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First iPhone app cracked? Super Monkey Ball for all?

updated 12:10 am EDT, Thu July 24, 2008

iPhone Monkey Ball hack

A group of hackers say they have cracked Apple's close Fairplay DRM on Sega's Super Monkey Balll for iPhone. A posting on Haklabs points to a download link for the pirated game. A number of users who commented on the site say they were succesfully able to run Super Monkey Ball on a jailbroken version 2.0 iPhone using SSH. Other users, however, said they couldn't get the game to work and questioned whether the hack was legitimate.

If the hack does indeed work, the security breach could have a major impact on the hundreds of applications for sale at the AppStore. Super Monkey Ball sells for $10 and is protected with the same FairPlay DRM Apple has used for years on content from the iTunes store.

The posting on Hacklabs provides step-by-step installation instructions for the game and encourages users to join a forum for sharing other hacked apps. Since the hack has only been available for a few hours, there has been no response yet from Apple or Sega or even confirmation of the hack.

by MacNN Staff

(28)

TAGS :

DRM, hacks, games, iPhone apps, Sega, FairPlay

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dagamer34
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2007

+6

07/24, 01:17am | report spam | close Reply |
Problems

If the App Store is going to have piracy problems, then that's gonna keep independent developers away who will have their work stolen from them.

All this over $10? Come on people!

sleadley
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2000

+6

07/24, 02:50am | report spam | close Reply |
Piracy for what?

I agree all over $10. Let's give the developers a fair go here. I am happy to pay a few bucks for these apps lets just leave it at that.
S

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

+1

07/24, 03:50am | report spam | close Reply |
Legitimate

I can confirm that the hack is legitimate, basically the main app was patched to exclude the SHA 1 checksum of the game, it works flawlessly, however, Super Monkey Ball is currently the only game that has been cracked, other games are proving a much tougher task (Crash Nitro Kart).

It will only be a matter of time before they are cracked also but it isn't a huge deal for Apple to update the security built into the Apps.

Even if they do, there will be people waiting in line to crack them also!! I don't think it's going to be that big of a deal, at least half of iPhone users wont bother to JailBreak their iPhone which is needed to install them anyways. Everyone said that game piracy would kill the PSP and it hasn't, i don't expect it to affect the App Store on a large scale.

Gee4orce
Professional Poster

Joined: Dec 2000

+8

07/24, 04:10am | report spam | close Reply |
Theft

There's no defending this. There's no legitimate reason why you should be allowed to break the copy protection on a piece of commercial software like this. It's theft, pure and simple. I hope Apple unloads a sixpack of lawyer-whoopass on these guys, I really do.

Toyin
Mac Elite

Joined: Nov 2000

+3

07/24, 08:16am | report spam | close Reply |
Thanks

All this will do is elevate the price of applications. Sad really.

ZinkDifferent
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2005

+3

07/24, 08:22am | report spam | close Reply |
Freetards...

...it's the same kind of freetards advocating 'freedom'. Of course, it's easy advocating 'freedom' when living in your mom's basement, and not really having a job, or any real responsibilities in the world.

Considering that a) we're talking about $10 here, and b) Apple is pushing low and reasonable prices on iPhone apps, the usual theft mentality isn't helping the very causes they claim to proclaim...

vcolombo
Baninated

Joined: Jul 2008

+6

07/24, 09:22am | report spam | close Reply |
Bullshit

This is bullshit and these people clearly have nothing better to do with their time. While I can't exactly say that I have both feet planted in the anti-piracy camp I can say that pirating applications that cost anywhere from $.99 to maybe $15 (with some exceptions) is just wrong. There is no reason people can't pay for these applications and nothing someone could say to convince me that piracy would be in any way acceptable in this case. These applications are affordable and easily accessible, and if you have an iPhone you can afford to buy a few applications.

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

-2

07/24, 10:19am | report spam | close Reply |
Cue Admiral Akbar!

It's a trap!!

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

0

07/24, 10:44am | report spam | close Reply |
Geez!

Some people just have to be a**holes don't they?

dpicardi
Forum Regular

Joined: Sep 2006

0

07/24, 11:59am | report spam | close Reply |
I hope...

They get prosecuted to the fullest extent. And they will. This is a major threat to Apple's revenue stream and they will hammer these people.

I would not be surprised if to thwart this further Apple created software that deliberately bricked an iPhone permanantly when jailbroken.

I don't know why they would be prevented from doing this legally. Especially if they gave a stern warning about it on the device before installing all software.

dpicardi
Forum Regular

Joined: Sep 2006

+1

07/24, 11:59am | report spam | close Reply |
I hope...

They get prosecuted to the fullest extent. And they will. This is a major threat to Apple's revenue stream and they will hammer these people.

I would not be surprised if to thwart this further Apple created software that deliberately bricked an iPhone permanantly when jailbroken.

I don't know why they would be prevented from doing this legally. Especially if they gave a stern warning about it on the device before installing all software.

jbwith84
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2008

-4

07/24, 01:37pm | report spam | close Reply |
okay....

So even though I appose piracy in general, I can see the point of the effort when it goes to $500 - $1000 software, but why all of the effort for a game that costs $9.99?

Time to get a hobby, and if this is your hobby; get a new one!

jbwith84
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2008

-5

07/24, 01:37pm | report spam | close Reply |
okay....

So even though I appose piracy in general, I can see the point of the effort when it goes to $500 - $1000 software, but why all of the effort for a game that costs $9.99?

Time to get a hobby, and if this is your hobby; get a new one!

jbwith84
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2008

-4

07/24, 01:38pm | report spam | close Reply |
okay....

So even though I appose piracy in general, I can see the point of the effort when it goes to $500 - $1000 software, but why all of the effort for a game that costs $9.99?

Time to get a hobby, and if this is your hobby; get a new one!

jbwith84
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2008

-3

07/24, 01:46pm | report spam | close Reply |
Sorry!

Apparently, I was having issues operating the submit button. Anyone know how to delete your own posts?

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

+2

07/24, 02:30pm | report spam | close Reply |
Sounds Good To Me

As someone who recently spent $10 on an iPhone game that now always crashes on startup, I think Apple needs to either allow for free trials of pay-apps, or an easy way to get a refund if the app doesn't work.

Otherwise I see this as a great way for people to people to try before they buy, or get an "exchange" for a app that actually works.

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

+2

07/24, 05:33pm | report spam | close Reply |
Test It Out

Well, personally, I like this. I don't want to spend $10 on the game and find out it's not for me. I'd love to do this, test the game out, and then buy it if I like it. It's one thing just to steal, but it's a whole nother thing to do this just to test the game to see if it's worth $10. They should have free samples of all games and programs that aren't FREE, or at least offer refunds within the first few days so people can test it. I won't buy any of the programs cause I don't want to throw my money away. I haven't decided if I'll risk bricking my iPod to try this, but if I do, then I"ll test it and either delete it, or delete it and BUY it afterward. I hope they crack the south park game, I want to test that too.

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

+3

07/24, 11:58pm | report spam | close Reply |
Why develop apps

I am a developer selling an app for $10. I have spent 3 months full time developing the app and invested thousands of dollars in the process. But I know many people don't care about that if they can "save" $10. I agree Apple should have a try before you buy.

The big concern is if people pirate apps no professional developer will bother investing in or supporting the apps. You'll just end up with a smaller selection of apps that won't be improved or supported.

fletcher
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2005

-3

07/25, 11:14am | report spam | close Reply |
WalMart Security Cracked

And, guess what kids! If you stuff a Transformer toy down your pants at WalMart you can just walk out with it with no one the wiser. You can get all sorts of stuff this way. DVDs, allergy medication, camping gear, auto parts, condoms. If the beeper at the door goes off, run. Looks like the world's largest retail empire will soon collapse.

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

0

07/25, 02:51pm | report spam | close Reply |
RE: Walmart Security

I'm always amused by people who can't grasp the subtle differences between copyright violation and theft of a physical object.

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

+1

07/26, 08:19am | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
We need people like this

I love everybody here who says we should bury these mothers, and Apple should kick a**, and send the lawyers.

We need people out here like this to crack and jailbreak iPhones and the software just to keep Apple in check.

For god's sake, you spend $200 on a device (and even more on the plan) you should be able to install anything you freaking want on the phone without the manufacturer keeping a long leash on you for the entire time you own the device.

I say continue to crack and pirate, it's not going to really affect anybody. It's not going to affect the developers because 90% of the iPhone owners are not going to jailbreak his/her phone. The other 10% may or may not actually buy an application.

We need this as a simple American check and balance. We own the phone, we should be able to do whatever we want with it without a big bad company using scare tactics. (It's scary how much that sounds like a certain other company.)

chadpengar
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2001

+5

07/28, 04:53am | report spam | close Reply |
re: We need people like

There is a difference between jailbreaking the phone and cracking the apps. jailbreaking allows you to install whatever you want. cracking an app is stealing someone elses IP.

Bhingque
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2008

+1

07/28, 07:33pm | report spam | (2 replies) close Reply |
quit it.

This is absolutely the wrong way to spend your hacking energy. SEGA spent money making the game, SEGA should get money from people who want to play the game. Defeating the DRM for commercial games will drastically reduce the amount of quality software that is produced for the platform, and will probably cause Apple focus much more strongly on defeating the jailbreaking mechanisms.

Treat this platform the way that TiVo hackers do: add all your own stuff, greatly expand the power and fun of the device, but do NOT bite the hand that feeds you.

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

-3

07/29, 09:34am | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
Wow

I'm surprised at the number of comments that seem to blindly support Apple, and their agenda - sometimes at the cost of ignoring the developer of the given application.It's true: people should be able to make a living doing what they love. Whether that's making software, selling CD's, or creating an innovative product. But, let's face it... the technology that drives the iPhone is laden with DRM, specifically in this case, preventing developers from selling software directly to the people - unless the customers are using jailbroken phones. Having worked in many tech-related industries, I've found that more pipes are better. i.e., if you can distribute through 100 outlets, it's better than 10.While it appears that Apple has done so much for the development community, I feel that some of their sales tactics hinder the creative spirit that many developers hold dear. They want (if they're like me) to make a product, have it go into widespread usage, change the way the world looks at things, and make a buck doing it.I'm not saying that Apple is inherently evil: I've owned several Mac products and loved them. I'm just saying that maybe a wider (and more open) approach would suit their goals better. I know that it would make developers (like me) want to be more iPhone friendly. ;)

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First iPhone app cracked? Super Monkey Ball for all?

updated 12:10 am EDT, Thu July 24, 2008

iPhone Monkey Ball hack

Problems

Piracy for what?

Legitimate

Theft

Thanks

Freetards...

Bullshit

Cue Admiral Akbar!

Geez!

I hope...

I hope...

okay....

okay....

okay....

Sorry!

Sounds Good To Me

Test It Out

Why develop apps

WalMart Security Cracked

RE: Walmart Security

We need people like this

re: We need people like

quit it.

Wow

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First iPhone app cracked? Super Monkey Ball for all?

updated 12:10 am EDT, Thu July 24, 2008

iPhone Monkey Ball hack

Related Articles

Recent Articles

Problems

Piracy for what?

Legitimate

Theft

Thanks

Freetards...

Bullshit

Cue Admiral Akbar!

Geez!

I hope...

I hope...

okay....

okay....

okay....

Sorry!

Sounds Good To Me

Test It Out

Why develop apps

WalMart Security Cracked

RE: Walmart Security

We need people like this

re: We need people like

quit it.

Wow

Login Here

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