Security is a prime concern for companies that release software and a weakness in copy-protection always throws a wrench into the company’s profit margins. The anti-piracy mechanism in the new Mac App Store has a noticeable flaw.
With the launch of the Mac App Store yesterday a flaw has already been found in the security. The digital rights management or DMR that was designed to make sure that only those who purchased the application is able to run it was bypassed by a hack that is being distributed online, this hack is allowing its users to bypass the DMR security in some situations.
The hack with the Mac App Store allows a user to use the digital receipt for a free application to run applications that have to be paid for. To fix this Apple is recommending that programmers make a verification process that will check a text file separate from the actual application’s binary file. That way the applications are not stolen and used by a simple text edit and finding a bootleg copy of the intended application online, which they admit is simple enough once an application becomes popular enough.
-TwisTtheTwiTcH
