SoFunction
Updated on 2025-03-02

How to encapsulate and source code hiding shell scripts using SHC

In many cases, we need to protect our shell script source code from being easily viewed by others. At this time, useshcTools compile shell scripts into binary files is an efficient way. This article will introduce in detail how to install online and offline conditionsshcand use it to compile your scripts.

What is SHC?

shcIs a Shell script encryption program written in C language that can compile your scripts into binary executables, thus hiding the source code.

Install SHC

Install online

If your machine is able to connect to the internet, the following is installed on different operating systemsshcSteps:

  • Ubuntu:
sudo apt-get install shc
  • macOS:
brew install shc
  • CentOS:
yum install shc

Offline installation

If your machine cannot connect to the Internet, then you can download it in an environment with a network.shcSource code package and install offline.

  • Download the shc source code package in an environment with network

Download link:/neurobin/shc/archive/refs/tags/4.0.

  • Copy the file to the target machine

It can be transmitted through a USB storage device or a local area network.

Install shc on the target machine

tar -xvzf shc-4.0.
cd shc-4.0.3
mkdir -p /usr/local/man/man1    #This step is necessary, otherwise an error will be reported during the installation process. shc will put the installation command into /usr/local/bin/ directory; store the help document in /usr/local/man/man1/ directory. If there is no such directory in the system, an error will be reported during installation. You can create this directory and then execute the installation.make
sudo make install  #This step needs to be answeredyesory，Can't go back directly，Otherwise, an error will be reported
  • Verify installation

After the installation is completed, you can check it by following the commandshcIs it installed successfully:

shc -v

If you can see the version information, it meansshcInstalled successfully.

Compile scripts using SHC

Suppose you have a name calledshell script and want to compile it into binary files to hide the source code. It can be done in just two steps:

  • useshcCompile

Enter the following command on the command line:

shc -f     #“-f”Options specify the program to be encrypted

This operation generates two new files:and。is an executable binary file, andIt is the C source file that generates binary files.

  • Run the compiled script

You can run the compiled binary file directly:

./

Please note that althoughshcIt can be nice to hide your source code and prevent light reverse engineering, but if higher levels of protection are required, you may need to rewrite the script to a compiled language (such as C, Go, or Rust), or encapsulate and encrypt with a dedicated software encryption tool.

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