, but I was hoping someone here might know something about it and have a few pointers.

Grooverider · 11-06-2009, 02:22 AM

I used to crack/keygen apps and games for a few well known groups (at the time) from about 95-01. My knowledge will be out of date when it comes to PE protection and unpacking, but on the whole I should be able to help pretty well.

The scene back then was great fun. So - ask away!

Tangurena · 11-06-2009, 08:45 PM

I haven't been interested in reversing/cracking in years, but back in the 90s before the big FBI crackdowns, Fravia was the best teacher.

Fravia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fravia's mirror of reverse code engineering (click on the "essays" link). Please note that like all good hackers, his essays are numbered in hexadecimal.

Desidero · 11-06-2009, 09:18 PM

Basically it started out like this: a few people I know have decided to try a botting program for a game. In order to use it, you get a code that is valid for 30 days for $20 from a US reseller (the Chinese make it). I laughed at them for paying $20/month for a bot program, but I thought it would be an entertaining side project to figure out how to make it work without buying the codes. Obviously I'm not expecting to actually learn how to crack this program in the near future (probably not ever, but that's okay), but I'd like to learn about the art of cracking programs for entertainment value. I just don't know where to begin really. I'm reading through some of the material on the Fravia site right now and it seems good, but out of date.

I'll continue to read through the essays and see what I can pick up. So far all I know is that the package is protected by Themida. I'm working on unpacking the exe and then going from there.

Dinthug · 11-06-2009, 09:55 PM

Thank you so much for that, I have a feeling I'm going to be spending a lot of time on that site.

I've read a few dozen pages, most seem dated in the 90s. Fravia died this year. When did he stop writing these essays? Does he have essays in the 2000s?

Grooverider · 11-07-2009, 02:21 AM

What language is the app written in Des?

I've been reading up on Themida - christ. The hardest unpacking back in my day was PEProtect. Things have certainly moved on leaps and bounds.

Desidero · 11-07-2009, 09:51 PM

I'm not sure how to figure out what it was written in, honestly. I'm still learning a lot. I tried to take a shortcut and look up unpacking Themida, but it's proving difficult. I'm learning how to use ollydbg right now. It's becoming overwhelming - that's why I came here looking for a decent starting point rather than jumping in the deep end. I'm reading through a lot of old and basic information and hoping it helps to prepare me for the newer stuff. We'll see, I guess.

If you want to play with the program I'm toying with, I can send a copy of the file to you.

11-05-2009, 09:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
Desidero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 595 +0 Internets	Question about reverse engineering/cracking Do any of you know of any good resources on the subject? I'm not sure where to begin, but it's a topic I've been interested in for a long time and I decided I'd like to learn something potentially useful instead of screwing around in my free time. Obviously, I've Googled it and such, but I was hoping someone here might know something about it and have a few pointers.

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11-06-2009, 02:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Grooverider 1234567890 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Svenborgia Posts: 1,299	I used to crack/keygen apps and games for a few well known groups (at the time) from about 95-01. My knowledge will be out of date when it comes to PE protection and unpacking, but on the whole I should be able to help pretty well. The scene back then was great fun. So - ask away!

11-06-2009, 08:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tangurena Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 96 +5 Internets	I haven't been interested in reversing/cracking in years, but back in the 90s before the big FBI crackdowns, Fravia was the best teacher. Fravia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Fravia's mirror of reverse code engineering (click on the "essays" link). Please note that like all good hackers, his essays are numbered in hexadecimal.

11-06-2009, 09:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
Desidero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 595 +0 Internets	Basically it started out like this: a few people I know have decided to try a botting program for a game. In order to use it, you get a code that is valid for 30 days for $20 from a US reseller (the Chinese make it). I laughed at them for paying $20/month for a bot program, but I thought it would be an entertaining side project to figure out how to make it work without buying the codes. Obviously I'm not expecting to actually learn how to crack this program in the near future (probably not ever, but that's okay), but I'd like to learn about the art of cracking programs for entertainment value. I just don't know where to begin really. I'm reading through some of the material on the Fravia site right now and it seems good, but out of date. I'll continue to read through the essays and see what I can pick up. So far all I know is that the package is protected by Themida. I'm working on unpacking the exe and then going from there.

11-07-2009, 02:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Grooverider 1234567890 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Svenborgia Posts: 1,299	What language is the app written in Des? I've been reading up on Themida - christ. The hardest unpacking back in my day was PEProtect. Things have certainly moved on leaps and bounds.

11-07-2009, 09:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Desidero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 595 +0 Internets	I'm not sure how to figure out what it was written in, honestly. I'm still learning a lot. I tried to take a shortcut and look up unpacking Themida, but it's proving difficult. I'm learning how to use ollydbg right now. It's becoming overwhelming - that's why I came here looking for a decent starting point rather than jumping in the deep end. I'm reading through a lot of old and basic information and hoping it helps to prepare me for the newer stuff. We'll see, I guess. If you want to play with the program I'm toying with, I can send a copy of the file to you.