What is the difference between stripped binary and obfuscated binary

Question

I want to know the difference between stripped binary and obfuscated binary.

Answer 1

Stripped binary is the one that compiled without debugging information [symbols, strings]. For gcc compiler it's -s flag.

Obfuscated binary is the one where developer deliberately chose to make part of it [or all] less readable and harder to analyse/debug/disassemble. Obfuscation can impact:

1. code - when author hide some parts of code sections and specific parts of executable code using cryptors/packers/various techniques of code polymorphism etc.
2. resources - when author apply various tehnniques of obfuscation (crypto/packing/custom modification) on data (strings, data, configuration etc.)
3. complete binary - when external executable/code used to completely hide presence of binary that should be hidden.