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UPX-SCRAMBLER 3.06 (Engine 1.06) by ©OnT®oL/Incorporated
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INTRODUCTION
============

This is a modifier for files packed with one of the best loseless file compression programs ever made - Ultimate Packer for eXecutables - (UPX) It modifies the packed files in such a way that it cannot be unpacked with the "-d" option which is inbuilt into UPX. This way your files are a 'LITTLE' better protected from lamers who might want to peek at your code for some unforseen reason....Anyways none of us like the useless crap that this otherwise good packer puts in our files so here's an effective way of removing it instead of having to do it yourself each time or coding a program to do it for ya ( knowing that most of you do it! ). This program has been tested under Windows 9X, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows Me. Also note that this program was intended for personal use but I released it for the public as I thought it could be helpful!


INSTALLATION/USAGE
==================

Just run the executable, select the file to protect and click SCRAMBLE or press the shortcut key 'S'. The program fearures Drag and Drop support, so you can simply drag the file to protect onto the window of the program or onto the icon of the program under Windows Explorer and it should be loaded. You can also make a shortcut in the 'Send To' folder of Windows and load a file that way ( If you use this program so much that is ). By default an option of keeping a backup file is checked which ensures that if anything goes wrong you can get back the original file [ Beleive me it never happens ;o) ]


VERSION HISTORY
===============

Version 3.06 - Released on 29.01.20001. Added support for UPX 1.06. Released Chinese Build also! :o)
Version 3.05 - Pre-Release 3.05 Final version. Added support for UPX 1.05. Chinese version of UPXS built. Built on 27.01.2001
Version 3.05j- Pre-Release Beta9 version. Removed some unused internal codes. Reduced size of executable by 13%. Built on 19.01.2001
Version 3.05i- Pre-Release Beta8 version. Fixed a bug which occurred due to the previous code optimistaion. Bulit on 12.01.2001
Version 3.05h- Pre-Release Beta7 version. Optimised code to reduce file size by 6%. Built on 11.01.2001
Version 3.05g- Pre-Release Beta6 version. Problem of incomplete scrambling of a few old UPX versions corrected. Bulit on 10.01.2001
Version 3.05f- Pre-Release Beta5 version. Minor code modifications to the Scrambler Engine. Built on 08.01.2001
Version 3.05e- Pre-Release Beta4 version. A very old verison UPX is now properly scrambled without problems. Bulit on 07.01.2001
Version 3.05d- Pre-Release Beta3 version. Added support for another version of UPX I managed to find. Bulit on 07.01.2001
Version 3.05c- Pre-Release Beta2 version. Engine updated again. Added support for most versions of UPX (????) . Bulit on 07.01.2001
Version 3.05b- Pre-Release Beta version. Major engine updates. Added support for some very old versions of UPX. Bulit on 07.01.2001
Version 3.05a- Pre-Release Alpha version. Engine updated to support some previous versions of UPX. Built on 06.01.2001
Version 3.04 - Released on 01.01.2001. Added Support for UPX 1.04. Started distributing this text file with the executable.
Version 3.03 - Pre-Release Alpha version. Interface changes. Corrected some typos. Reduced size of executable by 5%. Built on 18.12.2000
Version 3.02 - Released on 05.12.2000. Added Support for UPX 1.03. GUI updated.
Version 3.01 - Pre-Release version. Fixed some bugs in the GUI and program outputs. Built on 16.11.2000
Version 3.0  - Released on 09.11.2000. Added support for UPX 1.02. Added File Open Filters. All WIN 2K related problems 'should' now be gone.
Version 3.0e - Pre-Release Beta4 version. Complete recoding of the engine to fix WIN 2K related problems. Bulit on 29.09.2000
Version 3.0d - Pre-Release Beta3 version. Problem of incomplete scrambling under WIN 2K corrected for some files. Bulit on 23.09.2000
Version 3.0c - Pre-Release Beta2 version. Problem of scrambled files not running under WIN 2K fixed. Bulit on 22.09.2000
Version 3.0b - Pre-Release Beta version. UPX-S now runs under Windows 2000. Built on 20.09.2000. Reduced size by 29.8KB :o)
Version 3.0a - Pre-Release Alpha version. Complete support for all UPX versions which support decompressing (????) . Built on 12.09.2000
Version 2.0  - Released on 10.07.2000. Complete support for UPX 1.01 and 1.00. Partial suport for other versions. Major interface change ;o)
Version 1.0  - Released on 18.06.2000. Complete support for UPX 1.01 only. Partial support for UPX 1.00. Interface is now dumb ( not dull )
Version 0.1  - Not released to the public. First release! Partial Support for UPX 1.01 only. Dull interface :o| . Built on 20.05.2000


COMMENTS AND BUGS
=================

Please note that UPX-S now works with files packed with most versions of UPX before 0.99.3 . Support for these versions have been included on request though it is useless according to me as they don't support decompressing anyways and can be detected easily even without the UPX credits in the packed files! So don't ask me why the hell should I use it because this was done on request..
Also some versions maynot be supported as I only included support for the versions I could get my hand on. So if you can send me a mail telling me the versions of UPX which are not scrambled properly and if possible where to get them. Please don't send the versions as attachments.
Also all versions of UPX-S < 3.0 don't seem to run under WIN 2K ...
The problem has now been fixed and all versions from now will run perfectly under WIN 2K... :0)
The extra protection offered (if any) is VERY VERY VERY VERY LAME. So don't blame me .... Instead use a packer / protector that gives you better protection if there are any that really offer it ( You'll have to compensate compression I guess ) or if you find one! ;o)

Anyways this program is built to actually save you a bit of time not to add extra "protection" to your files if there is such a thing that is.

Also, I was pretty pleased when I got a mail requesting me to help a guy make a Chinese version of UPX-Scrambler. I have decided to release a Chinese version of UPX-Scrambler 3.06 along with the English version!! :o)
If pleased, I may keep on releasing new versions of UPX in Chinese also! ;o)

Also, keep in mind before using UPX-Scrambler that it *might* be a direct violation of the UPX license and I bear no responsibility for your using this tool.

Also, if you find that any version of UPX is not compatible with UPXS, please drop me a mail with the name of the exact version of UPX and I'll try to fix it up in the next release!

HOPE THIS HELPS YOU GUYS AND SAVES YOU SOME TIME [ CODE MORE INSTEAD ;o) ]...

IF YOU GOT ANY COMMENTS , SUGGESTIONS OR IDEAS THEN FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ankan@yifan.net


GREETS
======

Rohitab - Well you're great..Thanks for all your help! BTW we make a great team ehh! ;o)
Markus and Lazlo - You guys rock!!! Keep the great work with UPX up! :o)
Lorian + G-RoM + Stone - ProcDump32 is THE BEST!
TaN00Ki - Thanks for testing this crap. You're help is highly appreciated! Sorry for all the system crashes. ;o)
M. Hering - File Info rocks IMHO! Waiting impatiently for the future releases! Thanks for sending me the reg-keys of FI!! ;o)
r!SC - You're the best! Carry on coding! Eat...drink...sleep..and..SafeDisc!! ;o)
siR dReAm - You're intros rock! Hope you keep on getting more ideas... ;o)
Christoph Gabler - UG rocks!! Waiting for your *generic* unpacker! ;o)
Eric Chan - Thanks a lot for the Chinese translations! :o)
M.o.D. & Yoda - PEDitor is too cool! I hope to talk to you guys someday!

All the people who use UPX-Scrambler or find it useful!
ALL YOU REVERSERS AND CODERS OUT THERE ;o)


<<<<< PEACE >>>>>


©OnT®oL/Incorporated
2001