Stochastic method for program security using deferred linking

A system, comprising:

• a non-transitory memory including a partially linked object code version of a software application including a plurality of code modules, wherein the partially linked object code version of the software has at least a portion of external references resolved;
• and
• an installation program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
• randomly ordering the code modules;
• and
• inserting a random number of bytes between all of the randomly ordered code modules;
• and
• generating an executable image of the software that included the random number of bytes inserted between all of the randomly ordered code modules, and the executable image is unique to a local system,
• wherein the installation program performs the steps of randomly ordering the code modules, inserting the random number of bytes, and generating the executable image during a software installation process.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions executable by a processor, the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the processor to perform operations comprising:

• randomly ordering code modules of a partially linked object code version of software including a plurality of code modules, wherein the partially linked object code version of the software has at least a portion of external references resolved;
• inserting a random number of bytes between all of the randomly ordered code modules;
• and
• generating an executable image of the software that included the random number of bytes inserted between all of the randomly ordered code modules, and the executable image is unique to a local system,
• wherein the steps of randomly ordering the code modules, inserting the random number of bytes, and generating the executable image are performed during a software installation process.