Some general-purpose RCE papers...

[Super Mario]

I need to write some sort of essay about RCE - the high level overview of the subject: what are the different approaches for different software platforms, how packers and protectors work (main methods they employ), etc. Even though I have good "internal" understanding of these, it's hard to bring the words together for well-structured essay.

I'd like to ask, if you could point me to the papers/publications addressing these topics, so that I could grab some ideas. I briefly searched the downloads section, didn't find much interesting. Any help would be appreciated.

[quosego]

I helped someone once write a paper about the topic.. Don't have it anymore though. Just write it like any good paper.

Know what you want to write about.. Make it focused, don't write a bit about this and a bit about that, focus on one subjects or a few sub-subjects and work from there.

Give a good introduction, describe your goal. Explain what the reader can expect. Then write what you want to tell and finally conclude if you succeeded in your goal.

There's enough material on writing good essays around.

[Super Mario]

I helped someone once write a paper about the topic.. Don't have it anymore though. Just write it like any good paper.

Know what you want to write about.. Make it focused, don't write a bit about this and a bit about that, focus on one subjects or a few sub-subjects and work from there.

Give a good introduction, describe your goal. Explain what the reader can expect. Then write what you want to tell and finally conclude if you succeeded in your goal.

There's enough material on writing good essays around.

Thanks for the tips

Here is one aspect I have to define first: What are different "genres" in RCE. I've come up with following:

A. Machine-code compiled languages:

1. C\C++
   
2. Delphi
   
3. VB6
   
4. Assembly
   

B. Byte-code based languages/technologies:

1. .NET
   
2. Java
   

Are there other (more-or-less popular) "genres" in RCE that I have missed? Can you add anything in A or B list?

[Super Mario]

Oh and VB6 with its P-Code relates to "B" cathegory probably right? Also it can compile directly into native code? What is more common usage? Also its P-Code is not quite similar conceptually with those of .NET and Java, right? Could someone please give some info on this...

[deepzero]

How long is it supposed to be? How technical?

You might want to focus a little more, .NET reversing/protection approaches can fill a 100+ page paper alone...

[Super Mario]

deepzero

It has to be 10-12 pages. Not too technical but to some degree. Can you point me to some papers like "how packers/protectors work in general" etc.

[DeadAndGone]

You can make a start with the unpacking serie about Enigma Protector I made. In that serie you will see how some now-aday-technique works. You will see some protections which are used by up-to-date protectors, features like VM, CRC, API Redirection/Emulation.