Method and device of protecting a first software application to generate a protected software application

A computer program product executable on a computing module including a processor, the computer program comprises a software code to cause the processor to protect a first software application when the computer program product is executed by the processor, the instructions including instructions to cause the processor to:

• add at least two check modules to the first software application, wherein a first check module of the at least two check modules, when being executed, checks at least a first part of the code of the protected software application loaded in the memory and carries out a predefined tamper response in case the first check module detects that the checked first part of the code was changed or ensures that the protected software application continues to function correctly in case the check module detects that the checked first part of the code was not changed and wherein a second check module of the at least two check modules, when being executed, checks at least a second part of the code of the protected software application loaded in the memory and carries out a predefined tamper response in case the second check module detects that the checked second part of the code was changed or ensures that the protected software application continues to function correctly in case the check module detects that the checked second part of the code was not changed wherein the first part of the code checked by the first check module includes the second check module such that when the first check module is executed the first check module verifies the second check module;
• select a first code region of the first software application, said first code region provides a first functionality when being executed;
• and
• compile the first software application to provide the protected software application including amending the selected first code region of the first software application such that an amended first code region is generated to carry out access by the selected first code region to a part of code of the protected software application when the protected software application is loaded in the memory;
• wherein the amended first code region, when being executed, still provides the first functionality but carries out an access to at least a part of the code of a protected software application loaded in the memory for providing the first functionality.

A device for protecting a first software application to generate a protecting software application to be executed on an execution platform having a memory in which code of the protection software application is loaded for execution, wherein the device adapted to protect the software application by:

• adding check modules to the first software application, at least one check module overlapping with other check module, wherein the check module, when being executed, checks at least a part of the code of the protected software application loaded in the memory including code of at least one other check module;
• and
• carries out a predefined tamper response in case the check module detects that the checked code was changed or
• ensures that the protected software application continues to function correctly in case the check module detects that the checked code was not changed,
• selecting a first code region of the first software application, said first code region provides a first functionality when being executed,
• amending, during compilation, the selected first code region of the first software application such that an amended first code region is generated to carry out access by the selected first code region to a part of code of the protected software application when the protected software application is loaded in the memory and compiled to provide the protected software application,
• wherein the amended first code region, when being executed, still provides the first functionality but carries out an access to at least a part of the code of a protected software application loaded in the memory for providing the first functionality.