thread: Can Brokers see your MT4 EA/Indicators and Codes?

Why do they frickin care???

I really don't like conspiracy theories but I see a very valid reason they would want to see an EA's code: '' They could backtest it (yes, backtesting is reliable when you have reliable data and do it correctly ) and when it is profitable they could do at least two things:
1. Hedge your position on the market because they understand that in long term you win,or
2. Give slippage that is bigger to you, place you on guide or anything to ruin advantage of your own body.

Unfortunatelly, mt4 is your best platform I've seen and we don't have much choice here. That is why I like open source software so much.
L

Once more, broker can't find any source code of client's indicators or EA. Broker can simply see a log file of client's action, and, in the event of misuse server by client's EA, broker can block usage of EA by client.

Look into source code of your EA and log file of your terminal. I think you said was produced frequent wrong requests to host.

How do you know that for true?? Have you sniffed packets that are transmitted between mt4 server and MT4?
This is applications. . .just baselessly expecting metaquotes not to incorporate this makes no sense.
I dont actually care or have time to get it done but I would not be shocked if that is reported.

I really don't like conspiracy theories but I see a very valid reason why they would want to see with an EA's code: They can backtest it (yes, backtesting is reliable once you have reliable data and do it correctly ) and when it is profitable they could do at least two things:
1. Hedge your place on the market as they understand that in long term you triumph,or
2. Give you slippage, put you on manual or anything to destroy advantage of your system.

Unfortunatelly, mt4 is the ideal platform I have seen and we do not have a lot of choice here. That's why I like open source software so muchbetter.
L

Neoticker is a much better platform in my view. Only thing that Mt4 actually provides is reduced barrier to entry (free) at least in the beginning. But you purchase it - the broker builds that cost in.

How do you really know that for a fact?? Have you sniffed packets that are sent between MT4 and mt4 server?
This is applications. . .just baselessly expecting metaquotes to not include this makes no sense .
I dont really care or have the time to get it done but I wouldn't be surprised if that is reported.

MetaTrader is well known certified business product. Just thought, what will happen if this product will be found with stole of copyright-protected private source code...

MT4 is like runs compiled code and any other app. This implies that it does have the english code available. It doesn't even know what is going to occur inside an if statement, unless that if statement condition is fulfilled. You make your EA, Indicator, Script and the what you know as your code in a file *.mq4. This can not run unless you compile it and make a .ex4 file. That is what MT4 executes.

There is know known way to decompile this particular code. That's why you have people selling. They know it won't be usable. When a decompiler was, somebody would have heard of it and it'd be prevalent. It would be foolish to assume that Metatrader and all its clients, and brokers using the software, could keep a decompiler secret.

You can be certain that your code is imperceptible to the broker.

Yet another note: This is a client side program. Meaning you send a sign (buy,sell,etc) and it implements it. It doesn't care if you're on your house computer, work computer or logged from multiple computers at the same moment. It doesn't care since it just waits for a sign to do something.

If you would like to do an experiment to see whether your code has been moved to the broker(for you nonbelievers) just place an if(false) dumby code on your EA. You can then make this code ridiculusly that is dumby large, say 10 Mb. This won't cause your ea to run slower since it's going to never get in this statement, however since it is still code and the compiler never evaluates this if(untrue ) statement to trim code size, all the dumby code is going to be moved (if indeed that happened). You'd have the ability to observe the transfer quantity growth and increase as your broker takes your EA trap.

Flareup's a wise guy and right about much of the. MetaTrader does not need -- care about -- the source code.

One correction though. It's possible to decompile MetaTrader4 ex4 files.

MT4 is similar to any other app and runs compiled code. This means that it doesn't really possess the compacted code available. It doesn't even know what will happen inside an if statement, unless that if statement condition is satisfied. You create your EA, Indicator, Script and exactly that which you know as your code in a document *.mq4. This can't be run by you unless you compile it and make a .ex4 file. That is what MT4 executes.

There is know known way to decompile this code. That's the reason you have people selling EAs that expire. They know it won't be usable. Somebody would have known of it, if a decompiler was and it would be widespread. It would be absurd to assume that Metatrader and ALL of its customers, and brokers that use the software, could keep a decompiler secret.

MetaTrader is well known accredited business item. Just thought, what's going to occur if this item will be discovered with stole of copyright-protected private source code...

Can you know that Sony and Microsoft have both distributed spyware/malware within their code....Those are only illustrations.
Simply because it is a commercial product does not promise much...
Also I wasn't saying it had been reporting the source code though that too isn't included in the realms of impossibility - that I had been stating that it may be reporting how an EA was implementing certain orders...

MT4 is similar to any other program and runs compiled code. This implies that it does possess the compacted code available. It does not even know what will happen inside an if statement, unless that if statement condition is fulfilled. You create your EA, Indicator, Script and save exactly what you know since your code in a file *.mq4. This can't be run by you unless you compile it and make a *.ex4 file. This is exactly what MT4 executes.

There is know known way to decompile this code. That is why you have people selling. They know it won't be usable. When there was a decompiler, someone would have heard of it and it'd be prevalent. It would be absurd to presume that Metatrader and all its customers, and brokers using the applications, could maintain a decompiler secret.

You may be certain that your code is invisible to the broker.

Another note: This is a client side application. Meaning you send a signal (buy,sell,etc) and it executes it. It logged on from multiple computers, or does not care if you're on your house computer, work computer, notebook. It does not care because it waits for a signal.

If you would like to do a test to find out if your code is being transferred into the broker(for you nonbelievers) only put an if(false) dumby code on your EA. After that you can make this code ridiculusly that is dumby large, state 10 Mb. This won't cause your ea to run slower because it will never get in this if statement, but because it's nonetheless code and the compiler never evaluates this if(false) statement to trim code size, all the dumby code will be transferred (if indeed that occurred ). You'd be able to see the transfer amount increase and increase as your broker takes your EA trap.

All EA code is decompilable... EX4 is a bit harder but it also is decompilable...

L,

I've already explained this in detail. . .IF the broker were to spend any time trying to figure out your EA performs, it'd be a waste since in order to exchange against multiple EAs would demand arbitrage PER CLIENT. Any kind of hedging against one EA may cause another EA to be successful. You're also assuming that an EA is used by a person and never tweaks it. If a person were to tweak their EA often how could the broker combat this?

The slippage debate is somewhat moot since you may inform your EA just how much you are willing to receive slipped. . .otherwise, the order does not execute, end of story.

Like I said, folks, even when they COULD watch your EAs, there's no way that a broker will put nearly as much effort as you're into figuring out how to best combat the EA. That coupled with the fact that the broker would have to figure out how best to exchange from MULTIPLE EAs and you are barking up the wrong tree. There are TOO many factors for a broker to care for them to be concerned about it, nicely system that is YOUR did.

They are simple solution is exactly what I've said all together. They keep losing places in house for so long as they can and they sell winning rankings (by offsetting it with other customer's rankings or selling to a third party bank).

Seriously, the very simple solution here is to put the buy/sell logic inside a separate DLL if ya'll or so paranoid. . .otherwise, I am of the opinion that traders need to be more concerned with their capacity to exchange and less with the way they're getting screwed with their broker.

Seriously. . .who actually cares when the broker can realize your trading method other than. Is that what everybody here is concerned about? Copyright?

I don't like conspiracy theories but I find a very legitimate reason they would wish to observe with an EA's code: They can backtest it (yes, backtesting is reliable when you have reliable data and do it properly) and when it is profitable they can do at least two things:
1. Hedge your position in the market because they understand that in long term you win,or
2. Give larger slippage to you, put you on anything or guide to destroy advantage of your own body.

Unfortunatelly, mt4 is your ideal platform I've seen and we don't have much choice here. That's why I like open source software so muchbetter.
L

Z,

The spyware that Sony released didn't transfer automatic data from the user to Sony. Not that they could not, but Sony was than to expose themselves into this possibility.

With that said, you're right. . .anything is potential. But I find it highly unlikely that in the event the brokers DID expose themselves to this accountability which:
1) that they could actually use the data in such a manner that by trading against 1 EA it does not give an advantage to another EA.
2) they would really want to waste time once the theory supporting the company is simple. . .house as many losses as you are able to as you can hedge as many positive positions and sell the rest.

Do you know that Sony and Microsoft have distributed spyware/malware inside their code....Those are only illustrations.
Simply as it's a commercial product does not guarantee much...
Also I wasn't saying it was reporting that the source code though that also is not within the realms of impossibility - I was saying it can be reporting the fact that an EA was executing certain orders...