How Microsoft Helps Protect Your Phone Application
You might be interested learning about how your apps and games are protected. As a Windows Phone developer you can be assured that Windows Phone Marketplace is operating as designed in providing a level of protection that is in-line with industry practices and sufficient for our own valued content.
You can learn about our protection model in the Windows Phone Marketplace Anti-Piracy Model white paper, which outlines our perspective on leak prevention and leak containment.
It is important to note that because of the leak containment steps Microsoft takes that applications obtained outside of Marketplace will not run on consumer retail devices. Modified files would only run on a limited number of “unlocked” phones, such as those that have been registered by Marketplace developers on App Hub. It’s also worth noting that in extreme cases, the Windows Phone Marketplace is capable of un-publishing any application, disabling individual applications already installed, or disabling a developer’s account and their use of a developer unlocked phone.
Code Obfuscation
One powerful tool for protecting your apps and games is code obfuscation, which is a long standing best practice for managed code. Obfuscation is available tools like the Dotfuscator product recently announced for Windows Phone 7 applications. Microsoft has partnered with PreEmptive Solutions to make this tool, as well as a robust application analytics solution, available to Windows Phone developers for free through March 31st, 2011. As always we will continue working to respond to evolving threats, strengthen security and anti-piracy measures, and provide developers with more options to secure their code.
For the latest Microsoft guidance on this or other Marketplace topics you can also visit the Marketplace Developer Forums.
Microsoft Platform Ready
You can get help for your Windows Phone 7 applications at Microsoft Platform Ready. The team will help you with technical issues and provide help in marketing your apps. AND will reimburse you the sign up free when you put two apps in Marketplace before Dec 31. Details to be announced.
Bruce D. KyleISV Architect Evangelist | Microsoft Corporation