Convert PHP file to binary

Question

Is it possible to convert a PHP file to binary and deploy it on a webserver?

Answer 1

Some months ago I searched for it (php code protection or script protection) and my results were:

I provide some description but try to google them and pardon me.

Be careful with your search because you may encounter to php compressors instead and compressors are just about GZIP and other http transfer compression mechanisms.

The most important issues with php script protecting tools are:

1. How much speed of php runtime performance will get low(down)(how much speed down)

2. Will we need an extra environment or installed tools on the php server?

3. Easy handling

You will find about whole description and comparison on: http://www.seocompany.ca/software/free-encryption-software.html

Obfuscators

A lot of obfuscators you will find on the web but there's no guarantee for your codes to work.

Even I found a mixed way with Visual C++ and MSVS for obfuscating php and because also I'm experienced with asp.net I tested it however didn't work.

Converters and Lockers

• ion protector (http://www.ioncube.com/): Oh not free but I heard many about his famous name

• phc (php compiler): free and was a good case but "Brendan Long" said the truth because phc has a painful install way. However result is magic and has famous name such as ion

• php locker: I got it and test it. It had error with compiled code and it's released for lower than php5. Absolutely not free and for who thinking about ccr-ac*ks finding it for php locker is impossible.

• Zend Guard: A perfect way to guard but it's harder than phc or ion because you need Zend runtime environment (ZRE) on your server and Zend Guard is absolutely non-free however if you are a Zend guy (zend framework+zend IDE+zend Guard) you should know Zend Guard is compatible with zend IDE and code blocking process will be so easy. I'm not a Zend guy because either of zend framework and zend guard get down runtime speed obviously. I love php speeded runtime.

• php -> C/C++ compiling (YES IT'S POSSIBLE) (BEST PERFORMANCE THROUGH THE WORLD): It's not so famous so it's normal if no one talked about.

• facebook hiphop: This tool is using by facebook to compile php files on c++/c for getting a better performance however finally we have unreadable compiled codes. I don't remeber but I think it needs a good familiarity to linux or about php recompile mechanism on Microsoft Visual C++. (However DON'T TRUST to my weak memory and google it) (AND FOR LEARNING ABOUT PHP RECOMPILE WAY PLZ REFER TO latest release of php_manual.chm)

Finally I made my self simple php obfuscator using regular expressions which worked on php 5.3 and my complex scripts so I moved on OpenSSL and different encryption mechanisms and got a review on php secure development.

Wishing you be successful.