Flexible instruction sets for obfuscated virtual machines

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform steps for protecting computer software code, the steps comprising:

• receiving instructions corresponding to computer software code for an application, the instructions including a first section of instructions to protect that is indicated by a first indicator and a second section of instructions to protect that is indicated by a second indicator;
• rewriting the first section of instructions into a first section of virtual instructions;
• and
• rewriting the second section of instructions into a second section of virtual instructions;
• wherein the first section of virtual instructions includes a first virtual instruction that corresponds to a first handler and the second set of virtual instructions includes a second virtual instruction that corresponds to a second handler, the first handler having different properties than the second handler.

A computer-implemented system for protecting computer software code, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform steps comprising:
• receiving instructions corresponding to computer software code for an application, the instructions including a first section of instructions to protect that is indicated by a first indicator and a second section of instructions to protect that is indicated by a second indicator;
• rewriting the first section of instructions into a first section of virtual instructions;
• and
• rewriting the second section of instructions into a second section of virtual instructions;
• wherein the first section of virtual instructions includes a first virtual instruction that corresponds to a first handler and the second set of virtual instructions includes a second virtual instruction that corresponds to a second handler, the first handler having different properties than the second handler.