Hacker Breaks into Apple's AirPort

[conjur]

http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_title=Hacker-Breaks-into-Apple-s-AirPort&story_id=26327

A hacker with a penchant for cracking digital-media encryption code apparently has broken into Apple's AirPort wireless LAN technology used to transmit music from PCs to home stereos and other hardware.

According to various news reports, Norwegian Jon Johansen has released a key that can unlock software in Apple's AirPort Express wireless Internet hub that protects music streams from the iTunes Music Store.

Johansen reportedly also released a program called "JustePort" that enables users to stream MPEG4 files to the AirPort Express module.

With the encryption key now widely available, it is possible that other programmers can create applications that let users play music files that are not supported by iTunes. security code used by the film industry on DVD movies to prevent illegal content pirating.

The impact of breaking into Airport goes beyond unauthorized access to iTunes, Yankee Group analyst Michael Goodman told NewsFactor. "This has the potential to cause serious damage to a developing market," he said. "If someone can hack through the protections set up by a service provider, viruses or other attacks could be launched against the home network and any device connected to that network."

Goodman suggested that Apple, as the digital-music download frontrunner, is a prime target for software developers keen on breaking the company's hold on the market.

This guy is determined, eh?

 

[Todd33]

haha. I read the file was called 'So Sue Me', lol.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: conjur

This guy is determined, eh?

He had said right after he was released after the last trial that he was going to do this.

 

[JackStorm]

Haha, nice to see people like him still exist. Most would have just given in after being dragged into court. But he and the people he works with (Doubt he's doing this alone) just keep on going like the energizer bunny. Gotta love the guy.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: JackStorm
Haha, nice to see people like him still exist. Most would have just given in after being dragged into court. But he and the people he works with (Doubt he's doing this alone) just keep on going like the energizer bunny. Gotta love the guy.

youd think he would do something more respectable......like cracking aes...........as if......

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: JackStorm
Haha, nice to see people like him still exist. Most would have just given in after being dragged into court. But he and the people he works with (Doubt he's doing this alone) just keep on going like the energizer bunny. Gotta love the guy.

youd think he would do something more respectable......like cracking aes...........as if......

The thing is, the weakness is almost always somewhere other than the cipher. Implementation is usually flawed because most programmers aren't cryptographers, so they don't know how to use even a good cipher in a secure way.

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: JackStorm
Haha, nice to see people like him still exist. Most would have just given in after being dragged into court. But he and the people he works with (Doubt he's doing this alone) just keep on going like the energizer bunny. Gotta love the guy.

youd think he would do something more respectable......like cracking aes...........as if......

The thing is, the weakness is almost always somewhere other than the cipher. Implementation is usually flawed because most programmers aren't cryptographers, so they don't know how to use even a good cipher in a secure way.

Encryption can not be used to limit access to data. I think the people writing the software knows it will not work or they just don't have a clue.

 

[MonstaThrilla]

Oh no, my home network is comprimised!!! I'm gonna be hearing Helter Skelter played backwards through the speakers!

 

[gcy]

Originally posted by: JackStorm
Haha, nice to see people like him still exist. Most would have just given in after being dragged into court. But he and the people he works with (Doubt he's doing this alone) just keep on going like the energizer bunny. Gotta love the guy.

:beer:

 

[alphatarget1]

1337 hax0r

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: JackStorm
Haha, nice to see people like him still exist. Most would have just given in after being dragged into court. But he and the people he works with (Doubt he's doing this alone) just keep on going like the energizer bunny. Gotta love the guy.

youd think he would do something more respectable......like cracking aes...........as if......

The thing is, the weakness is almost always somewhere other than the cipher. Implementation is usually flawed because most programmers aren't cryptographers, so they don't know how to use even a good cipher in a secure way.

Encryption can not be used to limit access to data. I think the people writing the software knows it will not work or they just don't have a clue.

Well, it can if you can keep the key a secret. The problem is that for your computer to play encrypted content, it needs the key. The only hard part is figuring out how iTunes gets the key. Once you have that, you're golden.