It is discontinued and unmaintained.
The original ConfuserEx has not been actively developed for years, and the community forks, including ConfuserEx 2 and neo-ConfuserEx, have largely stalled too. No one is shipping fixes or keeping pace with .NET.
ConfuserEx alternative
ConfuserEx alternative for .NET and C# obfuscation
ConfuserEx is free and open source, which is why it is still everywhere. It is also discontinued, unmaintained, well understood by public deobfuscation tools, and it does not support modern .NET. For a hobby project it can be enough. For commercial software in 2026 it is a risk. ByteHide Shield is a maintained, modern .NET and C# obfuscator with code virtualization, polymorphic builds, and runtime protection, on a platform with a free tier.
Why teams are moving off ConfuserEx
Three reasons teams reach for a ConfuserEx alternative.
Most teams reach a ConfuserEx alternative for one of three reasons.
It does not support modern .NET.
ConfuserEx targets old .NET Framework. If you are on .NET 6, 8, or later, it was not built for your runtime.
It is well understood by deobfuscators.
Public tools such as de4dot-cex specialize in reverting ConfuserEx protection, and ConfuserEx is widely seen in malware, so its techniques are heavily studied. The protection it offered years ago is significantly weaker against a motivated attacker today.
None of this is an attack on open source. ConfuserEx was good in its time. The problem is that its time has passed, and your production code needs something maintained.
The angle
Reverse engineering changed. Your obfuscator should too.
Classic obfuscation was designed to slow down a human with a decompiler. That is no longer the adversary. Today, deobfuscation is increasingly automated, and AI-assisted tooling is very good at one thing: finding patterns. Static obfuscation produces the same transformations on every build, and a consistent transformation is exactly the kind of pattern a tool can learn and reverse at scale. For an unmaintained tool whose techniques are public, that gap only widens with time.
ByteHide Shield is built for this. Polymorphic builds mean the protection is different on every build, so there is no stable pattern for an automated tool to learn. Code virtualization turns your most critical methods into bytecode that runs on an embedded virtual machine, with no decompiler output to feed a model in the first place. Shield is not a stronger version of the same idea, it is protection designed for the way reverse engineering works now.
ai-assistant·
deobfuscate this
Thinking
I can't deobfuscate this .NET assembly.
It's protected with ByteHide Shield's layered obfuscation,
including code virtualization and runtime defenses.
Try the original source instead.
Protected by ByteHide Shield
Protected by ByteHide ShieldMeet ByteHide Shield
The ConfuserEx alternative built for modern .NET.
ByteHide Shield is the .NET and C# obfuscation module of the ByteHide application security platform, used by more than 20,000 developers every month to protect production applications. Unlike an unmaintained open-source tool, Shield is actively developed, supports modern .NET, and is part of a full platform, so the same product that hardens your code can also protect it at runtime and connect to detection and response. You connect it once, choose a protection level, and ship.
What ByteHide Shield protects
Four layers of protection, on every build.
Shield protects your code, your secrets, your resources, and your application at runtime. The last one is the part ConfuserEx does not do.
Your code and logic.
Renaming, matrix control flow, and code virtualization make your .NET assemblies hard to decompile and your algorithms hard to recover.
Your strings and constants.
Dynamic string encryption keeps API keys, connection strings, and embedded secrets out of plain text in your binaries.
Your resources.
Embedded resources and assets are protected alongside your code, not left in the open.
Your application at runtime.
RASP, active integrity checks, anti-debug, and anti-tamper keep protecting the app after it ships, not just at build time. This is the part ConfuserEx does not do.
ConfuserEx vs ByteHide Shield
How Shield compares to ConfuserEx, capability by capability.
Two columns, one row per capability. The deeper difference is maintenance and modern support.
ByteHide Shield
Obfuscation module of the platform
Symbol renaming
ByteHide ShieldYes
ConfuserExYes
Control flow obfuscation
ByteHide ShieldMatrix control flow
ConfuserExYes, reversible by de4dot-cex
String encryption
ByteHide ShieldDynamic
ConfuserExYes, reversible
Code virtualization
ByteHide ShieldYes
ConfuserExNo
Tamper detection
ByteHide ShieldActive integrity checks
ConfuserExYes, bypassable
Anti-debug
ByteHide ShieldYes
ConfuserExYes, bypassable
Polymorphic builds
ByteHide ShieldYes
ConfuserExNo
AI-resistant protection
ByteHide ShieldYes
ConfuserExNo
Protection beyond .NET
ByteHide ShieldYes, multi-language
ConfuserExNo, legacy .NET Framework only
Runtime protection (RASP) built in
ByteHide ShieldYes, RASP built in
ConfuserExNo
Runtime detection and response (ADR)
ByteHide ShieldYes, one-click
ConfuserExNo
Delivery model
ByteHide ShieldOnline platform, one-click integration
ConfuserExOpen-source desktop tool
On-prem protection
ByteHide ShieldYes
ConfuserExYes
Cloud platform manager
ByteHide ShieldYes
ConfuserExNo
Roles and permissions
ByteHide ShieldYes
ConfuserExNo
Protection history
ByteHide ShieldYes
ConfuserExNo
Visual configurator
ByteHide ShieldYes, online
ConfuserExDesktop only
Automatic exception deobfuscator
ByteHide ShieldYes, automatic
ConfuserExNo
API
ByteHide ShieldYes
ConfuserExNo
Actively maintained, modern .NET
ByteHide ShieldYes
ConfuserExNo, discontinued
Support
ByteHide ShieldYes, included
ConfuserExCommunity, inactive
The deeper difference is maintenance and modern support. ConfuserEx is a discontinued open-source tool for old .NET Framework. ByteHide Shield is the obfuscation module of a maintained security platform, with code virtualization, polymorphic builds, runtime protection, and support, built for modern .NET.
Start with Shield free.NET obfuscation techniques in Shield
.NET obfuscation techniques in Shield.
Shield layers multiple .NET obfuscation techniques rather than relying on one: symbol renaming, matrix control flow obfuscation, dynamic string encryption, code virtualization, anti-debug, anti-tamper with active integrity checks, and polymorphic builds. You do not configure each one by hand; you choose a protection level and Shield applies the right layers for your application.
Name Obfuscation
Renames all types, methods, fields, and parameters to meaningless symbols. Decompiled code becomes unreadable because all identifiers carry no information.
String Encryption
Encrypts all string literals in the assembly. Readable text constants are replaced with runtime decryption calls so static analysis reveals nothing.
Control Flow Obfuscation
Reshapes method bodies into complex, non-linear control flow that defeats decompilers and makes manual analysis extremely slow.
Constants Disintegration
Breaks numeric and boolean constants into computed expressions. Simple values like 0 or true are replaced by complex runtime calculations that evaluate to the same result.
Constant Encryption
Encrypts constant values in the assembly so that numeric and boolean literals cannot be recovered through static inspection.
Dead Code Injection
Inserts meaningless but valid IL code that blends with the real logic. The extra paths slow down any analysis and obscure the actual behavior.
Reference Hiding
Encodes and hides references within the application. Method calls and field accesses are indirected so the call graph cannot be reconstructed by a decompiler.
Anti-ILDasm
Adds metadata markers and IL tricks that cause ILDasm and similar tools to fail or produce misleading output when attempting to disassemble the protected assembly.
Invalid Metadata
Injects carefully crafted invalid metadata that confuses decompilers while remaining valid enough for the .NET runtime to execute the assembly correctly.
Resource Protection
Encrypts and hides embedded resources so that images, configuration files, and other data baked into the assembly cannot be extracted without the runtime decryption layer.
Events Protection
Obfuscates event declarations and their backing delegate fields so the event-driven architecture of your application cannot be reconstructed from the decompiled output.
Code Virtualization
Converts critical methods into custom bytecode run by an embedded VM. The strongest layer.
For the full picture of how these techniques layer together, read our complete guide to code obfuscation.
Code virtualization
Code virtualization: the protection ConfuserEx does not have.
Three things to understand about the strongest layer in Shield's protection stack, and the one ConfuserEx never had.
- Layer 01Strongest
What it does.
Code virtualization compiles your selected methods into a custom bytecode that runs on an embedded virtual machine. There is no standard IL for a decompiler to read, which is why it defeats both static and dynamic analysis.
- Layer 02
Why it is the strongest layer.
No amount of control flow obfuscation produces protection equivalent to a method that no public decompiler can reconstruct. ConfuserEx has no virtualization, and its control flow and string protection are already handled by public deobfuscators.
- Layer 03
Apply it where it matters.
Virtualization carries a performance cost, so Shield lets you target your highest-value methods rather than the whole assembly.
Protection that lives at runtime
Protection that lives at runtime, not just at build.
ConfuserEx applies protection once, at build time. Shield keeps protecting the application while it runs. RASP, active integrity checks, anti-debug, anti-dump, and anti-tamper detect and respond to attacks in production, and with one click you can connect ADR for runtime detection and response across your stack. Obfuscation raises the cost of understanding your code; runtime protection raises the cost of running a tampered version of it.
- Anti-TamperAnti-tamper protection verifies the integrity of your assembly at startup and continuously at runtime. If any byte has been modified since Shield protected the binary, the application detects the change and responds before the tampered code can run.
- Anti-DebuggingAnti-debugging detects when a debugger is attached to your process and responds immediately. Attackers use debuggers to step through your code, inspect memory, and extract values that obfuscation hides from static analysis. Anti-debugging closes that path.
- Anti-DumpAnti-dump prevents an attacker from extracting a clean copy of your assembly from a running process. Memory dump tools are a common technique for bypassing obfuscation: they capture the decrypted assembly after it has been loaded by the runtime. Anti-dump makes those dumps unusable.
Obfuscation and runtime self-protection together close the full surface: the binary on disk and the application in memory.
Add Runtime Protection on top of Shield
Shield already blocks reverse engineering at runtime. Toggle to see how ByteHide Runtime adds real-time defense against advanced attacks on top.
Shield protects your code on disk.
Runtime defends your app in memory.
For applications that need active attack detection and response in production, ByteHide Runtime adds ADR on top of the protection Shield already gives you. Same platform, same dashboard, same account.
Built for real .NET teams
What real .NET teams need from an obfuscator.
Obfuscation only earns its place if it gets out of your way the rest of the time. Shield is built for the day-to-day.
Stack trace deobfuscation.
Obfuscated production crashes are turned back into readable stack traces automatically through the SDK, API, and dashboard, not a manual mapping file you have to keep.
Automatic exception recovery.
Production exceptions come back usable, so obfuscation does not cost you your debugging.
History dashboard.
Every protected build is logged and versioned, so you always know what protection shipped with which release.
Advanced exclusions.
Mark exactly which parts of your application to protect to the maximum and which to leave alone, with simple attributes.
Works with every .NET framework and target
Works with every .NET framework and target.
Shield protects .NET Framework, .NET Core, and modern .NET, including MAUI and Xamarin, plus targets that standard obfuscators struggle with. Blazor WebAssembly ships your .NET code straight to the browser, where it is unusually exposed, and Shield protects it. Native AOT compiles to native code but still leaves metadata and strings recoverable, and Shield is built to harden AOT output rather than assume it is safe. This is exactly where ConfuserEx falls short: it does not target modern .NET at all.
- ASP.NET and ASP.NET CoreWeb applications and APIs.
- BlazorServer and WebAssembly Blazor apps.
- WPF and Windows FormsDesktop applications.
- .NET MAUICross-platform mobile and desktop.
- Console and class librariesServices, tools, and distributed DLLs.
- XamarinCross-platform mobile apps on the legacy .NET stack.
- UnityGame projects built on .NET.
- AvaloniaOfficial security partnerCross-platform .NET UI framework.
Three ways to integrate Shield
Three ways to integrate Shield.
Desktop application for protecting builds directly. NuGet package for protection inside your CI/CD pipeline, so every build ships protected with no manual step. Visual Studio extension for protection inside your existing workflow. Shield is a one-click integration into how your team already builds.
Desktop application
Drag-and-drop guided setup
The Shield desktop app gives you a guided setup. Drag and drop your Visual Studio solution file, choose your protection settings, and apply. It is the fastest way to protect an application without touching your project, and a clear starting point if you are new to obfuscation.
Learn about the desktop appNuGet package for CI/CD
Built into every build
The Bytehide.Shield.Integration NuGet package adds protection as a post-build step in MSBuild. Once installed, every build, whether run locally, in Visual Studio, or in your CI/CD pipeline, produces a protected output automatically. No manual steps, no separate tool to run.
View the NuGet packageVisual Studio extension
Inside the IDE
The ByteHide Shield Visual Studio extension brings protection into your IDE. Configure settings, run protection, and review results without leaving Visual Studio. It is the right choice for teams that want protection integrated into their existing development environment without a separate tool or CLI step.
Install the Visual Studio extensionWhichever you choose, obfuscation settings are inherited between versions of your application. Once configured, every release stays protected with no extra work.
Part of the ByteHide application security platform
Part of the ByteHide application security platform.
This is the real reason teams choose Shield over a standalone obfuscator. Shield is one module of the ByteHide application security platform. The same place that obfuscates your .NET code also covers your source code (Code), your secrets (Vault), your application at runtime (App Runtime, with RASP and ADR), and your forensics and compliance (Audit). An unmaintained open-source tool protects one build, badly, and stops there. Shield is a starting point into a maintained platform with a roadmap that goes far beyond obfuscation.
Shield
Code shielding
The module on this page. Obfuscation, code virtualization, and runtime self-protection for your .NET applications. It makes your code unreadable and your application resistant to tampering.
Runtime
Application detection and response
ByteHide Runtime adds Application Detection and Response to your running application. It watches the application in production, detects active attacks, and responds in real time. Where Shield protects the code, Runtime protects the session.
ByteHide application security platformOne account · one dashboard · one platform
Code
SCA · SAST
Secrets
Vault
Active
Shield
Code shielding
ADR
Runtime
Agentic
AI agents
Logs
Audit
Shared dashboard
One platform, one account
Shield and Runtime share the same ByteHide account, dashboard, and billing. Protection settings, symbol maps, build history, and runtime alerts all live in one place. Adding Runtime to an application already protected by Shield takes one step.
Choosing ByteHide Shield is not choosing an obfuscation tool. It is choosing an application security platform, and starting with the module you need today.
Trusted
Trusted by .NET developers and official partners
The scale, the partnership, and the verifiable proof points behind ByteHide Shield.
- 20,000+
Developers protecting their .NET apps with ByteHide every month.
- 400M+
Lines of .NET code protected and obfuscated by Shield in production.
- 200+
Companies shipping production .NET applications with Shield.
- 50+
Countries where ByteHide users run protected .NET applications.
Official partner
ByteHide is the official obfuscation partner of Avalonia, the cross-platform .NET UI framework. Avalonia recommends ByteHide Shield to its developer community for protecting Avalonia applications against reverse engineering and tampering.
Read about the partnershipMigrating from ConfuserEx to ByteHide Shield
Four steps from ConfuserEx to Shield.
Most teams complete the migration in an afternoon, including the move to modern .NET.
Step 01
Connect your project.
From the platform, CLI, or NuGet. Modern .NET is supported out of the box.
Step 02
Replace your protections.
Renaming, control flow, and string protection map across, and you add code virtualization on your high-value methods.
Step 03
Turn on runtime.
Enable RASP, and connect ADR in one click.
Step 04
Ship and verify.
Build in CI/CD, confirm protection on the output, done.
ConfuserEx alternative: frequently asked questions
Is ConfuserEx still maintained?
No. The original ConfuserEx is discontinued, and the community forks, including ConfuserEx 2 and neo-ConfuserEx, have largely stalled. ByteHide Shield is actively maintained.
Does ConfuserEx support .NET 8?
No. ConfuserEx targets old .NET Framework. ByteHide Shield supports modern .NET, including .NET 8 and later.
Can ConfuserEx be deobfuscated?
Yes. Public tools such as de4dot-cex specialize in reverting ConfuserEx protection. Shield uses code virtualization, polymorphic builds, and runtime protection to resist automated and AI-assisted deobfuscation.
Is ConfuserEx safe to use for commercial software?
It is free and fine for hobby projects, but it is unmaintained, does not support modern .NET, and is well understood by deobfuscators, which makes it risky for commercial software. A maintained tool is a safer choice.
What is a maintained alternative to ConfuserEx?
ByteHide Shield: a maintained .NET and C# obfuscator with code virtualization, polymorphic builds, runtime protection, and a platform, with a free tier to start.
Does Shield only protect .NET?
No. Shield protects .NET plus JavaScript and mobile from one platform.
ConfuserEx alternative
Protect your .NET application today
with ByteHide Shield.
The maintained ConfuserEx alternative built for modern .NET protection. Code virtualization, polymorphic builds, and runtime protection on one platform. One-click integration, free to start.
