Comments on: Password Protecting VIs is Security Through Obscurity

By: BH Chan

BH Chan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:19:29 +0000

I have problem to access VI which create by previous programmer. The VI now is protected by password. Can anyone tell me how to remove the password ?

If not convinient to tell me, i can send you the VI and you help to remove it

my email is binheng.chan@my.flextronics.com

By: Jim Kring

Jim Kring — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:35:09 +0000

YukeeYang: Thanks for the information. I’ve heard similar stories.

By: YukeeYang

YukeeYang — Thu, 07 May 2009 05:49:00 +0000

That legend is happening at LV8.6.

By: YukeeYang

YukeeYang — Thu, 07 May 2009 05:44:55 +0000

Yup, In China, I met a guy, who like “Vi_cracker”, he can remove the password, I don’t know how he did, maybe he is a so smart guy, at the begining, I can’t believe him, and make a 8 digits(contains Capital letter,Small letter,interpunction,and number) password protection vi, and he attach my block diagram to me just after 10 mins, WOW, I am very surprise with that. I know NI uses MD5 to password protect the vi, and Nonce no one can crack MD5, if blow up with 8 digits password with Loooooop…, it would take serval month at a super computer. so I agree VI password protection to protect your intellectual property is not a clever decision.

By: Jim Kring

Jim Kring — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:12:26 +0000

tnewton: legal issues can be very complex, vary by locale, and probably not understood, fully, until after proven in court. That said, the DMCA basically states that it’s illegal to give people a tool that can be used for bypassing IP/copy protections. Whether this is a good law, is a whole different discussion…

By: tnewton

tnewton — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:23:07 +0000

Wouldn’t issues of legalitybe on the user’s end, not the crack developer’s?
I’ve had issues with password protected code and the inability to contact the developer. THe code itself was the intellectual property of the company that hired (and eventually, fired) him.
Unless it violates one of NI’s terms of use (or if that term is legally unenforcable), cracking the VIs with the permission of the owner should be legitimate.

The repercussions of the knowledge getting widespread may be undesirable, but if the principle of my argument holds, that is something we may have to live with – like licensed drivers getting in car wrecks.

By: crelf

crelf — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:44:50 +0000

Vi_cracker – you can make a positive contribution to the LabVIEW community by letting NI know (in private, of course) about the method that you’ve found to crack VI passwords. I very strongly encourage you to do so.

By: Vi_cracker

Vi_cracker — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:38:25 +0000

okies.. u can delete the post

By: Jim Kring

Jim Kring — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:30:07 +0000

Vi_cracker: Thanks for confirming that VI passwords aren’t safe. However, you most likely breaking the law by offering to help people crack password protected VIs.

By: Vi_cracker

Vi_cracker — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:24:38 +0000

I got a way to open password protected VI\’s .. no brute force.. no waste of time.. I am able to open up any password protected VI in seconds…I cannot decrypt the password.. but break open the Vi !
Interesting? reach me at: ———— for any querries

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