“Mere hours after the opening of the Mac App Store, software crackers have already found a method that could lead to pirating of Mac App Store software,” MacNN reports.
“If left uncorrected, software pirates could conceivably crack and redistribute nearly any application on the Mac App Store,” MacNN reports. “The specific technique is detailed in a post on Pastebin.com (specific post not linked), and Apple is aware of the breach.”
Read more in the full article here.
UPDATE: John Gruber clarifies over on Daring Fireball, “This isn’t true for all paid Mac App Store apps. For apps that follow Apple’s advice on validating App Store receipts, this simple technique will not work. But, alas, it appears that many apps don’t perform any validation whatsoever, or do so incorrectly, like Angry Birds. (Angry Birds checks for a valid receipt, but doesn’t check to see that the bundle ID for the receipt matches its own bundle ID.)”
Full article here.
Bad, very bad!
Correct and prosecute.
This still won’t satisfy the open source crowd. Until only pirates make money the world is unfair. May your doors always be open and your locks always be broken I want what you have and I’m damm sure not prepared to work for it.
Quality Assurance at Apple has really taken a slide down the slippery slope in the last few years. I really hope they get their act together.
Really I’m surprised this got by Apple with 50+ billion they can afford a host of hackers to keep the egg off their face. This shouldn’t of been so easy. Heads should roll.
As usual, only half the story is being reported here. To arrive at an informed opinion, please read: Without Proper Code Validation, Mac App Store Downloads Are Easily Bootlegged
For apps that follow Apple’s advice on validating App Store receipts, this simple technique will not work. But, alas, it appears that many apps don’t perform any validation whatsoever, or do so incorrectly, like Angry Birds.
Yes, the half-reporting is looking back on Apple when it’s actually the fault of developers. Maybe there is something that Apple can do to simplify the process for developers so they don’t leave out this important validation step.
Regarding the DRM in Apple’s Mac App store,
How Mac’s are you allowed to use the purchased software on? The same 5 allowed with your iTunes account, or just one?
@Marty Wells
“… This shouldn’t of been so easy…” <– No.
This shouldn’t have been so easy. <– Yes.
Sorry to pick on you, but I’ve been seeing this error a lot lately.
While every reasonable measure should be taken to protect property rights and licenses, there will always be cracks. The benefits of the app store far out weigh minor loss margins to piracy.
Gabriel has it right.
Some jumped the gun on the blame.
But Apple will be the one to fix the Developer errors
@The Corrector
Your correct
This so called Crack/Hack has been well known and has been used by all the hackers since day one, Nothing has been hacked or Cracked, they are using the same methods as they always have by redistributing the “Plist” file.
Don’t be fooled into believing this is new, it is not, But the truth is the problem was caused by some Mac App Store developers Not following Apple’s advice on validating apps.
And Only SOME apps could be Hacked or Cracked not all, only a Few Could, and those apps that could be hacked are being removed and fixed to stop the Dev’s short sightedness.
This was not a Apple’s Problem Folks, It was a Lazy Few Developers that Failed to follow Apples Rules.
Now why is it Always a Few that don’t Follow the Rules seem to make people want to blame Apple when Apple is not the ones at fault.
OhHh It’s the Apple haters gang pointing the fingers isn’t it.
Why did Apple allow developers to submit apps with improper validation? That’s the primary problem here.
@ GoogleinToronto
Me thinks it should be “Oll Korrect”
your, you’re….
while we are at it.
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@ Its about time
“Why did Apple allow developers to submit apps with improper validation? That’s the primary problem here.”
That’s apple’s only blame in this.
I’d be willing to bet there is an update to the App store shortly, and some apps pulled (maybe) and a new Requirement to devs. Follow our rules, or be denied.
Your just being silly Backlash, it’s Apple not apple.
Right on Gabriel!
Yes, right arm! Gabe!
yeah, i’m on my MBP, not the iPhone.
So i have to actually Use Caps When I Type. Damn Auto Correct Has Ruined My Typing Skills.
Not trying to name names or condone the piracy of apps here…
But all the news of this, speaks of only ONE app.
The link above, and others i have seen, All point out the one app. Forum posts on those various sites have posters all asking what other apps can be pirated, and it seems that nobody has answers other than that one app.
Could this be just one lazy developer here? or he’s being picked on in the news reports because of the success of his app before the Mac App Store?
How is this news? Last I remember iLife and the current iWork doesn’t require serial numbers. iLife never has, and there has never been anything stopping people from purchasing a single license and installing it on several Macs. Same with the OS. Never required a SN. As far as 3rd party software, whatever stopped people from sharing the SN from one MS Office or any other app with another Mac. Again, how is this newsworthy? It’s been that way for decades.
@Marty Wells
“… This shouldn’t of been so easy…” <– No.
This shouldn’t have been so easy. <– Yes.
Sorry to pick on you, but I’ve been seeing this error a lot lately.
Yes. Many Americans are really LOOSING their basic spelling and grammar.
@Backlash
You know auto correct replaces Ballmer with “baloney”. I’m just saying.
@The Corrector
Errant code from hacked and normal receipts:
001010110101010011010101010101010001001101100 < Incorrect
001010110101010011010001010101010001001101100 < Correct
@Dennis
Fault lies with errant developers’s quality control and not Apple or its quality control. Apple simply provided the virtual shop and shelves – developers provided the defective goods for sale.
its because Its Apple’s New App Store…. and somebody didn’t follow the rules. (not Apple) so of course, it’s Apple’s Fault.
Now if MS had this problem, nobody would even report it.