Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Resource Hacker VS IDA

Compare Resource Hacker VS IDA and see what are their differences

Resource Hacker logo Resource Hacker

Resource Hacker has been designed to be the complete resource editing tool.

IDA logo IDA

The best-of-breed binary code analysis tool, an indispensable item in the toolbox of world-class software analysts, reverse engineers, malware analyst and cybersecurity professionals.
  • Resource Hacker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-08
  • IDA Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-11

A powerful disassembler and a versatile debugger IDA Pro as a disassembler is capable of creating maps of their execution to show the binary instructions that are actually executed by the processor in a symbolic representation (assembly language). Advanced techniques have been implemented into IDA Pro so that it can generate assembly language source code from machine-executable code and make this complex code more human-readable.

The debugging feature augmented IDA with the dynamic analysis. It supports multiple debugging targets and can handle remote applications. Its cross-platform debugging capability enables instant debugging, easy connection to both local and remote processes and support for 64-bit systems and new connection possibilities.

Resource Hacker features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Resource Hacker features an intuitive and straightforward interface, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users to navigate and use the tool efficiently for modifying resources in executable files.
  • Comprehensive Resource Editing
    The tool allows users to view, modify, add, and delete resources within Windows executables, making it versatile for a variety of resource management tasks.
  • Support for Multiple File Types
    Resource Hacker supports a wide range of file types, including .EXE, .DLL, .CPL, .OCX, and more, providing flexibility in resource editing across different Windows components.
  • Script Capabilities
    It can automate tasks through scripts, allowing for efficient batch processing and modifications, which is advantageous for repetitive tasks.
  • Free to Use
    Resource Hacker is available for free, offering extensive features without any cost, making it an attractive option for users looking for budget-friendly software.

Possible disadvantages of Resource Hacker

  • Windows-Only
    Resource Hacker is limited to Windows platforms, which restricts its usage for developers or users operating on macOS or Linux systems without additional support like emulators.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Complex Tasks
    While the interface is user-friendly, more complex editing tasks may require a deeper understanding of Windows resources and file structures, posing a learning challenge for newcomers.
  • Potential for Unstable Modifications
    Improper use of Resource Hacker can lead to unstable applications or system behavior, as modifying executable resources can affect how programs run.
  • Legal and Ethical Limitations
    Modifying executable files may breach software licenses or terms of use, leading to legal and ethical concerns. Users must ensure compliance with software agreements.

IDA features and specs

  • Powerful Disassembler
    IDA Pro is renowned for its powerful disassembly capabilities, which can reverse-engineer complex binaries for various architectures.
  • Interactive Graphical Interface
    The tool provides an intuitive and interactive GUI, complete with various graph views, that helps users visualize control flow and analyze code more efficiently.
  • Plugin Ecosystem
    IDA Pro supports an extensive range of plugins, allowing users to extend its functionality and tailor it to specific needs.
  • Scriptable
    It supports multiple scripting languages, such as IDC, Python, and others, enabling automation of repetitive tasks and custom analysis routines.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    IDA Pro is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for different operating environments.
  • Extensive Documentation
    IDA Pro comes with comprehensive documentation and active community support, helping users in learning and troubleshooting.

Possible disadvantages of IDA

  • High Cost
    IDA Pro is known for its high price, which might be prohibitive for small businesses, hobbyists, or independent security researchers.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The tool is highly complex and may require significant time and effort to master, especially for beginners in reverse engineering.
  • Resource Intensive
    IDA Pro can be resource-intensive, requiring robust system specifications to function smoothly, particularly when dealing with large binaries.
  • Licensing Restrictions
    The licensing terms can be restrictive, limiting the ability to transfer licenses between different users or systems easily.
  • Limited Dynamic Analysis
    While IDA Pro is excellent for static analysis, its capabilities for dynamic analysis are somewhat limited compared to specialized dynamic analysis tools.
  • Comparison with Free Tools
    There are free alternatives available, such as Ghidra and Radare2, which offer comparable capabilities without the high cost.

Resource Hacker videos

How To Make a .DLL Containing Icons Using Resource Hacker (BEST METHOD)

More videos:

  • Review - Extract Icons with Resource Hacker

IDA videos

Mark Kermode reviews Ida

More videos:

  • Review - My Review for IDA (non-spoiler)
  • Review - The New Canon: 'Ida'

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Resource Hacker and IDA)
IDE
32 32%
68% 68
Software Development
34 34%
66% 66
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Decompiler
21 21%
79% 79

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Resource Hacker and IDA

Resource Hacker Reviews

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IDA Reviews

Reverse engineering tools review
IDA that is Interactive DisAssembler in an undpisupted king among tools used in reverse engineering. IDA is a disassembler and debugger with built-in code analysis for over 60 types of processors. It has its own script language, large base of signatures of the most popular programming libraries as well as support for plug-ins that additionally enhance functionality e.g. by...
Source: www.pelock.com
The 5 Best Reverse Engineering Software for 2022
The interactive nature of the IDA Pro disassembler means you can change elements of the displayed data in real-time, including functions, variables, names, and library functions. It's written in C++ and runs on Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux. The IDA Pro platform benefits from several plugins, the most notable of which is the Hex-Rays decompiler. With this tool, software...
Source: online.yu.edu

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, IDA should be more popular than Resource Hacker. It has been mentiond 13 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Resource Hacker mentions (5)

  • Windows Tips, Tricks, and Tweaks
    "Resource Hacker"[1] should be enough to edit some strings, you just need to find the right file. [1] http://angusj.com/resourcehacker/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Where can one find the default Foobar2000 playback icons?
    Btw there are a couple of small programs to extract icons from exe/dll -s I tried with (ResourceHacker)[http://angusj.com/resourcehacker/] and (BeCyIconGrabber)[https://jarlpenguin.github.io/BeCyIconGrabberPortable/] but neither could find other icons than the main icon AH I had the idea to maybe check the component dll-s and actually foo_ui_std.dll has the icons. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I made custom tiles in Windows 10 for my Steam games. So aesthetic
    I do too but I’ve been using resource hacker for over a year or two now to quickly get the icon. Very rarely have I had to look elsewhere. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How do you sell AHK scripts?
    Right click into any script, then the resulting executable open it with Resource Hacker and you'll see what I'm talking about: the script is just as a resource of the .exe. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Is it possible to change a program icon _everywhere_ it appears?
    You'll also need a program called Resource Hacker. Find it here: http://angusj.com/resourcehacker/. Source: almost 4 years ago

IDA mentions (13)

  • How to Extract Rocket League Data in Real Time: Reverse Engineering in Unreal Engine Games
    It is interesting for the reader to try to find them on their own, but I will show how I found them using a disassembler called IDA64 for static analysis and a structure dissector called ReClass.net to validate if it is correct or not. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Ida Pro 9 Beta Leak (Including Linux)
    If you, like me( had no clue what the hex Ida Pro is: https://hex-rays.com/ida-pro/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • XZ backdoor story – Initial analysis
    The tool used in those white screenshots is called IDA pro, a decompiler. https://hex-rays.com/ida-pro/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • how do i make mynown cracks for my steam games?
    Learn assembly and then fuck around with https://hex-rays.com/ida-pro/. Gonna take you a week max. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Disabling a pointless hardware check in an old DOS EXE
    To RE the executable IDA Pro can be very useful: Https://hex-rays.com/ida-pro/. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Resource Hacker and IDA, you can also consider the following products

Universal Extractor 2 - Universal Extractor 2 is an unofficial updated and extended version of the original UniExtract by...

Ghidra - Software Reverse Engineering (SRE) Framework

PE Explorer - EXE Editor, Resource Editor, Disassembler, Section Editor, Dependency Scanner, Quick Function Syntax Lookup. Analyze win32 executable files, including headers, procedures, and libraries. Edit icon resources and more.

OllyDbg - OllyDbg is a 32-bit assembler level analysing debugger.

Resource Tuner - Resource Editor: modify EXE file's resources, change Icons inside EXE, DLL, MUN. View, search, extract, replace, edit, add and delete the embedded resources of executable program files.

X64dbg - X64dbg is a debugging software that can debug x64 and x32 applications.