Reverse engineering for security research
<p>Is it legal to reverse engineer a closed source application in order to check how secure it is if:  </p>

<ul>
<li>the software came preinstalled on the device (i.e. I have not signed
an EULA)</li>
<li>I have signed an EULA that forbids reverse engineering</li>
</ul>

<p>I have seen a lot of renowned experts reverse engineer popular software and publish details on their flaws and their inner workings on conferences. Is this legal ? (I am particularly interested in EU law)</p>

<p>As you have agreed, by contract, not to reverse engineer the product, technically it would be a "breach of contract" to do so, assuming such terms are enforceable where you live (or wherever the EULA selects as the choice of forum).</p>

copyright eula