Hi Folks,
For the past several years, I've done all of my custom software development (on W7 Pro 64-bit) for my clients with AutoHotkey. I always use the current V1 release and compile into an EXE with the standard compiler (usually 32-bit only, sometimes both 32-bit and 64-bit). I then use NSIS (Nullsoft) to create an installer (Setup32.exe and/or Setup64.exe), which is what the client gets.
I've been using MPRESS when compiling. The latest release is Version 2.19, dated 2-Jan-2012. Thanks to a post here by jNizM, I became aware that UPX development has resumed and there are now both 32-bit and 64-bit releases of Version 3.95, dated 26-Aug-2018.
I'm looking for opinions on MPRESS versus UPX. I'll appreciate comments on any and all aspects, but one specific issue that concerns me is malware/virus false positives on the compressed EXE — have you seen any difference between MPRESS and UPX on that front? Thanks, much Joe
MPRESS versus UPX
- JoeWinograd
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- vvhitevvizard
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Re: MPRESS versus UPX
UPX with command line options --ultra-brute --compress-icons=0 --nrv2d --crp-ms=999999 has better compression ratio but very slow.I'm looking for opinions on MPRESS versus UPX
Majority of my files r manually compressed but it requires to check every compressed file - some cease to work.
MPRESS-processed files r less prone to bugs after compression. But MPRESS x64 has some issues with x86 executables on x64 systems. So I use MPRESS x64 to compress x64 and MPRESS x86 to compress x86 ones.
I experienced some issues long time ago last time. Everything is all right currently.issue that concerns me is malware/virus false positives on the compressed EXE
- JoeWinograd
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Re: MPRESS versus UPX
That definitely concerns me. In seven years of using the 2-Jan-2012 MPRESS release, I've never had the EXE file that it compresses cease to work.some cease to work
I wasn't aware that MPRESS has separate 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The download that I use is a ZIP file with just one EXE in it that I think is both x86/x64-capable. Where are you getting separate mpress.exe files for 32-bit and 64-bit?So I use MPRESS x64 to compress x64 and MPRESS x86 to compress x86 ones.
Good to hear!I experienced some issues long time ago last time. Everything is all right currently.
Thanks, Joe
Re: MPRESS versus UPX
UPX is "safer" or less likely to cause virus alerts and false positives, because it's more well known and anti-virus and anti-malware companies are more likely to have an unpacker for UPX. Another point is that anti-virus and anti-malware companies also seem to check if there is no version info, combined with compression/packer. The more "exotic" and less well known the compression/packer used, arguably the more likely it will trigger alerts and possible false positives.
- JoeWinograd
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Re: MPRESS versus UPX
Hi SOTE,
Thanks for the comments...very helpful! Regards, Joe
Thanks for the comments...very helpful! Regards, Joe
- vvhitevvizard
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Re: MPRESS versus UPX
yeah. very true. bit UPX can tackle more executable types.JoeWinograd wrote: ↑05 Jan 2019, 16:09I've never had the EXE file that it compresses cease to work.
Code: Select all
Where are you getting separate mpress.exe files for 32-bit and 64-bit?
- JoeWinograd
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Re: MPRESS versus UPX
Good to know, although I'm interested only in the EXE files created by the AutoHotkey "compiler" (Ahk2Exe).UPX can tackle more executable types
Re: MPRESS versus UPX
UPX has 32-bit and 64-bit versions as well.
https://github.com/upx/upx/releases/tag/v3.95
(Various versions of UPX)
https://github.com/upx/upx/releases/tag/v3.95
(Various versions of UPX)
- JoeWinograd
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Re: MPRESS versus UPX
Thanks, SOTE, I had noted that in my original post, but there's one thing I'm unclear on with respect to its 64-bit version. Is it that the 64-bit upx.exe itself runs on only 64-bit systems or is it that the compressed file it creates runs on only 64-bit systems? Or both of those?
- vvhitevvizard
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Re: MPRESS versus UPX
it creates a stub (loader that unpacks executable's segments into virtual memory). x86 UPX version can create a x64 loader unpacking x64 executables which works on 64bit systems as well. x64 UPX version creates a x86 loader for x86 executables respectively.JoeWinograd wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 11:33Is it that the 64-bit upx.exe itself runs on only 64-bit systems or is it that the compressed file it creates runs on only 64-bit systems? Or both of those?
just x64 UPX compresses files a tad faster.
- JoeWinograd
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Re: MPRESS versus UPX
Got it! So, other than speed, it doesn't matter whether I use 32-bit or 64-bit UPX to compress my 32-bit and 64-bit AHK EXE files. Thanks!x86 UPX version can create a x64 loader unpacking x64 executables which works on 64bit systems as well. x64 UPX version creates a x86 loader for x86 executables respectively.
Re: MPRESS versus UPX
Could you help me by creating a script that checks the computer's HWID so it can run?JoeWinograd wrote: ↑05 Jan 2019, 14:35Hi Folks,
For the past several years, I've done all of my custom software development (on W7 Pro 64-bit) for my clients with AutoHotkey. I always use the current V1 release and compile into an EXE with the standard compiler (usually 32-bit only, sometimes both 32-bit and 64-bit). I then use NSIS (Nullsoft) to create an installer (Setup32.exe and/or Setup64.exe), which is what the client gets.
I've been using MPRESS Broken Link for safety when compiling. The latest release is Version 2.19, dated 2-Jan-2012. Thanks to a post here by jNizM, I became aware that [url=https upx.github.io /]UPX[/url] Broken Link for safety development has resumed and there are now both 32-bit and 64-bit releases of Version 3.95, dated 26-Aug-2018.
I'm looking for opinions on MPRESS versus UPX. I'll appreciate comments on any and all aspects, but one specific issue that concerns me is malware/virus false positives on the compressed EXE — have you seen any difference between MPRESS and UPX on that front? Thanks, much Joe
- JoeWinograd
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- Joined: 10 Feb 2014, 20:00
- Location: U.S. Central Time Zone
Re: MPRESS versus UPX
By HWID, I presume that you mean a hardware identifier that is unique to each computer. If so, I'm not aware of anything that works universally. Some folks create a so-called "machine fingerprint" that attemps to identify a computer. Some of the fields used for that are variables built into AutoHotkey, such as A_ComputerName, A_IPAddress1, A_IPAddress2, A_IPAddress3, A_IPAddress4, A_Is64bitOS, A_Language, A_OSVersion, and A_UserName. Other fields sometimes used are the public IP address and various Win32 components, such as IdentifyingNumber, SerialNumber, ProcessorId, and UUID. But, again, none of that works universally. Regards, JoePankadai5 wrote:Could you help me by creating a script that checks the computer's HWID so it can run?
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