Orthomorphic Tool for Next-Generation Reverse Engineering

Anticipation of the next generation of reverse-engineering tools and techniques is as vital to those seeking to protect against reverse-engineering as it is to those who want tools to use for reverse-engineering. We are proposing a novel reverse-engineering method that has benefits for both groups. Essentially we hypothesize that a computer program has certain static and dynamic properties that can be roughly described as a multi-dimensional "shape" of the program, and that this shape can be observed by observing the trace it gives when projected onto several axes. These traces can then be used as input to pattern matching and classification systems that yield information useful in reverse-engineering. The field of pattern matching is a wide and rich one and provides many techniques for analysis of data. We believe that human greybeards who are experts in reverse engineering are both highly skilled pattern matchers, and maintain a wide and deep knowledge of patterns to look for in computer program reverseengineering. In this way the proposed technique is a natural extension and automation of proven human expertise.