Pirate Windows 8 Games! Nokia Engineer Shows You How

It seems that the Windows 8 security model for its new Windows Store has a few holes in it. Nokia engineer Justin Angel, has demonstrated on his website (currently down due to traffic volume) several piracy techniques capable of removing most of the revenue stream from paid applications.

He uses the Soulcraft game as an example by showing how users could edit the game to avoid having to pay for in-app purchases. The steps are a little involved, but that won’t be a stumbling block for experienced hackers. Angel says that the main cause of this problem is “storing encrypted data locally, alongside with the algorithm and the algorithm key/hash is arecipe for security incidents.”

Other hacks include being able to turn trial apps into full apps, remove ads from games and a workaround allowing the use of JavaScript to unlock levels in a Cut the Rope game. All these hacks end up bypassing most of the ways that developers can make money from their Windows 8 software.

Microsoft was asked to comment on these security vulnerabilities, replying that they are taking a “variety of extra measures to help harden Windows 8. Any successful software distribution channel faces the challenge of being targeted by people wishing to circumvent the system for ill-gotten gains and we’re committed to ongoing protection of both customer and developer interests.” Looks like Microsoft had better fix this quickly.