PROGRAM EXECUTABLE IMAGE ENCRYPTION

The invention provides for a method of encrypting and executing an executable image, comprising; flagging sections of the executable image to be encrypted using commands in source files and compiling said executable images so as to generate object files, linking one or more of said executable images using a linker to produce a final executable image, passing said linked executable images to a post-linker encryption engine to encrypt a relocation fix-up patch table and sections of executable images flagged for encryption, and at load time decrypting relocating and executing the executable images.