Crackulous breaks app store encyption, our hearts

Chauncey Dupree
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February 01, 2009
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Well, we guess it had to happen.  There is now an app that breaks the encyption on App Store apps and allows people to (pirate) share them with others.

A project started by a coder named ‘SaladFork’, Crackulous was officially only available to a limited number of individuals, but it quickly gained notoriety as it makes the process of cracking software ridiculously easy. The successor to the more fiddly xCrack script, Crackulous is now being developed by ‘Angel’ and has a full GUI. All people have to do is buy an app from Apple and click a button, it’s that easy.

Although the software package was publicly released just hours ago, the source for this version (0.9) isn’t yet available. Crackulous is set to be released as open source software so that many people can contribute to its development, with original dev SaladFork commenting, “I’ve filled the source code heavily with comments explaining exactly what it’s doing and how it’s doing it. My hope is that Crackulous can be a learning resource for all the prospective iPhone developers out there, and will be able to revolutionize the cracking scene by producing a standard for application quality and functionality that can easily be reproduced to great effect.”

Normally, this would be a big deal.  However, Apps at the app store are pretty reasonably priced and the experience of purchasing and installing them is so easy that we don't see that many people switching over to the dark side to save a few bucks.

Comments (41)

hi (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 10:12am

I switched to the dark side a long time ago :P

Crackulous (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 9:44pm

This is an illegal copy of Crackulous. You can buy it legally at http://www.crackulous.net. This version steals all your credit card info,and other sensitive data. iPhone users be very careful.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 02, 2009 - 12:39am

crackulos is free when it becomes available which it isn't yet!!!
so don't try to steal money. please sys adm detele this message!

Benjamin Dobson | February 02, 2009 - 12:19pm

Crackulous IS illegal...

9to5vomit (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 11:01am

disgusting and depressing at the same time. good work 9to5mac!!! share the piracy-theft meme!!! after all, its free to share!!! truly disappointing

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 11:15am

^^^^ get over yourself.

9to5pukorama (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 12:37pm

is that the answer to promote thievery? four circonflex accents and a 'get over yourself' kev-style response?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 2:40pm

Gee, its news and info not promotion.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 02, 2009 - 1:41am

you're a fascist because you would like to control what does and what does not get reported based on your own vested interests. go away. you're disgusting.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 11:26am

try before you buy

9to5-79cent apps are sooo expensive (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 12:40pm

where did your gumball change go?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 11:47am

This undermines a significant revenue stream for Apple. I wonder why they would approve. Probably a mistake. I say it won't last on the App Store for very long.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 12:01pm

What makes you think this is available in the App store? (Think jailbroken).

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 12:21pm

I misread "All people have to do is buy an app from Apple...". I originally thought it read "All people have to do is buy THE app from Apple".

Benjamin Dobson | February 01, 2009 - 12:21pm

Next, Apple writes code into the kernel to prevent this app from running.

I hope so anyway.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 3:28pm

Next, the hackers change the application by one byte, foiling Mapple.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 12:54pm

I see one great use for this - getting netshare to those who couldn't download it in time.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 2:43pm

Great idea! Must have!

Japester (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 2:14pm

A little guy refuses to play by the rules and release and buy apps the official way, so he sets up a profit loss for real developers. Actionable. Despicable.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 2:14pm

It doesn't crack appstore. You have to jailbreak your phone, install it via Cydia, have a cracked version of mobileinstallation in place to have it to work.

Finally, the application provides links to alternative web sites to download *.IPA. Who dares downloading something you don't trust?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 3:11pm

wrong....you are thinking of appshare or installous.

crackulous will crack an app purchased from appstore, so that you can upload and share with the rest of the world.

appshare / installous allows others to search the repositories to see whats been cracked, and the available links of where the cracked app is downloadable.

its not that bad really. its like music. listen / test...if you like you buy. if you dont...then you delete. sure there will be some who dont pay even if they like...but chances are those people would have never paid in the begining anyways.

9to5-79cent apps are sooo expensive (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 8:28pm

people have been testing music for years now and many forget to buy

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 4:00pm

excellent

powers | February 01, 2009 - 9:12pm

I can understand try before you buy, especially for an app. But really, they aren't that expensive, and it will be missused.

terry (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 9:35pm

Considering the comments of some people here, i guess retail stores should start letting shoppers take merchandise home first to try it out, too. No need to sign a chit for it or anything. Just trust 'em. In each of the cases of those who condone this app, i'd like to know what those posters do for a living. What do you want to bet they'd almost without exception object to people being able to take whatever product/service it is that they're involved with, without paying? It's all too easy for some people to condone or try to justify stealing something they want...

Seriously, anyone who is pleased that the app store exists and that so many neat apps are being marketed to us should consider this crime tool to be the enemy. Have no doubt: If it were to become widespread there would be fewer apps, or developers would charge higher prices to replace lost income.

Why doesn't someone form a crew to cripple this crapulous app, and make that their coding challenge?

terry (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 9:35pm

Considering the comments of some people here, i guess retail stores should start letting shoppers take merchandise home first to try it out, too. No need to sign a chit for it or anything. Just trust 'em. In each of the cases of those who condone this app, i'd like to know what those posters do for a living. What do you want to bet they'd almost without exception object to people being able to take whatever product/service it is that they're involved with, without paying? It's all too easy for some people to condone or try to justify stealing something they want...

Seriously, anyone who is pleased that the app store exists and that so many neat apps are being marketed to us should consider this crime tool to be the enemy. Have no doubt: If it were to become widespread there would be fewer apps, or developers would charge higher prices to replace lost income.

Why doesn't someone form a crew to cripple this crapulous app, and make that their coding challenge?

DistortedLoop | February 02, 2009 - 6:45am

 Yeap, that comment was important enough to post twice, LOL.

Two flaws with your logic:  1)  There's going to be people who "pirate" everything; their morals are different than yours and you can rail all you want online, it won't change their behavior.  Forget about them, they're a small group and have little impact on the rest of us.

2) Most retail stores DO have a return policy; at least 30 days, many stores much longer.  I've returned electronics, clothing, even food that did not do as advertised or displayed in the store without hassles to many brick and mortar stores.  What's wrong with that.  If I buy a DVR that purports to do x,y,z, and then it turns out it doesn't really do y, why should I be stuck with the purchase?  Software has no such return policy, in general, and few apps on the App Store offer trial or demo versions, though that is changing.  I bought one app at the App Store once, an IM application, it was only $2.99, but it was totally unusable at the time, and promise after promise for weeks to fix it never came true.  It was a hassle, but I was able to get a refund from Apple, but ONLY with the permission of the developer.  Kudos to that developer for being honest and refunding a buggy product, but I've got a dozen other apps that look good on the store, but are pretty buggy; no refunds offered on them, though.  Did it break my bank to blow $30 on useless apps?  Of course not, but that's lunch or dinner money out of my pocket for garbage.

I've got no problem with someone who "tries before he buys." but I really do think that good apps that you use more than enough to evaluate should be paid for.

terry (not verified) | February 02, 2009 - 11:26am

Good points, DistortedLoop. Especially about the dual post (embarrassment).

But a better solution than the store-breaking app would be requiring trial periods on software, which you mention. Can we agree on that?

The fact that some will steal anyway doesn't alter the need to call a thief a thief when we see one. Some will run red lights: Better we not devise a scheme whereby everyone does.

peace
td

DistortedLoop | February 03, 2009 - 10:23am

 I won't disagree with you on those points, but, using your red light analogy, there are always going to be people who speed, run red lights, make "California stops,"  etc.  Beating our chests in outrage won't change that, and as long as the vast majority of us do the right things, I think society will survive, don't you?

vincent (not verified) | February 01, 2009 - 11:42pm

The user "Crackulous" above: Get lost. Stop the freaking scam.