iPhone Application Key Leaked

HighWizard writes with word from Engadget that the iPhone SDK Key has been leaked early. "We're not exactly sure how this all went down, but we trust Erica Sadun over at TUAW when she says that it appears that the iPhone's SDK key — which will probably be required by all 'official' third-party apps — has been leaked. Two different sites currently have the key posted, but it's all just for show until next month, when the SDK hits for real — and the code is undoubtedly changed."

Comments

Bummer :-(

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

If you find something like this, you sit on it until after release. Now, Apple will probably update the release version of the SDK with a tighter authorisation system.

Regardless, it's fruitless for Apple to try & stop free third party apps. If enough people are interested, there will always be someone able & willing to crack Apple's DRM.

Oh, and here's a special message for any Apple Fanboi's in the house. (not my site)

Re:Bummer :-(

[TubeSteak]

Now, Apple will probably update the release version of the SDK with a tighter authorisation system. What makes you think that crackers got the key from the SDK's "authorization system" and not from an Apple insider?

Re:Bummer :-(

[Jeff DeMaagd]

Game consoles aren't sold as general purpose computers. The hardware is purely a means to an end, what they're really trying to sell is the games. With the Wii, they're still hard enough to get in many places, I don't think they want to sell them to people that aren't going to be buying the games. With the other two consoles, they're sold at a loss with the intent that it will be made up for in licence fees, so it's not necessarily in their best interest to let you do just anything with them.

Re:Bummer :-(

[DeepZenPill]

They're only sewing the seeds of their own destruction by introducing more restrictions to developers.

Re:Bummer :-(

[amorsen]

It has everything to do with protecting the phone network which *IS* their responsibility to repair when trashed. Users be damned when it comes to breaking the phone but break the network, we can't have that!

It is quite difficult to break the phone network with a phone, especially when you can't mess with the actual GSM/EDGE chip but only the one running programs. If that's the excuse to lock the phone, it's a seriously bad one.

Re:Bummer :-(

[Tony Hoyle]

Other phones seem to have no problem allowing 3rd party apps on them.. even ones by independent developers.

The iphone is locked down for a single reason - to stop people breaking out of the AT&T monopoly. Apple don't give a crap about a jailbreak or 3rd party apps really.. you wanna break your phone, they'll happily sell you another one. The do care about the kickbacks they get from their chosen provider in each country.

but it's all just for show until next month....

[clambake]

... when the SDK hits for real -- and the code is undoubtedly changed. ... and re-leaked.

Re:Does It Really Matter?

[fangorious]

Since you asked, I've seen plenty. Including two people I work with (a Java developer and an InstallShield developer), one unlocked for Tmobile. Seen a few at grocery stores and hockey rinks. Also know of at least one person at Harmonix who has one. I want one myself (but I'm waiting for the final word on first telecom immunity and second the current lawsuits against AT&T and friends). I like the interface. Everyone I know who has played with one agrees that it has the best interface. I've tried to use other similar features on nokia, samsung, and motorola phones, and even manage to convince myself of their adequacy. Until I pick up an iphone and realize the sad truth that for the market segment it targets, nothing else I've tried out comes close to the iphone.

Re:Does It Really Matter?

[NalosLayor]

Seriously? You're sneering at 1 in 100? Selling one copy of your product to every 100 Americans in half a year? That's staggeringly successful. I'm no apple fanboy, but come on, that's freakin' impressive.

Meh

[MrCopilot]

I wish I cared, I tried extra hard but still nothing.

If I want a phone I can modify I should buy a phone that allows it.

Is the iPhone sleek and sexy? Of course, but so are a host of supermodels that I would not want to get into a 2 hour conversation with let alone a 2 yr relationship.

I feel the same way about the iPhone, I'd like to play with one for a little while, but thats about it.

Slashdot - rumours for nerds

[enoz]

We're not exactly sure how this all went down, but we trust Erica Sadun over at TUAW when she says that it appears that the iPhone's SDK key -- which will probably be required by all 'official' third-party apps -- has been leaked. Next month, when the SDK comes out, apparently this key may or may not work. Fantastic!

Here's another SDK key that was apparently discovered on a blog so is probably true:
47 6F 47 65 74 41 46 69 72 73 74 69 4C 69 66 65

"It's true, a blog confirms it!"

Re:Does It Really Matter?

[Anonymous Coward]

... which is ironic knowing the vendor lock-in Apple does.

Yeah, total lock-in. I just wish that, when the time comes that I start to feel the lock-in, it would be possible to install Windows XP, or Vista, or one of those many x86 Linux distros on my MacBook. Oh wait, I can install any one of those. I could even run all of them at the same time along with Mac OS X and run any application I feel like.

Dang Apple and their lock-in.

Re:Symmetric key used to protect iPhone?!

[BitZtream]

Its far more likely that its simply an md5 fingerprint or something silly. One of the blogs listed in the summary is for a guy who loves stringing people along in an extremely retarded way. Definately some attention issues. Either way, I'm not aware of any public/private key systems that would be considered very secure with a 128 bit key since you need a considerably larger key size with public/private key systems because large your limited to using prime numbers and stuff like that. While I'm not sure of the exact time involved, but since 1024bit certificates are considered 'weak' now days, I doubt cracking a 128 bit private key would be extremely difficult, especially with the possiblity of using distributed computing over the internet. Its either a hash or a symetrical encryption key used to obsfucate something to have the hax0rs waste some time, or a horrible implementation. You pick

Re:Breaking the network is easy

[John Whitley]

Don't sell those users an unlimited data plan then! Here's a clue for you and the mod that marked you "+1 Insightful": Limiting data plans has ZERO effect on a DDOS. None of the individual phones in the scenario described will come anywhere near a bandwidth cap. It's only the conjunction of all phones acting simultaneously that hose the network and/or services on the network.