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A Nokia engineer who works with Windows 8 has stumbled across a trick which allows users to avoid paying for in-game purchases — and he’s published it online.
It’s not the easiest process in the world, but it does seem to work. Justin Angel, the engineer in question, explains the process using the Soulcraft Windows 8 game as a case study, reports the Verge. As he points out:
“[S]toring encrypted data locally, alongside with the algorithm and the algorithm key/hash is a recipe for security incidents.”
True! In fact, his post goes on to explain a bunch of possible applications for the hack, including: cracking trial apps to paid versions for free, removing in-app ads from games by editing XAML files, and reducing the cost of in-game items by editing game data files.
In other words, if developers can charge for something in a Windows 8 game, Angel seems to be able to find a way round it. Like we say, these aren’t easy hacks, but they do seem to work.
Windows has long had problems with game piracy on PCs, and now it looks like it might be the same story for its latest OS. There’s currently no word on what Microsoft is doing about the problem. [Justin Angel via Verge]
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Reading the article the hack appears to be for Windows 8, not Windows Phone 8. GizFail
Ah. Thanks, edited! Jamie will appear in the stocks at noon in penance.
Considering he works for Nokia, his future depends on Windows Phone being a success, given that devs will not work for a platform where their IAPs can be hacked and without apps a platform dies, he’s probably shot himself and his colleges in the foot. Or maybe this is his job application for Google.
Would agree if the hack was actually related to windows phone but this article is wrong, it’s the Windows 8 PC software that this applies to.
yes was just writing the retraction, you obviously got in before me.
Ignore the above. as PickSuppy says , this is Windows 8 not WP 8. Also surely it’s “The Verge”.
I wonder Microsoft’s decision to jump on the html5 bandwagon and leave C# behind has to do anything with this
They’re putting all their eggs in one basket and not one that people care for, it’s a stupid move. They need to make Android phones as well, it is quite simple.
Take it you are talking about Nokia in this article about windows 8 (not windows phone 8)? If so making Android phones would be a foolish move for them. Samsung is dominating Android now, HTC, Sony, LG etc have scraps of the market compared to them so another player wouldn’t help them or Nokia. Plus Lumia’s are selling well, WP8 is a good OS so in my book Nokia is doing the right thing at this moment in time.
*Facepalm*