Chinese hackers break iTunes gift certificate algorithm

[John Gilmore]

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/chinese-hackers-crack-itunes-store-gift-codes-sell-certificates/ 

Chinese hackers crack iTunes Store gift codes, sell certificates
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Tuesday, March 10, 2009

A group of Chinese hackers has succeeded in cracking Apple’s algorithm  
for encoding iTunes Store Gift Certificates, and are creating  
discounted certificates using a key generator. Outdustry reports that  
a number of the codes are available on the site Taobao, with $200  
cards selling for as little as $2.60. The owner of the Taobao shop  
offering the cards admitted that the codes are created using key  
generators, and that he paid to use the hackers’ service. He also said  
that while the price of the codes has dropped steadily, store owners  
make more money as the number of customers grows.

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