So my Excel-VBA project password can easily be cracked... What are other options?

Question

Now that I know that there is an easy workaround to the standard way of locking and password-protecting VBA code, I'd like to move on to more effective ways of protecting code. I am to deliver an Excel-based tool to a client, but would like something more than simple annoyance-type protection that will only deter the very laziest of hackers.

Are there any options in Excel-VBA, or do we really have to compile a separate application and forget about our Excel-based interface? Suggestions and enlightenment welcome!

Thanks

Answer 1

SpreadsheetGear for .NET is an Excel compatible spreadsheet component which would help you to move to a .NET application if that is an option. The SpreadsheetGear API is similar to Excel's API and SpreadsheetGear data / formulas / formatting / charting / etc... are compatible with Excel.

Of course, it is more work than just setting a password...

You can download the evaluation software here and check out the SpreadsheetGear Explorer WinForms Samples for C# or VB if you want to get a quick idea of what is possible.

Disclaimer: I own SpreadsheetGear LLC

Answer 2

The easiest and most efficient way is to move your VBA code to a VB6 compiled Com/automation addin.

Or you may want to consider a .Net (with obfuscator) solution if performance is not important.

Answer 3

write the code against a excel object in Access then made the access file in to a .mde http://www.blog.methodsinexcel.co.uk/?s=Access+MDB Poor, but cheep ;-)