Development System with Methodology Providing Information Hiding in Executable Programs

A system for hiding information in computer programs, the system comprising:

• first input comprising program modules for a computer program being created, said program modules including data and code;
• second input comprising information to be hidden in the computer program;
• a linker for linking together the program modules to form an executable computer program, including determining pads necessary for aligning data and code;
• and
• a module for hiding the second input in the executable computer program by storing portions of the second input at locations in the executable computer program intended for pads.

In a computer architecture that employs dead spaces for aligning certain portions of a computer program, an improved method for embedding a data stream in the computer program, the method comprising:

• determining a sequence of dead spaces that are to be employed throughout the computer program for achieving desired alignments;
• embedding the data stream in the computer program by replacing selected ones of said sequence of dead spaces with information from the data stream;
• and
• recording information allowing the embedded data stream to be reconstituted from the computer program.