Invalid Code

Protection ID: invalid_code

This protection adds invalid code to the methods so that decompilers cannot interpret them.

This protection is available in the editions:

Startup Enterprise

Invalid code added in the methods is not executed, for this reason it does not affect the operation or performance of the applications in a negative way.

Parameters

This protection has no parameters or settings.

Rules configuration

shield.config.json

{
  "protections": {
    "invalid_code": {}
  }
}

Modes

Default: Add invalid instructions to prevent the method code from being decompiled.

Code example

Before:

var key =  "https://www.bytehide.com";
string password = "admin";

After:

/* An exception occurred when decompiling this method (06000001) ICSharpCode.Decompiler.DecompilerException: 
Error decompiling System.Void Testnetcoreapp30.Program::Main(System.String[]) ---> System.Exception: 
Inconsistent stack size at IL_1A en ICSharpCode.Decompiler.ILAst.ILAstBuilder.StackAnalysis(MethodDef methodDef)
en C:\projects\dnspy\Extensions\ILSpy.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\ILAst\ILAstBuilder.cs:line 443 
en ICSharpCode.Decompiler.ILAst.ILAstBuilder.Build(MethodDef methodDef, Boolean optimize, DecompilerContext context) 
en C:\projects\dnspy\Extensions\ILSpy.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\ILAst\ILAstBuilder.cs:line 269 
en ICSharpCode.Decompiler.Ast.AstMethodBodyBuilder.CreateMethodBody(IEnumerable`1 parameters, MethodDebugInfoBuilder& builder) 
en C:\projects\dnspy\Extensions\ILSpy.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\Ast\AstMethodBodyBuilder.cs:line 112 en 
ICSharpCode.Decompiler.Ast.AstMethodBodyBuilder.CreateMethodBody(MethodDef methodDef, DecompilerContext context, AutoPropertyProvider 
autoPropertyProvider, IEnumerable`1 parameters, Boolean valueParameterIsKeyword, StringBuilder sb, MethodDebugInfoBuilder& stmtsBuilder) 
en C:\projects\dnspy\Extensions\ILSpy.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\Ast\AstMethodBodyBuilder.cs:line 88 --- 
End of internal exception stack tracking --- en ICSharpCode.Decompiler.Ast.AstMethodBodyBuilder.CreateMethodBody (MethodDef methodDef, 
DecompilerContext context, AutoPropertyProvider autoPropertyProvider, IEnumerable`1 parameters, Boolean valueParameterIsKeyword, StringBuilder sb, 
MethodDebugInfoBuilder& stmtsBuilder) en C:\projects\dnspy\Extensions\ILSpy.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\Ast\AstMethodBodyBuilder.cs:line 
92 en ICSharpCode.Decompiler.Ast.AstBuilder.<>c__DisplayClass89_1.<AddMethodBody>b__0() 
en C:\projects\dnspy\Extensions\ILSpy.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\ICSharpCode.Decompiler\Ast\AstBuilder.cs:line 1531 */"

Exclusions

Exclude with attribute

Include this attribute in your source code:

[Obfuscation(Exclude = false, Feature = "-invalid_code")]

Exclude from the interface

You can exclude this protection from the methods or classes you want.

Compatibility

Framework	Compatibility	Comments
.NET Core	✔	Not recommended if reflection is used or your application is an externally loaded plugin.
.NET Framework	✔	Not recommended if reflection is used or your application is an externally loaded plugin.
.NET (up to 8 version)	✔	Not recommended if reflection is used or your application is an externally loaded plugin.
.NET Standard	✔	Not recommended if reflection is used or your application is an externally loaded plugin.
Xamarin IOS	❌	It is pre-checked, but is automatically disabled in most cases.
Xamarin Android	❌	It is pre-checked, but is automatically disabled in most cases.
Xamarin MacOs	❌	It is pre-checked, but is automatically disabled in most cases.
WPF	✔
Blazor	✔
.NET Maui	✔
Unity	✔	Not recommended if reflection is used or your application is an externally loaded plugin.
ASP	✔
Silverlight	✔
VBa (Visual Basic) or C# (CSharp)	✔	Not recommended if reflection is used or your application is an externally loaded plugin.
WinRT	✔

Shield is compatible with all versions of .NET, it doesn't matter if you use .NET 2.0, .NET 4.7, .NET Core 2.1 or Xamarin.Forms 5.0, it will adapt automatically according to needs, you don't have to worry about this.