You've built a .NET application, and anyone with a free decompiler can open it and read your code. If you sell software or ship it to customers, that's a real exposure. Skater .NET Obfuscator from RustemSoft is built to close that gap by scrambling your assemblies so they're very hard to read or recompile.
Quick facts
- Type: obfuscation tool for .NET code protection
- Platform: Windows, with a graphical interface and a command-line version
- Framework support: any .NET framework
- Free option: RustemSoft also offers a free Light Edition of Skater
Key features
Scrambled class, method and field names
Skater renames identifiers so they become meaningless, which removes the hints a decompiler would otherwise show.
Encrypted string constants
Strings in your assembly are encrypted, and a decryption routine restores them at runtime.
Control flow obfuscation against decompilers
Control flow obfuscation scrambles the code inside your methods so decompilers and deobfuscators struggle to produce usable output.
Batch obfuscation for scheduled builds
You set up an assembly's settings once in the GUI. The command-line version then reuses them in batch mode, which suits regular product updates.
Merge assemblies into one file
The linker unites several .NET assemblies into a single dll or exe.
Licensing features and code extension
Skater includes .NET licensing features and a Code Extension option for protecting small .NET applications.
Who it's for
It suits .NET developers who release builds regularly and want protection without changing source code. You don't need programming experience to apply it, and RustemSoft says it uses Skater to secure its own executables and assemblies.
Pros and cons
- Pro: no source code changes needed.
- Pro: GUI plus command-line batch mode.
- Pro: a free Light Edition lets you try the approach first.
- Con: settings for each assembly must be assigned in the GUI before batch runs work.
- Con: obfuscated applications are usually not recompilable, so keep your original source and builds.
FAQs
Do I need to change my source code?
No. Skater works on compiled assemblies.
Can I automate it?
Yes. Configure the assembly in the GUI, then run the command-line version in batch mode.
Is there a free version?
Yes, RustemSoft offers a Light Edition of Skater free of charge.
What can it process?
Any .NET application, executable or assembly.
System requirements
Windows with the .NET framework installed.