Excel Security

[zeus181]

Hi, I have developed an excel program which uses VBA and excel functions and I would like to start selling it commercially. However security is a big problem. I am thinking of trying Doneex or lockxls. Does anyone know if these are very good software? If not does anyone know of other software or different a solution like COMs add-in’s that will provide strong security for distribution purposes? (Money is not an issue I will pay however much as long as I get good security.)

Thanks,

Zeus181

[royUK]

I haven't used those products but they seem good. Try their trial versions if available

[zeus181]

Thanks for the input. I sent the files to Whitehat XL and I recieved the workboook back fully unprotected vba code and all. so I would say this is a good product but definatly hackable.

[abousetta]

I found this while trolling the www but haven't tried it yet and so can't tell if it is really a superior method to encrypting the vba macros. It's supposed to make the project unviewable...

1. Save the Excel workbook (.xls) file into an add-in (File > SaveAs.....)
2. After you have the saved add-in (.xla), close the Excel workbook (.xls)
3. Double click on the add-in to open it
4. Press Alt+F11 to access the add-in's vba project
5. Lock the vba-project with a password
6. Double-click on the "ThisWorkbook" code module
7. Press F4 to open the Properties window
8. Change the "IsAddin" status to FALSE
9. Return to Excel by Pressing Alt+Q (or close the vbe window)
10. Go to Tools > Share Workbook
11. When the dialogue appears, check the box for: (Allow changes by.....)
12. Press OK to close the Dialogue
13. When prompted to save, Press OK
14. Press Ok to accept that "macros cannot be accessed"
15. You should feel giddy at this point because you just realized what you have
been missing right under your nose
16. Verify that the [SHARED] appears in the application title bar
17. Now save the workbook again as an Add-in (File > SaveAs...) overwriting the
previous one
18. Close this Excel workbook without saving the changes (you don't need it)
19. Test out your newly saved add-in (open it, access the vbe, try to expand
the project window, you should get the new message "Project is Unviewable"
20. Your done

abousetta

[abousetta]

This company claim that their product:

• Offers much better protection than any VBA password.
• No known VBA password recovery software can find the protection and/or remove it.
• Non-experts can not hack the protection with a hex editor - the project remains locked.
• The VBA Bypassing/Backdoor technology is also disabled.

Again haven't tried it but they do offer a 30-day money back guarrentee...

Hope this helps.

abousetta

[zeus181]

Thanks for the help I was able to hack the VBA passowrd method but I will try the reccomended company

[abousetta]

Just as a heads-up, I read on another forum somewhere (can't remeber) that it's security protocols were not much stronger than found in vba. I don't know because I have not ever used this product nor first hand seen any reports from security experts on it's strenghts or weaknesses. So probably be careful before giving anyone your money for services that promise that may or may not be worth it.

[abousetta]

MarvinP suggested a few other security programs in this post. As I said, price and functionality differ between providers, and so does strength of security.